Ultimately, WWE operates as a business with a primary emphasis on profitability. Although their house shows generated profit, they fell short of expectations. So, TKO has chosen to reduce the number of these shows, a decision that offers both advantages and disadvantages. Cody Rhodes, the WWE Universal Champion, recently expressed his views on both aspects of this decision.
In 2025, TKO President Mark Shapiro aims to host “close to 200” house shows which is a decrease from 250 in 2024 and 300 in 2023. This move was met with disapproval from many fans and wrestlers. But on the Superstar Crossover podcast, Cody Rhodes thoughtfully shared both the pros and cons of the change.
The 39-year-old said, “We’re the modern WWE with all the medical protocols that exist in terms of having the best nutrition, having mental clarity, having focus, and being dialed in physically.
We still very much are a, you know, I guess toxic to a degree but heavyweight. There is a vanity element to professional wrestling and sports entertainment, so in terms of everyone’s preparation, that’s a good thing in terms of being able to get that mental clarity to be able to get your time at home but also be able to be locked in on work. To be able to get the best nutrition, the best recovery especially. You know, they have all these things now with the cold plunges, inversion tables, blah, blah…
I’m at DDP’s studio now and half the stuff is in here so, but, the con for me is I only get better at wrestling by wrestling. So, that’s a con for me.”
WWE Women’s Champion Liv Morgan recently shared her thoughts on the reduction of house shows.
Liv Morgan expresses mixed feelings about the changes to the WWE house shows
The organization is cutting down on its non-televised shows. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan has mixed feelings about this. In an interview, she said these WWE shows are important for wrestlers, especially new ones. Morgan also raised worry about how this decision might affect young talent searching for opportunities to advance.
She said, “I’m sad to see them kind of go a little bit because the house shows are so much fun and it’s so, so much more intimate. House shows are truly for the love of the game. House shows are for the love of the art of wrestling, performing and being with the fans and interacting with fans on a more intimate level.”
