WWE: Which Pay-Per-View Events Should Be Replaced?

Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and of course WrestleMania are the pillars of the WWE pay-per-view empire. 

WWE went from two PPVs in 1985 to 13 a year today.  Even the lowest buy rate still means millions of dollars coming in, so that trend is unlikely to stop. 

The other events throughout the year range from having being around a few years to just getting started. 

Pay-per-view events come and go.  No Way Out, Backlash and Judgment Day have all been phased out.

Assuming the big four are here to stay, which of the other current events should be axed and which are worth saving? 

Elimination Chamber

Every gimmick match has a shelf life.  At some point, all the excitement it once created is lost. 

The Elimination Chamber is a prime example.  We saw nearly everything the match had to offer the first go-round.  Fans who don't think the concept is stale yet, will at some point.

There is inherent drama in having the winner take on their brand's respective champion at WrestleMania, but that could be achieved in various match forms.

Rather than see the Elimination Chamber lose its luster, WWE could mix it up with Fatal 4-Way matches, battle royals or tournaments. 

Verdict: Replace it

Extreme Rules

Three years running, WWE has given us the gimmick-heavy PPV, Extreme Rules. 

The event can benefit from the variety and novelty of the matches.  With proper booking, we can avoid eyesores like the Country Whippin' Match and Hog Pen Match by either pulling old treasures out of the past or creating new matches. 

If WWE maintains its no blood stance and wants to continue to tame the product, they should avoid booking street fights and hardcore matches.  A PG street fight is not worth having.

Instead, matches like the Gauntlet, Iron Man Match or Luchas de Apuestas would be a better fit. 

The Extreme Rules PPV allows enough flexibility to keep it fresh. 

Verdict: Keep it coming

Over the Limit

There have only been two Over the Limit events, the 2011 version earning a meager number of pay-per-view buys. 

With very little name recognition and history, WWE is going to have to decide whether to stick with Over the Limit and see if it builds a following or scrap it altogether.

My inclination is to bring back King of the Ring instead.  If WWE wants to replace the crown and cape angle but keep the tournament format, many a fan would be down for that. 

King of the Ring was and never will be WrestleMania in terms of buy rates, but it can consistently do better than Over the Limit has so far. 

Verdict: Replace it

Capitol Punishment

Is this a one-shot deal or does WWE plan to continue Capitol Punishment?  McMahon will likely give the event a very short leash.    

If people aren't buying it, he's not likely to let it develop.

WWE could either return to Washington, D.C. each year or have the show travel to other world capitals.  Either way, I’m curious what comes of the event, but I will withhold judgment on its worthiness until we've seen a bit more of it.

Verdict: Let's wait and see

Money in the Bank

The Money in the Bank match is one of the most dangerous matches WWE has to offer and partly because of that, it's one of the company's most exciting.

Plucking the match from WrestleMania was a great idea. 

One of the better gimmick matches, it parallels the drama of a championship match, and the large number of participants adds to the unpredictability. 

Can the excitement be sustained with two matches every year? 

This year's version showed us that maybe it can remain awesome. 

Verdict: Keep it coming

Night of Champions

While the "every championship is defended" concept is a simple one, it's one that works beautifully.

Many of the Raw and SmackDown storylines center around the championships anyway.  The event just guarantees that we get to see all the champions in action.

An added bonus is the idea of honoring past champions during the event.  This hasn't been done nearly enough, but it would be a great chance to educate young fans on the sport's history with having old stars stir up nostalgia. 

Verdict: Keep it coming

Hell in a Cell

Like the Elimination Chamber match, at some point, the excitement of a gimmick match dissipates once you've seen it enough times.

Some of the great matches in WWE history have been Hell in a Cell matches.

Not only is the concept getting watered down by giving it its own event, but the PG era also castrates its effectiveness. 

Scaling back the violence and eliminating the blood makes the Hell in a Cell just a regular match where it’s harder to see the wrestlers. 

The aura of the cell gets lost when it's not used enough.  If McMahon were to decide to turn back the clock and let guys wear a crimson mask and get tossed off the top of the cage, the argument for Hell in a Cell as a PPV changes dramatically.    

Verdict: Replace it

Vengeance

While it doesn't have the history of the big four, Vengeance has been around since 2001 and has had some successful events.

Even though Vengeance has had a number of exciting matches, it hasn't really made a name for itself.  A three-year absence (2008-2010) didn’t help build a following. 

Perhaps more of a focus on the theme of 'vengeance' would help it stand out.  I'd suggest having more rematches, more culminations of bitter feuds. 

Verdict: Keep it coming

TLC: Tables, Ladder and Chairs

TLC is a baby, having only started in 2009.  The event features tables matches, chair matches, ladder matches and the combination of all three, TLC. 

While the variety is intriguing, one has to wonder how long this event can go before it becomes boring.

It's possible that a creative mind could find a way to pump some drama into a chairs or tables match, but as of yet, nothing close to a classic has come from those. 

The tables match more than often has an awkward finish. 

TLC matches, on the other hand, have brought us some unforgettable moments.  They allow enough variety in spots to maintain excitement at least for the foreseeable future.

If the weak links of the event are given some tweaks every once in a while, like a four-man elimination tables match, for example,  the TLC event could remain a thriller.

Verdict: Keep it coming (for now)