WWE has gone through many phases and has tried out several ideas more than once. The split brand concept has its advantages but there are also several drawbacks. WWE started doing brand specific pay-per-views upon the latest brand split but it looks like this was another experiment which was run its course.
The idea was probably to have more interest in the WWE Network by putting two pay-per-views on every month but it seems those numbers haven’t added up. There were reports that Backlash was going to be a dual-brand pay-per-view event and some assumed WWE could be going that direction soon after that for all future events.
There is also an idea of holding another WWE draft at Backlash to kick off the theme of holding pay-per-view events consisting of Superstars from both the red and blue teams. But it looks like WWE has at least confirmed the fact that all pay-per-views after Backlash will feature both main roster brands.
Hopefully, this will remedy WWE’s problem with increasing costs from holding two pay-per-views a month.
The idea going forward looks like WWE will load up one huge card a month full of big matches from both brands in hopes to not only drive up ticket prices but also boost WWE Network subscriptions. After all, everything leads back to WWE Network subscriptions in the end. But if they can put together some incredible cards in the process then everybody would come out a winner.
Let’s hope this solves the problem and WWE can start putting together some super shows. It seemed to work well for them in the past so a return to this former concept very well might be the ticket they need to make some pretty cool things happen.
WWE issued the following confirming the change:
“After WrestleMania, you’ll get the best of both brands – Raw and SmackDown LIVE – every month, on every pay-per-view. Catch every event streaming live on the award-winning WWE Network.
WrestleMania 34 – April 8, 2018
WWE Backlash – May 6, 2018
WWE Money in the Bank – June 17, 2018
WWE Extreme Rules – July 15, 2018
SummerSlam – Aug. 19, 2018
WWE Hell in a Cell – Sept. 16, 2018
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs – Oct. 21, 2018
Survivor Series – Nov. 18, 2018
WWE Clash of Champions – Dec. 16, 2018”
