More changes WWE must make to its PPV schedule

WWE has long needed to make changes to its PPV schedule and these are two at the top of the list.

News broke Sunday afternoon that WWE Day 1 has been canceled, as reported by Wrestlenomics and multiple other outlets. Additional news came out that there are more changes on the horizon for the PPV/PLE schedule and after years of the same, lackadaisical booking for these shows, it is good news to hear that something different is coming down the line. These changes should include a lighter schedule and removing shows that are based on specific match types.

Looking at the entire WWE PPV schedule, there’s a lot of opportunity for improvement. The initial 2023 calendar included 12 shows on the main roster. This does not include the Saudi Arabia events that are considered PPVs, and we all know those can go away. With NXT going back to TakeOver-style PPVs, such as Halloween Havoc, it’s easy to see how this schedule could quickly balloon.

Get rid of stipulation shows

The first step WWE should take is to end shows that are based, specifically on stipulations. Hell in a Cell, Extreme Rules, Money in the Bank, Elimination Chamber – all these matches should be just that, big matches meant to kick off a grand storyline. Instead, they currently show that match types are pushed into at all costs.

Instead, move Money in the Bank back to a big match at WrestleMania, setting the stage for a new name to become a player in the main event picture. Hell in a Cell should go back to being a match that brings a top-level feud to an end, cementing finality. Elimination Chamber can be used much like Money in the Bank or even used to build a new champion in a multi-person match. This is the first needed step to make these matches matter with stakes to shake up the whole roster.

Cut shows from the annual schedule

Removing those shows based on stipulations would remove four from the calendar, cutting things down to eight. The perfect WWE PPV schedule would start with the Big Four: Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. Clash at the Castle should remain a major United Kingdom show, especially with the reception it received this year. The final three shows would be dedicated to NXT events, giving those upcoming stars an opportunity to take command of the spotlight with all eyes on them.

Bringing the calendar down to eight shows a year would help build excitement for the events and help remove the feeling that many of these PPVs are skippable.

Triple H has continued to make changes across WWE’s product and while some are better received than others, it’s good to see the work being done to improve the product. If the canceling of WWE Day 1 is a sign that more changes are coming to the PPV schedule, these are two options that would immediately benefit the promotion.