Keep or Cut? Making the Call on the WWE PPV Rundown For 2023

WWE has undergone several significant changes since Triple H took over creative duties following Vince McMahon's departure from the company.

The Game's next big change? Taking an axe to the bloated annual pay-per-view schedule.

First up is Hell in a Cell—but it should hardly stop there.

It's no secret to most WWE fans by now that the Hell in a Cell event has lost its meaningfulness over the years, and the actual match stipulation has suffered an even worse fate.

The event didn't always match up well with current feuds, and WWE ended up throwing the show's title stipulation match into a few random spots on the card.

So here comes Triple H as the new head of creative. WrestleVotes told Give Me Sport (h/t Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats) that the whole event is "completely dead" and that, while the stipulation still means a lot, the event won't dilute its meaning anymore.

Refreshing. And fans only have to think for but a moment about other events that should get the same sort of treatment.

Here's a quick rundown of annual events and verdicts as to whether they should stay, omitting obvious landmarks like WrestleMania that won't get the boot (and keeping in mind something like Survivor Series will already receive a makeover):

• Extreme Rules: Cut

• Elimination Chamber: Cut

• Money in the Bank: Keep 

• Backlash: Cut

• Clash at the Castle: Keep 

Some events like Fastlane have already been discontinued, and thankfully so. A silly event name like Fastlane should never have occupied the same territory as something as prestigious as Hell in a Cell.

Start at the very top. Extreme Rules has long suffered from the same problems as Hell in a Cell. WWE would have to interrupt its current feuds by artificially escalating things so two or more Superstars could have an extreme match (dude). Fans could check the calendar and just know that at least a few of the ongoing storylines would get the treatment.

Like the actual steel trap that is a Hell in a Cell, an Extreme Rules match should be reserved for when a storyline actually needs it.

It's a similar vibe for Elimination Chamber. While pretty unique in the pro wrestling landscape, it's limiting creativity. Fans know a handful of no-chance stars will get thrown in with the big names about to headline bigger shows at a later date. There will be a glass-breaking spot, a face-on-the-chains spot, a jump-off-the-top spot.

There are better ways WWE could go. They could get creative with tournaments or something else in its place. If nothing else, the Elimination Chamber at least needs to go on a hiatus so it feels fresh upon its return.

One most probably won't budge on is Money in the Bank. Totally fair, too, as most of its importance stems from the long-term ramifications.

However, remember Otis' dreadful run with the briefcase? How about Austin Theory's going-nowhere current run because everyone knows Roman Reigns won't lose?

Money in the Bank needs to stay, but the booking has to change. It's a brilliant way to build up new stars, and perhaps the eventual shift away from Reigns and overall creative direction under the guidance of Triple H will solve some of the event's ongoing issues.

Backlash...does anyone know what backlash really is? The idea seems cool—there's a backlash and consequence to happenings at and around WrestleMania. But the event is usually a hodgepodge of continued and new feuds, the latter of which is strange because 'Mania feels like a much better endpoint. The spot on the calendar can stay, but WWE can surely do much better with naming, branding and theme.

Drew McIntyre's robbery and weird post-show singing aside, Clash at the Castle from the U.K. was brilliant this year and a hopeful sign of things to come. There's no sense in removing an international show of this caliber, especially when it's the closest thing to 'Mania-styled energy and fan engagement we've seen in a long time.

As a whole, WWE needs to cut down on PPVs in 2023 and beyond to make the ones that actually do occur more important. That could help weekly programming too, because fans won't know when and how title changes could happen.

A less-is-more approach is the right move, especially when so many of the big ones are clear candidates for the chop.