Published: Jan 22, 2026 by Jamie Toolan | Last Updated: Jan 22, 2026 by Jamie Toolan
Jamie has been covering the world of wrestling for four years and currently holds the position of Assistant Editor of WrestleTalk.com. During his time working for WrestleTalk.com he has written and published over 4,000 news and feature articles covering events and happenings from WWE, AEW, TNA and a variety of international and independent wrestling promotions.
WWE
A top WWE star has addressed the company’s reduction of the amount of live events they hold each year.
In what has been a stark contrast to WWE talent’s notoriously gruelling schedule throughout Vince McMahon’s time in charge, WWE in 2024 and 2025 has made significant efforts to reduce the number of non-televised live events held each year.
While the stars of Raw and SmackDown did recently wrap up an 11 date tour of Europe, live events are fewer and further between.
Speaking on What Do You Wanna Talk About? Cody Rhodes and his guest The Undertaker discussed the schedule change for talent, with Rhodes highlighting the drawbacks of getting less reps on the road each year.
Rhodes said:
“I miss them so much. I miss the live events for the rhythm of wrestling. It helped actually prevent injuries, it helped not just the camaraderie but the other thing is being a part of the team.
“If you’re only here once or twice a week, what team are you on? Versus, ‘No, this is our crew.’ I know the way the company works it has its own difficulties and challenges today that are different, but I miss it.
“Just, ‘Hey try this’, or ‘Did you hear that?’ Literally things that you could not put in a lab and replicate… Maybe it was a moment in time, I don’t know.”
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The Undertaker would then weigh in, stating that, while he understands WWE’s desire to protect the talent, he feels live events offered talent the chance to try out new ideas and spots away from WWE cameras.
Undertaker said:
“You’re sitting at home on your couch watching TV and a spot comes into your head, ‘Oh that’s pretty delicate, or that’s pretty intricate, do I want to try that on Monday Night Raw with the whole world watching or in Poughkeepsie at a small (event)?’
“Maybe we grinded too hard, there’s a line there, there’s a balance that you need. You need the reps to stay sharp and then you also need a place to try new stuff.
“You’re going to get instant feedback. That either worked, or maybe I need to do this to make it better, but it’s not something like, ‘I’m gonna pull this on Monday Night Raw or try this at a pay-per-view.’ You need some place to try these ideas.
“I get trying to protect your talent, but I also agree with you, iron sharpens iron sometimes. Again, I don’t think you need to grind like we did, but I don’t think you need to not do live events.”
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Emphasising the importance of building chemistry in the ring, Cody Rhodes then discussed his experience away from WWE and working with opponents that were unfamiliar to him:
“When I left WWE and made a list of all these independent wrestlers and wrestlers in Japan, all these different people who I had heard were the bee’s knees, just the most talented, amazing, often very talented, artistic, great people.
“One of the things I discovered just on mom & pop indies I was doing, is the no rhythm between each other meant that you were firing the livest of rounds.
“I’d remember I’d be working with people that, you hear, ‘Oh five stars’, and they were really athletic and they were really great, but we had never touched before. So, all of the thought, ‘well we don’t want to miss either’, oh my gosh I had never walked away from so many shows, boxer cut here, something above the eye, that I’m like, ‘What’s the issue?’
“And I felt that’s something when it comes to Raw or SmackDown, not to belabour my point about the live events but that’s a thing, just to get a little chemistry with somebody, because how often do you have that amazing, lightening in a bottle chemistry with somebody? It’s rare. So, to get a good flow with someone is important. I certainly miss them.”
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