10 Bizarre WWE PPV Concepts That Actually Worked

When looking at WWE PPV concepts over the years, many have become household names in the calendar and don’t seem too “bizarre” in truth. However, when you go back to their inception and consider the idea behind certain concepts for shows, they do seem a little weird in truth.

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There have been some PPV concepts that have fallen on their face over the years, but there have also been ones that have worked. Of course, some of this is subjective, but upon a rewatch these shows were fun, had good matches, and in some cases should have been trialed for a second run (as they only had one or two editions).

10 Breaking Point Wasn't As Bad As Fans Claim

A Submission Based PPV

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2009	1	2009

Breaking Point is an extremely underrated show. The submission only theme allowed wrestlers to try out different techniques, moves, and approaches to matches. Bouts such as Randy Orton vs. John Cena and DX vs. The Legacy were both a load of fun and unique to one another too.

The main event may have been a let down, but the show overall was strong. It is a shame that WWE didn’t follow through and bring this concept back as it was arguably a success in terms of match quality and feeling different to every other show throughout the year.

9 Survivor Series Brought Gang Warfare

5-On-5 Traditional Tag Team Matches

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
1987	37	2001

Early on in WWE’s life, the company introduced a PPV with a brand new concept - multi-man elimination tag team matches, with the winners being the “survivors”. The matches didn’t have much stakes aside from bragging rights, but it still worked nonetheless.

However, fans loved it, seeing their favorite babyfaces work together to take on a team of heels. This was at a time when huge multi-man matches weren’t the norm, so the concept ended up working and taking on a life of its own.

8 Cyber Sunday/Taboo Tuesday

The Fans Pick The Matches

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2004	5	2008

With more online engagement occurring throughout the 2000s, WWE seeked to take advantage of this by running polls on their website to determine certain match stipulations or participants for both the Taboo Tuesday and Cyber Sunday shows. The event did hold an authentic sense of unpredictability, and it was a show fans looked forward to.

10 Worst Gimmicks To Main Event A WWE PPV In The 2000s

There have been some awful gimmicks in WWE history. Yet somehow, these terrible gimmicks main evented WWE pay-per-views in the 2000s.

The execution should have perhaps been better, but as a concept it did actually work pretty well in truth.

7 Bragging Rights Pit Raw Against SmackDown

Battle For Brand Supremacy

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2009	2	2009

The battles between Raw and SmackDown had sometimes gone to Survivor Series, but in 2009 WWE held the Bragging Rights event in place of it, and it was actually pretty enjoyable!

It had some interesting and fun matchups at a time when WWE kept true to its brand split, so it felt like a notable night with the stars of both shows coming together to do battle.

6 Invasion Saw WCW Join The Fold

Team WWE Vs. Team Alliance

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2001	1	2001

In 2001, WCW and ECW teamed up to form the “Alliance” to take down WWE, and this led to the creation of the “Invasion” PPV concept, wherein members of both factions would face off in a series of matches throughout the night.

This led to a series of fun matches such as RVD vs. Jeff Hardy, Edge & Christian vs. Lance Storm & Mike Awesome, and even Earl Hebner vs. Nick Patrick! It was a fun show amidst what was ultimately a messy angle and storyline.

5 TLC Brought Tables, Ladders & Chairs

An Iconic Match Type Given Its Own Show

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2009	12	2012

In 2009 and 2010, WWE began using iconic match gimmicks to have namesake PPVs. TLC was one of them, though at first it felt like an odd concept as not every match could be TLC with something hanging above the ring.

WWE changed track, and had a selection of chairs matches, tables matches, ladder matches, and TLC matches, which did provide some variety and a lot of fun. When done right, these shows have been among the best of the year.

4 One Night Stand Went Extreme

ECW Rebirth

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2005	4	2006

Seeing WWE put forth an event in celebration of a dead brand in ECW was wild for sure, especially considering it couldn’t have been more different to WWE. However, the first two One Night Stand shows were an absolute success.

Taking place in the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom and featuring former stars of ECW, it really felt like the brand had another heartbeat. These initial shows were fantastic, and even the subsequent One Night Stand events in 2007 and 2008 were pretty fun, with an “Extreme Rules” theme.

3 Fatal Four Way

A Simple Concept

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2010	1	2010

This show gets a lot of unnecessary slack. Sure, on paper the concept wasn’t the most exciting, but it was actually a very fun show. It pitted together some big stars in multi-man matches, which was more exciting and unpredictable than basic singles encounters.

It also saw two new world champions crowned in Rey Mysterio and Sheamus at the one and only Fatal Four Way PPV event. It was fairly fun and the show went down well, but WWE didn’t return to the concept despite it actually working.

2 NXT Deadline

Iron Survivor Showcase

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
2022	1	2022

In 2022, NXT ran the Deadline PPV with a whole new concept at its core - the Iron Survivor. It felt like a more convoluted version of the Championship Scramble, and it felt like it was set for a disaster.

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WCW put on some questionable pay-per-views throughout their history, including Spring Stampede 2000.

However, the new match type went down a storm, with an interesting dynamic and an investment from the audience. It is no surprise that NXT is bringing it back for 2023.

1 Royal Rumble Was Innovative

A Legendary Over-The-Top Rope Battle Royal Event

First Show	Number Of Shows	Best Show
1988	37	2001

Initially, a whole event surrounding a big battle royal in which wrestlers come out periodically was an idea that even Vince McMahon wasn’t fond of, however, it steadily became one of the most anticipated events in the WWE calendar.

The Royal Rumble concept, despite it perhaps being a little odd on paper to begin with, has been nothing short of a roaring success. It is many fans’ most beloved matches each and every year in WWE, and it has played host to some of the all time great moments in wrestling.

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