10 Ways WWE Storytelling Has Declined Since 2000
6. PPVs Have Become Meaningless
Money In The Bank 2017 wasn’t a horrendous pay-per-view, but it was blighted by one of WWE’s most exasperating habits: their insistence on using PPVs to set up TV angles.
It happened twice throughout the night. First, James Ellsworth retrieved the briefcase during the women’s MITB ladder match, laying the groundwork for a rematch nine days later. Then, in the Tag Team Title bout, The Usos walked out on their match with The New Day, which is a crafty heel tactic, but came across as deflating on such a 'big' show.
PPVs used to be the blow-off point. Weekly television was used to build towards the big matches, and while concrete resolutions weren’t always guaranteed, these contests would it least provide a major turning point in their respective storylines. Now, PPVs are treated just like the average episode of Raw or SmackDown, with WWE more than willing to short change the audience with fluff finishes.
Pay-per-views aren’t special anymore. They’re as disposable as any other show in the programming schedule, meaning that feuds and storylines don’t have anything to build up to anymore. True closure is becoming increasingly rare on major events, and at this rate, it won’t be long before they aren’t worth watching at all.