WWE Just Banned Performers From Saying ANOTHER Word On TV
A new year, a new banned word on WWE television...
WWE performers are now banned from saying "pay-per-view" on television.
This is according to Dave Meltzer, who reported as much in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Now, WWE is referring to such shows as "premium live events." This began at Day 1 on 1 January, when the new phrase was all over the broadcast, with the announcers seemingly keen to hammer it home.
WWE's next "premium live event", Royal Rumble 2022, takes place on Saturday 29 January.
While there's no word on why WWE has gone as far as banning "pay-per-view" from its lexicon, it is an outdated term for Vince McMahon's promotion, whose PPV business has shrunk almost to the point of extinction since the WWE Network was launched in 2014. When all major shows are available for a monthly subscription fee, there is next to no incentive for viewers to pay five or more times the price for a traditional pay-per-view. Some consumers still do, but it is becoming an increasingly insignificant percentage of WWE's revenue.
"Pay-per-view" remains a relevant term in AEW, however, with traditional buys a more significant stream of income for Tony Khan's company. This would likely change should AEW ever introduce a WWE Network-style streaming platform.