WWE Currently Has a Pacing Problem with Their Premium Live Events
This coming Saturday, WWE will host the 39th edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event in Tampa, FL. The card currently has four matches consisting of: World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso defending his title against Logan Paul; Drew McIntyre facing Damian Priest in a Steel Cage match; CM Punk and Sami Zayn teaming up to take on Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker; and Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena battling R-Truth in a non-title encounter. The action continues the following night with NXT’s Battleground, and just two weeks later, WWE will present Worlds Collide alongside their recent acquisition, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, and Money in the Bank all on the same day. That is a packed schedule of wrestling. However, it also highlights a potential pacing issue within WWE’s Premium Live Events.
Many fans believe WWE’s pacing challenges began when they shifted the Royal Rumble from January to February. The Elimination Chamber was held just a month later, shortening the usual gap between major events. Then came an unprecedented eight-week build to WrestleMania 41, far longer than the typical four or five weeks, which many felt drained anticipation rather than build it. Following that, Backlash was held just three weeks after WrestleMania, centered around John Cena versus Randy Orton for the last time, yet fans argued the short buildup diminished the significance of a match that was 25 years in the making. Now, within a span of just 13 weeks, WWE is hosting eight Premium Live Events throughout the summer. Including SummerSlam, which is being promoted as a two-night event, raising concerns about oversaturation.
This is not the first time WWE has faced such a dilemma. In 2016, after the brand split, WWE staged nearly two major events per month; one for Raw, one for SmackDown, which ultimately proved too much for both casual and hardcore fans. Ratings began to decline as viewers experienced burnout, prompting WWE to realize that scheduling too many big shows in quick succession can dampen excitement and fan engagement. The lesson was clear: spacing out major events helps maintain interest and anticipation. Yet, with so many significant shows lined up in rapid succession, WWE risks falling into the same trap once again.
