Fightful: WWE in talks for another major event outside United States

[Dale]

Per Fightful Select WWE has reached out to representatives in Australia to gauge interest for a potential premium live event in the country.

Fightful also notes that often when information is reported about a city being a front runner for a PLE, it is done to drum up interest in the area before it’s an actual reality.​

Was thinking this would probably be an option next given the amount of Aussies they're accumulating on the main roster now. Not sure how the timezone converts to US time but I know it's abysmal for EU.

 

[Chris]

It's in the early AM for most of the US I'm pretty sure, like 3 or 4 a.m. I wanna say bc I assume it's about the same as when live Japan shows air here.

If they really cared about that, they could do what the UFC does and air the card at like fucking 11 a.m. Australia time which would be a more normal time in the US. Weird af but the UFC crowd did not seem any less hype due to it being in the morning for them at their last Aussie show

 

[Dale]

They gotta look at doing an Ireland show aswell while they have Bex, Sheamus & Finn.

Mexico gotta be on the list too.

 

[Dale]

This new report comes after the Wrestling Observer noted in April that WWE was negotiating with the state government of Western Australia to run a major stadium show. It was said that the deal would be similar to when the city of Melbourne made a deal with WWE twice to run stadium shows, one of which was the Super Show-Down pay-per-view. It’s believed that WWE would run the city of Perth, which hosted UFC 284 at RAC Arena in mid-February.

WWE CEO Nick Khan stated during the recent Q1 2023 earnings call that WWE is negotiating with local governments and tourism groups around the world about possibly receiving subsidies to run Premium Live Events in their markets. This trend began when the Welsh government paid WWE a significant sum to bring Clash at The Castle to Cardiff, Wales in September 2022. Khan made his recent comments when asked about officials in Puerto Rico paying WWE a seven-figure subsidy for Backlash.

“In terms of Puerto Rico and the subsidies, yes, I think we kicked it off with our show [Clash at The Castle] last Labor Day weekend in obviously, Wales, where there was what we believe to be a significant government subsidy for that event. We hit all the markers on it. And we’ve now started to replicate that, both domestically and continue to do so internationally. So Puerto Rico, we’re having conversations with a number of different cities in the United States and abroad in terms of what we can do.”

Khan made similar comments earlier in the Q1 2023 earnings call when making his prepared remarks.

“Looking ahead, the coming months are an exciting moment for our company as we embark on our biggest run of international shows in WWE history. This coming Saturday, Backlash will emanate from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Bad Bunny will compete in rang against Damien Priest, and what will be a completely sold out arena. We also received a seven-figure subsidy for this event. We are in a dialogue with a number of different local governments, tourism groups and event organizations about the economic impact of WWE when our events come to town. Look for more updates on this in the future as these conversations progress.”​

 

[Hoss]

They did the first Super Showdown (technically Super Show-Down) in Australia and it started at 4 AM ET I'm pretty sure. I'm sure for a proper PLE they'd do the UFC approach.

 

[Chris]

They did the first Super Showdown (technically Super Show-Down) in Australia and it started at 4 AM ET I'm pretty sure. I'm sure for a proper PLE they'd do the UFC approach.

Depends, I think that Super Showdown was built towards like a pretty big show still? I really think they might just air it at a fucked up time for us bc they don't have to worry about PPV buys like the UFC does

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Nah fuck it. Do the show at 4 am

 

[Storm Trooper]

Nah fuck it. Do the show at 4 am

definitely. It starts 4AM Australia time lol.

And Lord knows if the show happens we know Mami will be in the Main Event.

 

[Hoss]

Depends, I think that Super Showdown was built towards like a pretty big show still? I really think they might just air it at a fucked up time for us bc they don't have to worry about PPV buys like the UFC does

Eh it was definitely house show vibes and in between HIAC and Evolution in a way that meant that it was mostly holding pattern stuff

 

[Storm Trooper]

Eh it was definitely house show vibes and in between HIAC and Evolution in a way that meant that it was mostly holding pattern stuff

But.... It had the last time ever match between Triple H and The Undertaker! Lol yeah that show was similar to the early Saudi shows where it's a big stadium show betweens PPVs instead of just having the big stadium show actually BE the PPV.

 

[Lethal]

8pm EST for the Americans, is 10am AEST for us, so....+14 difference. If we started at 7pm, it'd be on the air at 5am for America.

It'd actually be very friendly for the UK, like 10am if the show started 7pm AEST or 11am if it started at 8pm.

This could change if Perth gets it, which is AWST (-2 hours) so would be 8am UK/3am US

 

[Death By Looch]

definitely. It starts 4AM Australia time lol.

And Lord knows if the show happens we know Mami will be in the Main Event.

Only if the build and a Main Event level opponent is there... and even then I feel that it's not very likely to happen.

These international shows are good and all, but as long as they are build up and done just like super-glorified tour shows and not like actual "PLE"s, then I dunno if it's that great that they gravitate towards doing more of them. Of course it's great for the local fans that they get to see an actual "PLE"-sized show and not just some international tour house show live, but in general it'll render these shows almost pointless, if nothing of importance ever really happens in them.

 

[Lethal]

MAMI to defend against Charlotte in a WM rematch would be cool (fuck the draft).

 

[Hoss]

Only if the build and a Main Event level opponent is there... and even then I feel that it's not very likely to happen.

These international shows are good and all, but as long as they are build up and done just like super-glorified tour shows and not like actual "PLE"s, then I dunno if it's that great that they gravitate towards doing more of them. Of course it's great for the local fans that they get to see an actual "PLE"-sized show and not just some international tour house show live, but in general it'll render these shows almost pointless, if nothing of importance ever really happens in them.

What would be unlikely about Rhea main eventing an Australian PLE? Seems to me like they'd almost definitely go that route, unless there was a Roman defense that fit the bill. Even then, I wouldn't be that surprised if they had Rhea main event if Roman's opponent wasn't someone significant.

 

[Canadian Dragon]

What would be unlikely about Rhea main eventing an Australian PLE? Seems to me like they'd almost definitely go that route, unless there was a Roman defense that fit the bill. Even then, I wouldn't be that surprised if they had Rhea main event if Roman's opponent wasn't someone significant.

I would agree with you in principle if they hadn't just put Cody Brock, a non title match, as a headliner in Puerto Rico instead of the biggest pop artist in the world atm. they seem to be pretty intent on certain folks (roman, brock) always main eventing. prob best to hope for a roman bloodline multiman so Rhea can actually headline (which she deserves and its what i would do, i just dont really trust wwe with headliners or good womens booking )