3 PPVs WWE should bring back in 2019 and 2 which they should not

WWE cancelled 5 pay-per-views in 2018 as they had to accommodate their global PPVs in the calendar. The company introduced several new PPVs namely the Greatest Royal Rumble, Crown Jewel, WWE Evolution and WWE Super Show Down in 2018.

The key problem with the global shows is that they are not PPVs but just glorified live events where no title changes take place and the legends of the past overshadow the upcoming superstars. With the exception of the RAW Tag Team Championship and Cruiserweight title at the global PPVs.

Despite that fact, the WWE advertises them as pay-per-views and has replaced them with some major PPVs on their calendar.

While some PPVs were always boring and even the fans demanded them to be cancelled, there were 3 shows which the fans enjoyed and the Creative team must re-introduce them in 2019:

---

#1 Should be back - WWE Payback

This epic match-up took place at WWE Payback

Payback made its first appearance in the year 2013 and since then became a regular on the WWE calendar. It replaced the "No Way Out" and was initially a June PPV but soon the company shifted it in the April month and marketed it as a post WrestleMania pay-per-view where over half the matches were rematches from the grandest event. However, the Greatest Royal Rumble's introduction led to the company cancelling Payback 2018.

Former Universal Champion Roman Reigns was a constant in the main event of Payback as he headlined the last 4 editions of the PPV. In 2014, he teamed up with the S.H.I.E.L.D to take part in a six-man tag team match against Evolution. While in 2015 he fought for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a fatal-4 way match. He defended his world title against AJ Styles in 2016 before losing to Braun Strowman in the main event of Payback 2017. WWE Payback provided the Creative team with the perfect platform to end some WrestleMania storylines and kick-off new feuds on the weekly shows.

#1 Should Not - WWE Great Balls of Fire

A name which sparked a controversy

Though the pay-per-view was not a big event, it grabbed every wrestling fan's attention due to its controversial name. It was revealed that Vince McMahon himself came up with this unique name for the RAW exclusive pay-per-view. The 2017 edition saw Brock Lesnar headlining the GBOF PPV with Samoa Joe in a Universal Championship match. However, the match which drew more eye-balls was the Ambulance match between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman.

The event failed to deliver overall as it had some lacklustre matches like Curt Hawkins vs Heath Slater and Enzo vs Big Cass to name a few. It felt like a filler PPV and with Extreme Rules now taking place between Money in the Bank and SummerSlam there is no need to have another event in the July month as it would just drag the story-lines rather than adding some new angles.

#2 Should be back - WWE No Mercy

The first and only PPV match between John Cena and Roman Reigns took place at No Mercy 2017

The WWE Creative reintroduced No Mercy in 2016 after an 8-year break. It was a SmackDown exclusive PPV in 2016 while a RAW exclusive one in 2017. The two editions of the pay-per-view produced four "once in a lifetime" matches namely - John Cena vs AJ Styles (c) vs Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler vs The Miz in a Career vs Title match in 2016 and John Cena vs Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman vs Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship in 2017. With the company's tendency to book some WrestleMania main-event calibre matches on the No Mercy event the Creative team should give a thought to bring it back in 2019.

WWE Universe, as well as the wrestling critics, gave positive feedback for both the editions of No Mercy event which should prove to be the biggest reason to tempt the writers to rethink their strategies.

#2 Should Not - WWE Battleground

The last Battleground PPV had a Punjabi Prison match as its main event

The fans and critics often criticized the Battleground for its poor match cards and bookings. Though the S.H.I.E.L.D triple threat match headlined the 2016 edition, all the matches on the card were too easy to predict. In the 2017 edition, a Punjabi Prison Match and a Flag Match featured on the show which is enough to give a hint about the wrestling quality on the show. It turned out to be a 3 and a half hour long snoozefest as even Kevin Owens and AJ Styles failed to put up a good match.

Another July PPV which just used to drag the story-lines unnecessarily and even reducing the fans' excitement before SummerSlam (the six-man tag team match between John Cena, Enzo and Cass vs The Club is just a prime example). WWE already has a solid show in Extreme Rules for July and should never make a mistake to bring Battleground back.

#3 Should be back - WWE Clash of Champions

After all, all the Championships need to be defended on pay-per-views!

WWE hit the bull's eye when it introduced the Night of Champions pay-per-view as it increased the relevance of the champions on the roster. With all the championships on the line, this was one show which seldom disappointed. The reason why WWE may have done away with Clash of Champions is there are 8 championships on both the brands currently which becomes 9 after the addition of the Cruiserweight Championship. To give proper time for all the 9 matches and ignore other feuds on the shows may not be something that WWE Creative would risk to do.

However, a pay-per-view like Clash of Champions could help superstars reach a new level as several #1 contender tournaments could be organised on RAW and SmackDown Live which could also result in an increase in viewership and ratings as all the matches on the show would have high stakes involved.

Which pay-per-view do you think WWE should reintroduce in 2019? Share your views in the comments section below.