Mark Shapiro Reveals Why WWE Has Cut Back on House Shows

Last year saw the integration of WWE and UFC into the TKO umbrella, marking a significant shift in the landscape of sports entertainment. Changes are still happening and that includes the reduction in the number of live events and now Mark Shapiro has revealed the reason for fewer live events.

Since WWE’s merger into TKO Group Holdings, several changes have subtly reshaped the promotion, including a clear reduction in live events. While WWE continues to air multiple live TV broadcasts each week, there’s been a noticeable decline in their focus on house shows.

While speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia & Technology Conference Wednesday, TKO President Mark Shapiro explained this strategy during a recent appearance at a conference, emphasizing the need to scale back on events that are less profitable.

Historically, WWE relied on untelevised events to grow its brand, but with the brand already thriving, the company no longer finds it necessary to hold as many of these lower-margin shows. As a result, WWE has reduced the number of live events from 300 in previous years to around 250 in 2023, with plans to cut it further to 200 next year.

“We’re cutting events at WWE,” he said. “We’re taking our low-margin, marginally profitable events, untelevised events that Vince [McMahon] put in place to grow the brand. You’re taking the show on the road and we gotta go to every city we can get to grow the WWE brand. Well the WWE brand, while we still have to grow it, it’s on fire right now. We don’t need to carry these marginally profitable events … What was 300 [events] last year will be roughly 250 this year. And next year, we’ll be close to 200.”

This shift is reflected in WWE’s 2024 schedule, which features only 11 house shows, a significant drop from previous years when multiple untelevised events were held each weekend. This reduction is part of a broader effort to optimize profitability while still maintaining WWE’s strong brand presence.

What’s your view on Mark Shapiro’s reasoning for the reduction in house shows? Do you feel this is the best strategy going forward? Sound off in the comments section below!