WWE Continuing To Experiment With Earlier PPV Start Times
WWE continuing an experiment over earlier PPV start times
May 14, 2024
WWE will continue to experiment with earlier start times for pay-per-views, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.
Outside of a brief period during the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE have traditionally aired pay-per-views from the United States or Canada at 8 pm ET/ 1 am GMT/BST. That changed with WrestleMania 40, though, as both nights began at 7 pm ET/ 12 am BST.
WWE have not held a pay-per-view in North America since WrestleMania but the company will continue to experiment with earlier start times. WWE NXT Heatwave on Sunday, July 7 and SummerSlam on August 3 are currently planned to begin at 7 pm ET/ 12 am BST. Of course, this experiment does not apply to WWE's B-pay-per-views which now air internationally at a time convenient for the local market.
WWE pay-per-views have aired on Saturday nights in recent years as part of a directive from WWE President Nick Khan. UFC's Dana White hinted over the weekend, though, that WWE may revert back to Sunday nights for bumper weekends with other TKO properties, with White claiming "stuff" coming up would be Power Slam on Friday night, UFC on Saturday night, and WWE on Sunday night. WWE have yet to address White's comments.