Starting in September, WWE is planning to run two separate monthly pay-per-views for RAW and SmackDown, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler was at a Superman convention in Metropolis, IL over the weekend and was reportedly telling fans that only WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and Royal Rumble will feature wrestlers from both brands.
WWE ran split-brand pay-per-views from 2003-2007, but these shows were mostly alternating months. The concept was ultimately scrapped due to lack of interest in the SmackDown shows. It’s no secret that WWE already has a major problem with overexposure. Live attendance is down, television ratings are way down and it’s hard to justify there being a demand for this.
SmackDown going live on Tuesday nights is widely seen as a net positive that will elevate the show’s profile. There are also a lot of potential drawbacks. Another 3-hour monthly PPV has the potential to drive away even the most ardent fans.
Meltzer thinks split-brand PPVs virtually guarantees that WWE will create a second world title for SmackDown, which inherently dilutes the value of the other titles.
SmackDown moves to Tuesday nights and goes live every week starting on July 19th.
