The WWE is an unrelenting machine of sports entertainment, dominating the landscape for decades and outlasting competitor after competitor. Most of the competition that once was knocking on Vince McMahon's door has all but vanquished. WCW was the biggest threat and went under 16 years ago. TNA had some bite early on but never pushed futher into maintstream, re-branding since and trying to rise once again as Impact. Even the biggest dog in the yard - no, not Roman Reigns - has to scale back at times, though. McMahon leads the way not only because of the product he's built, but because the business acumen he's built up to survive through decades of change. McMahon and the WWE made another tough business decision recently, and fans aren't happy about it. The WWE is cutting pyrotechnics out of its shows as a cost-cutting measure, erasing an iconic piece of watching sports entertainment. Road Dogg confirmed this was the case on Twitter, responding to an unhappy fan who heard news of pyros being cut out of the WWE's programming:

Sure, Road Dogg does have a point. This takes nothing away from the in-ring wrestling, mic work and storylines from the weekly shows. It does take away a part of the mystique that makes professional wrestling feel so grand and exciting. 

The WWE is cutting costs where it can, also eliminating custom pay-per-view sets and cancelling Talking Smack as a weekly show. These little things could all add up to a more attractive profit margin for the promotion. 

Fans are upset over this development, to say the least. A quick stroll through Twitter reveals just how passionate fans are over the change to the larger-than-life theatrics the WWE has been traditionally built around:

This is a two-way street and it's easy to see both sides. Pyro doesn't have any actual affect on how wrestlers perform, how promos are received and how the WWE books its shows. It's a novelty that can be cast aside to save big money considering how many shows the WWE runs annually. 

It also brings a great deal to the experience for fans in attendance, or even watching from home.