WWE May Phase Out Classic Premium Live Events, Says TKO President Mark Shapiro
Could WWE really move on from the events that built its empire — WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series?
In a comment that sent shockwaves through wrestling circles, TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro hinted that the company could start phasing out some long-running Premium Live Events (PLEs) that originated under Vince McMahon’s regime.
Speaking with Andrew Marchand on The Main Event podcast, Shapiro praised WWE’s leadership duo, Nick Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque, for their energy and creativity. But it was his next line that raised eyebrows:
“They’re open to new ideas. They never seem exhausted. They’re ready to take on a new shot, a new risk, a new opportunity. Right now, a lot of our PLEs were created by Vince McMahon. We need to get in the business of taking that torch and moving past that.”
That phrase — “moving past that” — has sparked debate across the industry about what exactly TKO plans to “move past.”
New Era, New Events
Shapiro pointed to the success of Wrestlepalooza, which debuted this past September in Indianapolis as part of WWE’s new ESPN partnership. The event, created by Khan and Triple H, was described as a “launch event for the new era” — and according to Shapiro, it “did incredibly well” both commercially and in merchandise sales.
“Nick and Triple H created Wrestlepalooza, which did incredibly well and may turn into a super franchise,” Shapiro said. “From a merch standpoint, securing the I.P. rights and selling merch at Wrestlepalooza — let’s just say it was a real winner.”
That kind of language — branding, IP control, and merchandising rights — suggests WWE’s corporate future might prioritize fresh properties with modern brand potential over legacy titles that date back to the 1980s.
What Could Be On The Chopping Block?
While WrestleMania is unquestionably safe — eliminating it would be like the NFL rebranding the Super Bowl — there’s genuine speculation around events like Money in the Bank, Elimination Chamber, and even SummerSlam, which could be repositioned or merged with newer IP.
As for Survivor Series, the 39th annual edition is scheduled for November 29 at Petco Park in San Diego. Despite no matches yet announced, over 32,000 tickets have already sold, proving the show still has drawing power.
Still, the tone from TKO suggests that nostalgia won’t be enough forever.
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Mark Shapiro’s comments shouldn’t be taken as a death sentence for WrestleMania or the Rumble — but they are a signal. TKO wants new intellectual property that it fully owns and can market for decades to come. The company is thinking more like Disney than 1980s WWF, and that means legacy events that don’t deliver blockbuster business could eventually fade into “special attraction” territory.
The fact that Wrestlepalooza is already being described as a “super franchise” says it all — TKO wants to build the next generation of WWE brands, not just protect the old ones.
The challenge? Balancing progress with heritage. Because no matter how many new events are created, there will only ever be one WrestleMania — and that’s a torch you don’t just move past.
