WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 will be the final Raw exclusive PPV as the company shifts back to dual-branded pay-per-views.
Dave Meltzer first broke the news on the Observer Radio Show that the WWE was likely doing away with brand-exclusive pay-per-views due to “repetitive matchups to fill the card and so-so ticket sales.” Then, news heated up when Reddit user njdeatheater posted on popular wrestling subreddit SquaredCircle about a Ticketmaster email concerning WWE Backlash at the Prudential Center.
The foreshadowing email stated, “Attention ticket holder! This is just a friendly reminder about your event.. WWE Presents Backlash Prudential Center Sunday, May 6th at 7:30PM. This will now be a combined Pay Per View with RAW and SMACKDOWN Superstars.”
Mere days later, the WWE confirmed the rumored news to WWE Network subscribers with a combined roster graphic.
#WWE confirms dual-branded PPV events following #Wrestlemania 34 https://t.co/01PuWhS9Xm pic.twitter.com/MDZwJMELK2
— NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW news (@nodqdotcom) February 17, 2018
Since the next brand exclusive pay-per-view is Smackdown‘s Fastlane and WrestleMania follows afterwards, Elimination Chamber is indeed the final Raw-exclusive PPV. The brand extension itself is not concluding, however, as pay-per-views post-WrestleMania will simply go back to featuring talents from both rosters. For live attendees, this is great news, as they get to see all their favorite talents at one show rather than purchase tickets to separate events.
Talent-wise, it means some newer/rebranding WWE superstars that got the opportunity to compete will potentially now be pushed down the card or not featured at all. The roster is absolutely stacked at the moment when you include established WWE talents and NXT call-ups. We’re talking about a roster that has engulfed Impact Wrestling’s main event roster, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Ring of Honor, just to name a few. Talents might potentially be looking at a WCW style hierarchy with the major names at the top and opportunities to move up the card a rarity. Except this time around, there’s no other company with as massive reach as the WWE globally.
Next: WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 start time
There are rumored rumblings, however, that regular PPV events will move to four hours instead of three. Major ones like WrestleMania and SummerSlam might then move to five hours. WWE PPV events as a whole will likely move to 12 a year again instead of the expanded 16.
Enjoy Sunday’s historic final Raw-exclusive PPV, WWE Elimination Chamber, as we open a new chapter in the brand extension.