Pay-Per-Views Overseas

[Guest Ransome]

I was at one of the post-WM house shows WWE did in Australia, and the arena was completely sold out and the crowd was revved up for every match. Hardcore Holly, for example, was the first wrestler out and got a cheer that shocked even him (and me). I imagine the reaction is because Australia is not a saturated market like many of the US cities WWE frequents. This makes me wonder, why aren't they holding any overseas pay per views?

 

Right now, they have 14+ pay per views a year. As far as I know, many of the lesser events still don't sell out. Even with the expenses of flying the wrestlers and the production crew out to far-away places would be higher than normal, wouldn't the prospect of a huge sold-out arena make up for it? It would be a nice reward to their largely untapped fanbases by giving them an important event (even if it's, say, a Judgment Day or a Vengeance) and some nice international exposure.

 

I still can't believe the only significant pay-per-view held overseas remains Summerslam '92 (exluding Canada, of course). This is 'World' Wrestling Entertainment after all, is there any good reason why they shouldn't acknowledge their international nature and hold a pay per view in Japan, England or Australia?

 

The only significant obstacle I can see is the time differences, which would mean the PPV must be taped several hours before airing in USA. Nonetheless, I can't see how it would detrimentally affect a buyrate any worse than the poor matchups they usually provide for the filler PPVs. What does anyone else think?

[Guest TheDon]

Time Zone difference.

[Guest Shadow]

However; I remember the days when PPV's werent always @ 8pm et. I remember ppvs starting @ 4pm et.

 

So could they conceiveably do a show at a earlier US time?

 

or have the show from Austraila/Japan/London hosted at a eariler/later time to work with us time zones?

[tommytomlin 0]

They'd have to tape them in Australia at about 10am or 11am in the morning for them to be beamed live into the States at the same time you see them normally. A PPV in England works because the time difference is less wonky, but Japan and Australia would be very tricky.

[Guest Lawlerm]

I was at one of the post-WM house shows WWE did in Australia, and the arena was completely sold out and the crowd was revved up for every match.

I think you kinda answered your own question here. Until people stop paying £40-50 to see house show cards then the WWE are never going to have any incentive to hold a PPV in the UK, Australia or Japan. Why risk hurting the buy rates in the US, and having the added expense involved in an overseas production, when they can still fill arenas with house shows?