Since Endeavor bought the WWE, there has been plenty of talk among fans as to whether or not the WWE will continue streaming as it is or will there be changes.
The biggest concern involves some rumors going around that the WWE could charge fans $9.99 as an entry fee on Peacock and then charge up to $60 for a pay-per-view.
WWE Could Bring Back $60 PPVs
This would be a reversal fans have enjoyed for a while as the PPVs were free on the WWE Network and then Peacock, but with new management things could change.
We’re not saying Endeavor would force the change, but if there’s more of a profit to be made, we have no doubt Vince McMahon will consider it.
Nick Kahn recently sat down on LightShed Live and he talked about the reason and possibility of the WWE returning to a PPV schedule.
“We didn’t like traditional pay-per-view because 50% or so of the dollars go to in-demand dish and direct just for plugging it in, which is absurd. Absurd. So getting out of that, going direct to consumer got around that. You wee, even with UFC’s ESPN+ deal, there’s no in demand dish and direct. That money, however, UFC and Disney carve it up. It goes to them. They have their split, but there’s no middle person taking 50%. So might we consider going back to digital pay-per-view if it was accessible to our fanbase and if it was priced right? Of course we consider it.”
Adapting Impact Wrestling or AEW’s model
Pro Wrestling is a copy cat league and the WWE has been the biggest in that arena for forty years as no move, idea, or secret is safe.
In this case, given how most of their PPVs are on the same level and their Raw and Smackdown programming, the WWE may consider some changes to their format.
While we doubt they’ll stop putting on monthly specials, there is a chance they’ll follow Impact Wrestling’s model of having their big four be buy in PPVs online, and the rest of their specials free on their streaming service or charge a lesser fee.
Currently, Impact has an Insiders Club on Youtube where for $4.99 a month you can see their weekly show IMPACT! and you get their specials for free, but you have to buy their big four for $40 every three months.
AEW has a more slimmed down schedule of 4 PPVs a year. It’s what the WWE had before the Monday Night Wars and WCW forced them to increase from four to six to eight and finally twelve.
Like Kahn said, it may never happen, but charging for PPVs is on the table under the right circumstances.
What do you think about the WWE bringing back pay-per-views? Let us know in the comments below.
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