WWE has quietly moved away from featuring matches during its Premium Live Event kickoff showsand now we know why.
The company has made a deliberate creative change to shift the focus of its pre-shows toward a more sports-style presentation. Instead of opening up with an undercard match, the kickoff now centers around panel discussions, storyline breakdowns, and hype segments. The inspiration reportedly came from shows like ESPNs College GameDay, where analysis and commentary drive the viewer experience.
This change is meant to modernize WWEs presentation and better cater to how fans watch content today. The goal is to build anticipation for the main card rather than squeeze in matches that might be treated as filler. WWE sees the new format as a way to create more anticipation while giving top-level focus to the rivalries and matchups on the main show.
The last time a match aired during a WWE pre-show was at Crown Jewel, when Sami Zayn faced JD McDonagh. Since then, events like the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania have skipped in-ring action during the kickoff entirely.
While its possible WWE could bring back pre-show matches in the future, there are currently no plans to do soeven for major events. The shift appears to be a permanent part of the companys evolving presentation strategy.
Do you think WWE should go back to including matches during their pre-shows, or is the new format working? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
