WWE Starrcade should be an annual Pay-Per-View now

Most general reactions from the 2019 event seem to signal that WWE Starrcade has successfully exceeded expectations. All the more reason why it should be a PPV.

Today was the second year in a row that WWE produced their version of the classic WCW event. WCW Starrcade was often viewed as that company’s equivalent to WrestleMania (both PPVs having their inaugural show in the same year, 1983) while WWE Starrcade was somewhat of a bonafide house show.

I say “somewhat” because WWE Starrcade both this year and last year was partially televised. One hour being featured on the WWE Network while the rest is literally and completely served as an untelevised house show event. The lack of grandiose spectacle that made Starrcade a household name for WCW has made fans lose investment for the WWE version for both years now, but in terms of what happened this year, expectations were exceeded.

The little we saw of the event on the WWE Network did not offer too much, yet it was greatly effective. That one hour of televised television gave us a sit-down segment between two of the best talkers in wrestling history in Kevin Owens and Ric Flair, a surprisingly good impromptu tag bout between The O.C. and Street Profits, an absolutely spectacular Fatal Four Way for the Women’s Tag Team Titles, and an impromptu “main event” between KO and Bobby Lashley, with the latter suffering an impromptu beatdown from Rusev that received a huge reaction, both for those in the crowd and those watching at home.

Overall, the so-called live event was well received by most fans and casual viewers who tuned in. But how many people would have tuned in it if was actually a PPV?

Going into the show, a lot of people knew it was merely a televised house show. A label like that is like stamping a kiss of death for shows of that ilk. Few people are open to watching a house show with little to no stakes or consequences that will bleed into the next episode of Raw or SmackDown. Which means a few people missed out on what was received as a genuine good show.

Which is why the best option for WWE, if they really want people tuning in for Starrcade, is to brand it and treat it like an actual PPV.

It doesn’t need to be restored to its former WCW glory as a Mania-esque PPV or something worth adding to the Big Five, but a little more investment into these annual shows could go a long way in intensifying both intrigue and investment from the WWE Universe across the, well, universe.