In the mid-80s, WrestleManiastarted off as a closed-circuit event. Then The Wrestling Classic happened where you could see it on closed-circuit television or on pay-per-view. Soon WrestleManiapicked up on the whole PPV front and it was joined by the likes of SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble. Attempts to expand the “Big Four” had differing levels of success with Tuesday in Texas, King of the Ring, and In Your House. The rise of the Monday Night Wars made monthly PPVs a regular thing and now that the WWE Network reigns supreme, it’s much more than that.
Considering the Brand Extension, PPVs have been even more supersaturated. Rawand SmackDowneach have their own shows to build to, while the Big Four are the big crossover events. Then there’s the NXT TakeOvershows, which are always must-watch.
Here’s the calendar of what’s off on the horizon. Check back as we’ll be regularly updating.
January 28, 2017Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas
Ad
Ad – content continues below
Every three months or so, NXT’s storylines culminate into their own special event called TakeOver. Usually running around two hours, the events tend to feature about five major matches based on celebrating the popular developmental brand and focusing on awesome in-ring action. Just be careful when looking up upcoming shows as NXT tapes far in advance and a main event can be known even when the PPV itself is over a month away.
ROYAL RUMBLE
January 29, 2017Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
To many, it’s the show you look forward to more than even WrestleMania. In the main event, 30 wrestlers compete in an over-the-top-rope elimination match with a new entrant coming out every 90 seconds. The winner gets a guaranteed title shot at WrestleMania. Always an interesting show, even if they take some terrible missteps.
Just so you know, in the previous several years, they’ve taken some terrible missteps.
Also, this installment is a bit special as it takes place in San Antonio, 20 years after the last time they did this. Expect Steve Austin to show up and do something, since he won that match.
February 12, 2017Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona
Ad
Ad – content continues below
So…this pretty much guarantees someone from Rawwill win the Royal Rumble, right?
Having been absent for a slight while, the Elimination Chamber PPV makes its return as the meat in a Royal Rumble/WrestleMania sandwich. At least one match will take place in a pod-filled cage where six men will compete either for the WWE World Championship or a spot as the #1 contender. Perhaps we’ll see the very first all-female Chamber match.
FASTLANE (Raw)
March 5, 2017Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Fastlanehad become WWE’s replacement for Elimination Chamber, but without the cool gimmick match. It’s the event made to add drama to the aftermath of Royal Rumble, suggesting that plans might indeed change. The first year, it gave fans hope that Roman Reigns might not be the #1 contender going into WrestleMania, which didn’t work out for Daniel Bryan. Then in 2015, it was the way Reigns won his title shot. Expect the Royal Rumble winner to defend his title shot yet again for whatever reason.
NXT TAKEOVER: ORLANDO
April 1, 2017Amway Center in Orlando, Florida
WRESTLEMANIA 33
April 2, 2017Orlando Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida
While much of the 2017 schedule is up in the air right now, WrestleMania’s been announced long in advance. As always, it will be WWE’s biggest attempt to put on an unforgettable show, though whether they succeed is something we’ll have to wait for. I’m sure the Rock will be there in some form, just because it’s Florida. A TakeOvershow on Friday, March 31 is also just as likely.
One match already confirmed is Big Show vs. Shaq.
Ad
Ad – content continues below
MONEY IN THE BANK
June 18, 2017Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri
No word yet on whether or not this PPV will be a brand exclusive or not, but it will indeed be happening this June. A handful of wrestlers will battle it out in a massive Ladder Match where the prize is a briefcase granting the winner a guaranteed title shot whenever they choose. It’s continually changed the landscape of the WWE title scene and the matches are always worth checking out.
NXT TAKEOVER
August 19, 2017Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
SUMMERSLAM
August 20, 2017Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
SummerSlam will be making its third consecutive stop in Brooklyn for their high-profile event. That’s well over a year away as of this writing, but I’m sure the main event will be something like Jack Swagger vs. Darren Young. You know how obvious WWE booking is.
NXT TAKEOVER
November 18, 2017Toyota Center in Houston, Texas
SURVIVOR SERIES
November 19, 2017Toyota Center in Houston, Texas
One of the oldest PPV types, Survivor Series usually centers around a handful of elimination tag matches, usually in the four-on-four or five-on-five variety. While the PPV has lost steam over the years, the Brand Extension has given it some new life by turning it into a remake of Bragging Rights where Rawand SmackDowncompete against each other in various tag bouts.
