WWE Making Major Change To Current PLE/PPV Format?

WWE's draft may precede the return of an old, failed concept.

By Andy H Murray / April 26, 2023

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Brand specific premium live events could be back on the table in WWE following the promotion's upcoming draft, reports WRKD Wrestling.

The outlet reported as much on Tuesday, doing so the day after Paul 'Triple H' Levesque unveiled WWE's new World Heavyweight Championship, which is to end up on the opposite brand to Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship post-draft:-

One format discussed after the announcement of the draft and the introduction of the new World Heavyweight championship on #WWERaw is the idea of potential brand exclusive premium live monthly events. pic.twitter.com/G5INuVnHVY
— WRKD Wrestling (@WRKDWrestling) April 25, 2023

WWE's 2023 draft kicks off on this Friday's episode of SmackDown. Returning for the first time since 2021, the once-annual roster reshuffle will then continue on the 1 May Raw.

WWE first experimented with brand-specific pay-per-views in 2002, when two shows, Insurrextion and Rebellion, were exclusive to Raw and SmackDown stars respectively. The concept continued through early 2007 before being revived along with the brand split in 2016, lasting until 11 March, when WWE's PLEs/PPVs were once again combined roster affairs.

In the last full year of brand-specific supercards, 2017, WWE gave Raw and SmackDown five exclusive pay-per-views each, while the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series remained combination shows.

When WWE scrapped brand-specific shows, repetitive, card-filling matches and underwhelming ticket sales were the reported reasons:-

Starting with the Backlash PPV May 6th, all PPVs going forward will be dual branded. No more RAW or Smackdown exclusive shows. Source states repetitive matchups to fill the card along with so-so ticket sales lead to the decision.

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The weekly TV shows will not be effected.
— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) February 13, 2018

WWE is yet to formally announce anything regarding its premium live events' composition.

Authored by Andy H Murray

Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.

Posted On: 26th Apr 2023

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