credit: WWE.com
A look at three pay-per-views that the WWE should consider bringing back in 2017.
When the brand split happened in July, there were many questions that needed to be answered. Who would wrestle on what brand? What titles would be on each show? What titles would be added? One of the other big questions also was how they would work the pay-per-view schedule. Then, right before the brand extension that question was answered and the news was that the company would hold multiple pay-per-views monthly.
As of right now, not counting the NXT brand, there are 16 WWE pay-per-views scheduled for 2017 but if the company holds up their end of the deal and has 2 per month, that would mean some would need to be added. Now I’m sure that the creative geniuses at WWE headquarters are already scrambling to come up with some new, fresh ideas. But what’s wrong with recycling some of the old stuff? Over the years the WWE has pulled the plug on what seemed to be some very good ideas without ever really giving them a serious shot. Now with the uptake in the number of shows, why not make another run at those plans?
Ahead we break down 3 pay-per-views the WWE should revive in 2017.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
3. Night of Champions
It was actually pretty surprising to see the WWE do away with Night of Champions in 2016. It was an event that always seemed to churn out a decent card and heck, everyone likes title matches. NOC ran from 2008 until 2015 and was certainly missed this year. Night of Champions very easily could’ve replaced the boring February pay-per-view Fastlane show with a card chock full of title matches and the results would most likely have been better.
The idea of Night of Champions is simple. Every match includes a title whether it’s being defended or not and with those types of stakes on the line, the matches always seemed to have that “big fight feel”. The gimmick could also be used to pit the champion versus champion and now with the brands split again, that has even more potential.
With RAW and Smackdown having 5 and 4 titles respectively between them, which ever brand that would end up with Night of Champions could very easily fill a 3-hour show with championship defenses and a chance for some bragging rights in champion vs champion matches with the rival show. Heck, you could even get NXT titles involved. What better way to get some exposure for your most talented young stars and their championships than watching them battle it out on a main roster show?
Night of Champions is a pretty simple formula but one that has potential for turning out great matches. Now that the company is stacked full of belts, its time to bring this show back.
credit: WWE.com
2. Elimination Chamber
It’s a serious shame that the Elimination Chamber never lived up to its hype. Not to say there there haven’t been some great matches in the history of the event but with the idea of having 6 superstars locked in what’s basically a Hell In A Cell with 4 chambers used to hold each wrestler until his randomly selcted number is called to come out and do battle every five minutes in an elimination style match, well there should really be a number of classics. It’s basically a Royal Rumble and WarGames match all in one and it can be constested over a number things including championships, #1 contender contracts, or even The Money In The Bank briefcase.
The history of the chamber dates all the way back to the 2002 Survivor Series, 8 years before it became its very own pay-per-view. It was then in 2010 that the chamber seemed to go down hill a bit. The 2010 and 2011 editions of the show had some solid bouts but after that it seemed like a been there, done that, type thing, culminating in what was one of the worst chamber matches of all time in 2015 when Ryback captured the Intercontinental title inside the structure. Maybe it was time for the show to take a year off but now its time to come back.
The Elimination Chamber was one of those ideas that seemed great on paper but was flawed in execution. But once all the injuries heel and the WWE roster is at its full strength, the possible 6-person cast for a chamber match is mouth-watering. Could you imagine a Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Braun Stroman, Finn Balor Elimination Chamber match for the Universal title? What about one for the WWE Championship pitting AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt, and Randy Orton? WWE, it’s time to make this happen.
credit: WWE.com
1. King of the Ring
One of the ultimate classics that dates back all the way to 1985, the King of The Ring has been a platform that has launched so many wildly successful careers. Between Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Triple H, Edge, Kurt Angle, and Brock Lesnar all were KOTR winners before they were ever WWE world champions. Needless to say, this should be a prestigious tournament and a platform for future success.
From 1993 to 2002, the tournament was held as an annual pay-per-view and was the opportunity for young budding stars to have breakout performances. But since 2002 the KOTR has only happened 4 times, once in 2006 as part of the Judgement Day pay-per-view, twice in 2008 and 2010 as RAW one-night tournaments, and one more time in 2015 as WWE Network exclusive. King Of The Ring used to be one of the WWE’s 5 big, annual pay-per-views and being now the only significant tournament in the company’s history, bringing it back would be a welcome sight.
The King of the Ring tournament always used to bring out greatness in its participants. From the Bret Hart/Mr. Perfect 1993 semi-final, to Steve Austin’s iconic “Austin 3:16” post match interview in 1996, to Lesnar’s superstar, making performance in 2002, KOTR was a right of passage for close to a decade. It’s time for the WWE to bring back the former tradition and make the tournament as important as it once was. It could be yet another way to invest in a future star and with the current crop of potential stars busting at the seems, the company could very easily use it.
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