WWE Planning To Reduce PPV Events in 2017

The list gets long when referencing all of the of the WWE Pay-Per-View opportunities. Opening the year with Royal Rumble and flowing through Fastlane, Roadblock, Wrestlemania, Payback, Extreme Rules, Money in the Bank, Battleground, SummerSlam, Backlash, Clash of Champions, No Mercy, Hell in a Cell, Survivor Series, TLC, and multiple NXT Takeover events it can be too much as well as provide too little.

According to Wrestler Observer Newsletter the powers that be are agreeing with the fan burnout and are considering a reduced slate as soon as 2017.

"With the network subscription numbers declining in September even with going with two PPVs, they are going to make another change when it comes to PPV," the newsletter read. "It hasn't been completely worked out but the last word was there would be a few less shows in 2017 than were originally planned."

The WWE website still lists 18 pay-per-views on the calender for 2017, though only the Royal Rumble, Fastlane, Wrestlemania, Summer Slam, and two NXT stops have dates as well as locations confirmed.

Fatigued audiences, price point, and less time to build quality storylines have contributed to the drop of subscribers as well as -- perhaps -- overall viewership.

To close the 2016 year the last three events already have headliners determined.

The Survivor Series will feature Brock Lesner versus Goldberg on Nov. 20 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto (Ontario, Canada).

Two weeks later at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs the showdown between AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose will get the closing act treatment in Dallas (Texas) at the American Airlines Center.

The last event of the year is, again, spaced out for two weeks later on Dec. 18 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) and will have Kevin Owens versus Roman Reigns as the billboard match for Roadblock: End of the Line.

The WWE has held relatively steady in PPV events over the last nearly 20 years. The company opened with just a handful from 1985 through 1994, never having more than five events.

That number jumped to 10 in 1995 and has never been lower than 12 since expanding again in 1996. It peaked with 16 in 2006 but has remained within that span for nearly two decades.

Currently, John Cena, Triple H, and The Undertaker are all tied with 67 appearances in PPV main events -- including Royal Rumble participations.

Shawn Michaels is in with 48, followed by Randy Orton, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Kane with 43, 41, and 38, respectively.

The WWE has eliminated several of its recurring events in recent years with King Of the Ring being the most respected to go to the wayside.