12 One-Time WWE Pay-Per-Views

Most WWE pay-per-views are annual events. They have a place on the calendar, and thus, become traditional. SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, Survivor Series – all are beloved and important hallmarks of the calendar year.

However, not every PPV is guaranteed a sequel. Sometimes, a show is just used one time and one time only. Either the name doesn’t catch on, or the show had a poor, baffling concept. In any case, the process is touch and go, and shows that seem doomed on arrival end up sticking around for the long haul (despite fan criticism, the Hell in a Cell and TLC pay-per-views keep churning along).

When WWE unveiled Great Balls of Fire as the name of RAW’s July outing, fans were quick to decry its sillness. It seems too ridiculous to be anything more than a one and done. However, in the crazy world of WWE, one can never be sure of Vince McMahon’s twisted logic. Perhaps Great Balls of Fire will become a beloved July tradition on the WWE calendar?

Or it might be one of these: WWE’s one-time pay-per-views.

(Quick disclaimer: this list will not cover “Network Specials” or anything that isn’t specifically classified as a PPV. It also won’t cover events released in the last year, so Clash of Champions and Roadblock: End of the Line will not be covered)

Before King of the Ring became a PPV in 1993, the WWF experimented with the tournament show concept with The Wrestling Classic, their second-ever PPV. The tournament was purely for bragging rights, but still, it was a stacked card featuring the likes of Randy Savage, Junkyard Dog, Dynamite Kid, Terry Funk, Adrian Adonis, Paul Orndorff, and Bob Orton.

Unfortunately, that’s the most positive quality about the show, as none of the matches are worth watching. None of them get to ten minutes (the longest is the main event, clocking in at nine). The only title defended on the show is the WWF Championship, with Hulk Hogan facing Roddy Piper. That match ends in seven minutes on a DQ.

Yes, folks: in the very first WWF Championship match on pay-per-view, Hulk Hogan defeated Roddy Piper via DQ in seven minutes. Truly setting the bar high for future title matches.

What’s funny is that that’s not even the main event, which is the tournament final between Randy Savage and JYD. Yes, Junkyard Dog was a pay-per-view main eventer in the WWF, go figure. He of course defeated Savage via countout, because the '80s were absolutely allergic to having a clean finish (just look at Crockett Promotions at the same time and their infamous overuse of the “Dusty Finish”).

The Wrestling Classic is an interesting historical curiosity, but otherwise, it’s clear why WWE have never gone back to it.