With the arrival of WWE Network and the brand split coming to fruition, last year, we expected the number of PPVs to increase. Quite expectedly, this year, the number of PPV events increased in number. But, with the recent reports coming up, this year, WWE will keep the number of special events, limited.
As per the updated list of WWE PPVs in 2018, we will get to see 14 of them on the WWE Network. In 2016, 15 such events were hosted, whereas, in 2017, the company hosted 16 of them. The last one of them was hosted on December 17th in the form of Clash of Champions at the TD Gardens in Boston, Massachusetts.
The reason behind this decrement in the PPV numbers got discussed in a report by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The veteran journalist asserted that WWE Network is the sole reason behind this. The path-breaking network was launched to capture more subscribers by increasing the number of special pay-per-view events.
However, as reported by the source, no significant amount of increment was not observed, last year with 16 PPVs in the calendar. Most of the events were hosted with some dream matches on the card, but it failed to sign in more new subscribers. But, the company had to bear with the additional costs for hosting an extra number of PPVs.
So, WWE statisticians might have come to a decision of making more profit by reducing the number of PPV shows, this year. They will not have to bear with the additional expenditures for these WWE Network specials. It might be the reason, as of why Starrcade was not broadcasted live, as a PPV show on the network, as well in November as an effort to cost-cutting. For now, the PPV calendar for 2018 is as follows:
1. January 28th, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Royal Rumble
2. February 25th, Las Vegas, Nevada: Elimination Chamber (RAW)
3. March 11th, Columbus, Ohio: Fast Lane (SmackDown)
4. April 8th, New Orleans, Louisiana: WrestleMania 34
5. May 6th, Newark, New Jersey: Backlash (RAW)
6. May 27th, Baltimore, Maryland: Payback (SmackDown)
7. June 17th, Chicago Illinois: Money In the Bank
8. July 15th, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Battleground (RAW)
9. August 19th, Brooklyn, New York: SummerSlam
10. September 16th, San Antonio, Texas: Extreme Rules (RAW)
11. September 30th, Nashville, Tennessee: Hell In a Cell (SmackDown)
12. October 21st, Boston, Massachusetts: TLC (RAW)
13. November 18th, Los Angeles, California: Survivor Series
14. December 16th, San Jose, California: Clash of Champions (SmackDown)