Vince McMahon, the former head of WWE, wasn’t always a fan of holding major wrestling shows outside the United States. Here’s why.
Fear of Lower Pay-Per-View Sales
On a recent podcast, wrestling personality Jim Cornette explained McMahon’s hesitation. Apparently, McMahon worried that the time difference between the US and other countries would hurt pay-per-view sales, which were a major source of income for WWE at the time.
This explains why McMahon preferred to focus on shows in the US, where the time zone difference wasn’t a factor. Pay-per-view buys were king, and McMahon didn’t want anything to jeopardize that revenue stream.
Things have certainly changed since then. WWE is now having a lot of success with international events, like the recent Backlash pay-per-view that broke records. They even plan to host the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia after 2025. It seems WWE is embracing the international wrestling market, and the fans are responding.
With the rise of streaming services and a more global fanbase, WWE is no longer as reliant on traditional pay-per-view sales. This allows them to take their product to a wider audience and capitalize on the passion for professional wrestling around the world.
