10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Feb 24)

8. WWE Initially Wanted To Run 20 PPVs A Year Post-Brand Split

raw smackdown live
WWE.com

News recently broke that, post-WrestleMania 34, WWE will do away with single-branded pay-per-views and make each monthly special a dual effort between Raw and SmackDown.

Whilst this is being treated as excellent value to Network subscribers by WWE, it's worth pointing out that pay-per-views are likely to be longer and feature less opportunities for mid-card talent. Those same issues wouldn't have been a worry had WWE pressed forward with initial supershow plans right before splitting the rosters in 2016.

Back then, WWE wanted to run a whopping 20 monthly specials on the Network.

That number was soon cut to 18, then 16, and things have started to tail off from there. New plans hint at a return to the traditional 12 annual pay-per-view format, something the Wrestling Observer claim is an attempt to load shows with more talent and drive ticket sales.

It was also the Observer who reported WWE's abolished idea to run 20 pay-per-views. Talk about overkill.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.