This part is easy. Look at how their ratings have fallen over time and they can't fill up stadiums. TK was gloating about a "sell-out" of 9K in an arena that typically holds 11K for events like wrestling. He didn't make that claim until the last minute yesterday.
Compare that to the consistent sell-outs for the E.
I meant alternative in the sense of styles, stories, and presentation. I am certainly not arguing that they are rivaling WWE in attendance or ratings. WWE is absolutely the hotter product.
I feel like they are an alternative to what WWE does (not that they are doing anything wrong), and despite the poor non-PPV domestic houses, I feel like they have been doing well with that this year.