WWE Considers Reviving Brand Split Pay-Per-View Events: What It Could Mean for Fans

Pay-per-view events have long been a significant revenue source for various companies, including the UFC, boxing, and sports. Among them, WWE stands out for having a monthly pay-per-view event, sometimes even more than one in a month.

When deciding whether to purchase a pay-per-view or not, viewers often consider factors such as the match card, storylines, and wrestlers involved in the show. After the alliance storyline ended in late 2001, WWE found itself with a surplus of talent and created brands, which became the weekly television programs Raw and SmackDown.

Following WrestleMania X8, WWE had both brands compete in every pay-per-view event. However, the company began labeling events with the brands they represented only in late 2002, starting with WWE Bad Blood, presented by Raw. WWE continued to have their big four events, namely Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series, as dual-branded events. The last brand-exclusive pay-per-view was WWE No Way Out in 2007.

In the past, each brand-exclusive pay-per-view allowed WWE to use all their talent on one event, with a month in between each pay-per-view, allowing the company to build more storylines and give more attention to the wrestlers. However, WWE made the change to dual-branded pay-per-views since the wrestlers could impact the pay-per-view buys.

WWE is currently undergoing significant changes, both on television and in the boardroom. The company’s merger with Endeavor will leave Triple H in control as Chief Content Officer, which could come with a big change to the company’s pay-per-view lineup.

According to reports by WRKD Wrestling, WWE is considering bringing back split brand pay-per-view events, potentially with the new World Heavyweight Championship ushering in that change. One format discussed after the announcement of the draft and the introduction of the new World Heavyweight Championship on RAW is the idea of potential brand-exclusive premium live monthly events.

WWE has had success with split-brand pay-per-views in the past and those rosters also benefited from having more members on the special events. While that practice went away, Triple H could potentially bring it back.

The 2023 WWE Draft could have a significant impact on whether split-brand pay-per-views make a comeback. Nonetheless, WWE retains the power to make changes to its programming and could introduce anything it wants.

Ringside News will continue to cover the 2023 WWE Draft, providing updates on all the news you need to know. The next two weeks will be full of plenty of updates, and we will keep you informed.

Do you think bringing back split-brand pay-per-view events could be a good move for WWE? Leave a comment below.