It seems as if though the WWE tends to visit the same cities (particularly Chicago, St. Louis, East Rutherford, Los Angeles, and Boston) nowadays when it comes to hosting its monthly pay-per-views. In the past, pay-per-view locations tend to be different with a city being guaranteed to host a PPV every two or three years. But in recent months, that has changed, due in large part of certain venues drawing more people to its PPV events which means more money for the WWE. And so without further delay, let’s dissect these five cities since 2012 and why they are deserving of a PPV in the WWE’s eyes:
Chicago
WWE events have almost always been held at the Allstate Arena in nearby Rosemont, Illinois (the lone instance of a WWE event in the United Center was the 1994 SummerSlam pay-per-view) and throughout its history would feature some of the best crowds in WWE history. In 2006, it hosted WrestleMania 22, which would be the last time that a WrestleMania would be held in an arena as the focus shifted to much larger stadiums. Since then, the Allstate Arena would host a WWE PPV every year expect for 2008. Chicago even became a much bigger success due to hometown guy CM Punk who would become one of the WWE’s top superstars.
St. Louis
During the WWF days, the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri would occasionally host a WWE PPV and when it does (whether it’s the 1998 Survivor Series or the 2001 No Mercy PPVs), it would sell out crowds. But then came a young 23 year-old superstar by the name of Randy Orton who would go on to become one of the WWE’s top stars. Vince McMahon took notice of Orton as his hometown fans would go nuts for him. Since 2010, St. Louis has hosted four WWE PPVs (the 2010 Elimination Chamber, the 2012 Royal Rumble, the 2013 Extreme Rules and the 2014 Survivor Series) as well as Monday Night RAW’s historic 1000th episode.
Boston
The WWF first had success in Beantown during the days of the Boston Garden as it would host numerous house shows as well as the 1993 Survivor Series PPV. However when the TD Garden (then known as the Fleet Center) opened back in 1995, it would regularly host numerous WWE PPVs such as WrestleMania XIV, the 2000 King of the Ring, the 2003 and 2011 Royal Rumble, the 2006 SummerSlam, the 2008 and 2013 Survivor Series, the 2012 Night of Champions, and the 2014 Money in the Bank. It doesn’t hurt that John Cena lives in nearby West Newbury, Massachusetts.
New York City
For many years, Madison Square Garden has many notable WWE events, including the very first WrestleMania back in 1985. Even though Madison Square Garden continues to host many WWE events (mainly house shows though it did host the 2011 Survivor Series PPV), most high-profile WWE events now that place at the Izod Center in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey, which will include the 2015 SummerSlam PPV.
Los Angeles
Ah, the City of Angels. The glitz and glamour of Hollywood. From 2009-2014, the Staples Center has been the exclusive home of SummerSlam, but Los Angeles has also hosted many top PPVs, from WrestleMania II to WrestleMania VII to WrestleMania 21, Los Angeles has always enthralled many fans and will continue to do so for many years.
