WWE To Make All Pay-Per-Views Dual Branded?

Backlash 2018 is now a combined roster show.

by Andy H Murray
Backlash 2017
WWE.com

Raw and SmackDown branded pay-per-views have been the norm for WWE since the 2016 draft, with only the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series bringing the red and blue sides together. Now, it looks like single-branded shows could soon be a thing of the past.

As originally reported by Wrestling Inc, 6 May's Backlash pay-per-view (the first after WrestleMania 34) is now a combined roster show. It was originally a Raw specific event, but buyers were sent emails from Ticketmaster informing them of the change last night, leading to speculation that WWE could scrap Raw/SmackDown branded shows outright.

When asked about the situation, the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer tweeted the following:-

Advertisement

Combined roster pay-per-views aren't something WWE typically do outside the big four, but Payback 2017 did feature a couple of SmackDown vs. Raw bouts in Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens and Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton, as a result of the Superstar Shake-Up sending the warring parties to separate shows.

Advertisement

This could mean another Shake-Up is on the way, but it's all conjecture at the moment, and should be taken with a dose of cynicism until WWE confirm either way.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.