WWE’s ongoing European tour has marked a notable return to live events, generating excitement among international fans and strong internal support from the company. However, behind the scenes, WWE talent appear to prefer a more scaled-back live event schedule, favoring quality over quantity in their non-televised house shows.
WWE’s European Road to WrestleMania Tour: A Major Undertaking
Kicking off on March 14, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, WWE embarked on its ambitious Road to WrestleMania European tour, traveling through key wrestling markets including Germany, Belgium, Italy, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Austria, and the Netherlands. This tour includes a mix of both televised shows such as Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown in cities like London’s O2 Arena and Brussels’ Forest National, alongside several non-televised house shows in arenas across Europe.
The tour features 11 cities in total and culminates with consecutive live broadcasts of Raw and SmackDown from London on March 28 and 31. The live shows offer fans a chance to see top WWE talent like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair, and LA Knight in action, with many matches crafted to build momentum heading into WrestleMania 41.
Scaled-Back House Shows Preferred by WWE Talent
Despite the high-profile nature of these tours, sources close to WWE reveal that talent have expressed a clear preference for limiting the number of non-televised live events or house shows.
According to a WWE insider, several wrestlers feel the physical and travel demands of a packed live event calendar can be taxing, and that a more balanced schedule helps them maintain peak performance for televised shows and major pay-per-views. The insider explained:
“There’s been a lot of buzz backstage about how much work goes into each house show. The guys appreciate getting to do these events but want to avoid burnout. Keeping the number of these events manageable means they can bring their best every night, especially on TV.”
This sentiment reflects WWE’s apparent approach to carefully scaling back live event frequency compared to previous years while continuing the momentum of its high-profile European tour.
Balancing Fan Engagement with Talent Wellness
WWE’s decision to limit the house show schedule while still delivering key live experiences meets the needs of multiple stakeholders. Fans in Europe some of the most passionate globally are thrilled to see WWE stars live, especially in cities that rarely host televised Raw or SmackDown episodes. Meanwhile, the talent benefit from optimized travel schedules and recovery time.
The tour’s blend of major televised shows and select house events like those in Dortmund, Hannover, Belfast, and Amsterdam provides a strategic compromise. It maximizes fan interaction and revenue opportunities without overburdening the wrestlers.
Upcoming WWE Events Indicate a Strategic Shift
Beyond the Road to WrestleMania tour, WWE’s announced tours in the U.K., Ireland, and France this August continue this trend of measured live event scheduling. Notably, the Clash in Paris premium live event on August 31 will be WWE’s first-ever major show in the French capital, underscoring the company’s focus on high-impact, well-promoted events instead of saturating markets with numerous smaller shows.
Additionally, this August tour will feature televised episodes of Raw and SmackDown in historic venues such as Birmingham and Dublin the first time in over a decade for Birmingham and the first SmackDown in Dublin further emphasizing WWE’s preference for marquee events in strategic cities.
Talent Wellness and WWE’s Future Live Event Strategies
WWE’s current approach aligns with a broader industry recognition of athlete wellness. The grueling schedules of the past often led to injuries and burnout, impacting both individual careers and long-term product quality. By keeping house shows limited and focusing on fewer, more significant events, the company is striking a balance that benefits fans, wrestlers, and business outcomes.
A source close to Cody Rhodes, one of WWE’s frontline stars, noted:
“Cody and many others are advocates for smarter schedules. They want to deliver fantastic matches but also stay fresh and healthy for the big moments. The European tour’s structure shows WWE is listening to these concerns.”