The pluses and minuses of the shorter WWE PLE trend

WWE has made several changes in recent years, many of which have been met with positive acclaim. Yet, there’s one that is still up for debate for several reasons. WWE has shifted its PLE strategy to presenting five to six match showcases, rather than events that run longer with more contests. Fans have both positive and negative feedback on the matter, and it is something that isn’t as cut and dry as many would hope.

WWE Bad Blood is set for Saturday, October 5 and it brings a five-match card to the WWE Universe. This card features three title matches, a Hell in a Cell, and a feud match between Damian Priest and Finn Balor. There’s a lot to look forward to on this show as it will close out some major feuds and move others along into their next chapters. Yet, five matches don’t create enough room to involve everyone.

For example, this PLE does not feature the tag team championships of either main roster show. The tag team division continues to struggle to build traction and keeping the titles off the show once again reiterates the fact that they aren’t as important as some would hope. There’s also a growing conversation about WWE’s utilization, or lack thereof, with the Black men on the roster. This is the third straight PLE to not feature one Black man. That streak is even longer when it comes to men of Asian descent. One of the reasons that some point out is that the five-match shows make it harder to include more individuals, regardless of how interested fans may be in their angle on either SmackDown or Raw.

One the plus side, shorter shows are well appreciated. Especially when coupled to WWE moving its PLEs to Saturday. A Sunday PLE that runs six to eight hours can be difficult to get through. Some of the matches do not fit the importance of the card and paying an extra fee to watch them. WWE shortening its showcases helps drive the emphasis on each match while not taking up the entire evening. For those of age, it is very possible to watch a WWE PLE and then go out to meet their friends after to extend the evening.

However, these programs often feature an hour-long preshow without matches. Then there’s nearly 30 minutes of “commercials” and video segments. All time that fans point to and argue could be dedicated to additional matches to make sure some people aren’t kept off the card. It’s a viable argument and one that will continue as long as those practices remain.

Trying new ideas is a fun part of professional wrestling. The idea of the shorter PLE is one that is new, but not without its complaints. There are reasons to enjoy shorter shows and reasons to want longer events. As WWE continues to ride its wave of momentum, there’s an opportunity to make adjustments that can make these events even better in the eyes of viewers.