Subhojeet Mukherjee on May 5, 2026
WWE’s Premium Live Event format may not be settled just yet — and a new report suggests more changes could be coming soon.
After Bruce Prichard explained why WWE has moved toward shorter cards with fewer matches, new information is now pointing to how those shows could look going forward — especially with a potential shift tied to ESPN.
Speaking during a Self Made Session, Self Made Pro noted that WWE is still actively working out how to structure its shows under an ESPN Unlimited model. According to them, the format is still evolving behind the scenes.
“I spoke to somebody when it comes to WWE pay-per-view formatting in the future. WWE is still trying to figure out how to format shows on ESPN Unlimited.”
That uncertainty is already shaping how events may be built. Instead of expanding cards, the current idea appears to stick with the trimmed-down structure — but with a specific twist when it comes to match lengths.
“So it’s looking like, right now, the five-match B pay-per-view format is going to be one of those deals where they give four matches decent time, and then one of them is just going to be very, very, very short.”
There’s also a distribution strategy behind it. Self Made Pro added that WWE is expected to keep part of these events accessible on traditional television, at least for now, due to subscription goals not being fully met.
“And right now, they’re going to continue to have at least the first hour of these shows on some version of regular ESPN TV because the ESPN Unlimited subscriptions are not where they need to be.”
That detail explains a lot. Rather than going all-in on streaming immediately, WWE appears to be balancing both platforms — using traditional TV exposure to drive viewers toward the streaming service.
Bottom line — WWE’s “less is more” approach isn’t going anywhere, but how those shows are structured is still being fine-tuned. With ESPN in the mix, the format could continue to evolve, including shorter matches and hybrid broadcast strategies.
Do you think WWE’s five-match format works better, or should they go back to bigger cards with more talent featured? Let us know your thoughts.
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