Backstage News on When WWE Decided to Add “Elimination Chamber” to Their PPV Calendar

New reports have provided some backstage news on when WWE decided to add “Elimination Chamber” to their PPV calendar for 2015. As previously noted, WWE announced that they would be holding the special WWE Network exclusive Pay-Per-View event on May 31 during the May 11 edition of “Monday Night Raw,” merely two weeks out from the show taking place.

PWInsider.com claims that WWE just decided to hold the PPV during their previously scheduled Live Event in Corpus Christi, Texas over the last few days. When it was announced that the event would be taking place during the May 11 edition of “RAW,” some of the talent in the back were shocked, as they had not been told the news yet. Many were said to have been surprised at the notion that the company would try to force in another PPV event so close in between “Payback” and “Money In The Bank”.

With “Payback” being held on May 17, “Elimination Chamber” taking place on May 31, and “Money In The Bank” broadcasting on June 14, there are only two weeks in between each PPV. Some superstars are worried about the overkill of this timeline due to what it will do to their body, and how much content the WWE Universe will have to try and get invested in through such a short span of time.

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of “Wrestling Observer Radio” also claim that WWE is holding “Elimination Chamber” on May 31 to gain more subscribers to the WWE Network as well. Their theory is that people will sign-up for free to watch the event, then forget to cancel their subscription in the 45 minute time allotted between the PPV ending and the date changing to June 1, which the company will then bill the subscribers for the next month.

They also report that a good number of WWE superstars were supposed to be off on May 31. The Live Event in Corpus Christi was slated to happen at 1 p.m. originally, running parallel to the event taking place in Greenville, South Carolina at the same time. However, the Texas event was changed to an evening show to accommodate the company’s plans for a WWE Network exclusive PPV.

“Elimination Chamber” will see at least two title defenses inside the ominous chamber, as well as two other title matches, including the defense of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, which will be decided outside of the monstrous structure.

Editor’s Note:

So they basically just said, “screw it, let’s add a PPV,” and didn’t even tell all the guys in the back. Makes sense, right? There are some that are going to have to fly from Greenville, South Carolina, where an event will be held at 1 p.m. ET, to Corpus Christi, Texas for the PPV. Talk about a work schedule, eh?