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Booker T, the WWE Hall of Famer, has shared his thoughts on WWE's recent choice to cut back on house shows. He sees it as a double-edged sword that could change wrestling. On his Hall of Fame podcast, the five-time world champ got straight to the point, explaining the good and bad of WWE's move away from live events that aren't on TV. The company is seeing record attendance and big TV deals, like the one with Netflix starting next year. This change has caused fans and those in the business to wonder how it will affect performers and the wrestling business in general.
The decision to cut house shows comes as WWE focuses on premium live events and international tours, a strategy that’s paying off with sold-out arenas and booming revenue. For wrestlers, Booker T noted, fewer house shows mean more time off the grueling road schedule. “These guys are gonna have a lot more time off,” he said, reflecting on his own days grinding through 300-plus dates a year. Less travel could mean better recovery, fewer injuries, and longer careers for today’s stars, who juggle TV tapings, pay-per-views, and media obligations. From a business perspective, trimming smaller markets shows boosts profitability, letting WWE pour resources into high-profile spectacles that fans can catch on platforms like Netflix or through betting markets where enthusiasts wager on match outcomes and title changes to stay engaged with the action. (source: https://gamblingindustrynews.com/betting/ )
But Booker T was quick to highlight the downside. House shows have long been the backbone of wrestler development, where rookies and veterans alike sharpen their skills. “You gotta get those reps in,” he stressed, drawing from his time running Reality of Wrestling. Without regular live crowds, up-and-comers might struggle to master ring psychology or build stamina, potentially stunting their growth. Veterans, too, use these shows to test new moves and mentor younger talent, something that’s harder to replicate in NXT or the Performance Center. Booker’s own career, from WCW to WWE, leaned heavily on those untelevised nights to perfect his craft, and he worries this shift could leave gaps in the next generation’s skill set.
For fans, the change hits differently. House shows provide budget-friendly, intimate experiences in smaller towns. Reducing these shows could lead fans to choose streaming or travel to larger events. Even if WWE is concentrating on quality, some fans may feel ignored. This shift could also change the wider wrestling world. Wrestlers may push for better contracts if road time drops, or look to promotions like AEW, which still leans on live events. Meanwhile, WWE’s international push into Europe and the Middle East could offset losses, but domestic fans might miss the local vibe.
Booker’s take, rooted in his decades in the ring and behind the mic, underscores a tension between progress and tradition. As WWE streamlines under TKO Group’s watch, financial analysts see the logic in cutting overhead, but the human element—wrestlers’ growth and fan connection—remains a question mark. With betting platforms adding a new layer of fan interaction, the industry’s evolution shows no signs of slowing down, but voices like Booker T’s keep the focus on what makes wrestling tick.
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