WWE fans in Europe have been spoilt by the offerings in 2024.
While wrestling has always been big on the continent, the major companies have at times been reluctant to truly give them a show to remember. With previous years being mediocre TV tapings or a series of house shows being the norm, it was unlikely that the shows being broadcast overseas would be anything to write home about. While there were exceptions such as the 1-hour epic between John Cena and Shawn Michaels in London and AJ Styles bringing Jinder Mahal’s WWE Championship reign to an end in Manchester, for the most part, the UK shows were generally the more mundane shows of the year.
In 2022, things began to change. When it was announced that Clash at the Castle would take place in Cardiff, Wales, marking the first time in more than 30 years that a stadium show would take place in the UK, fans took notice. With more than 60,000 fans in attendance, the show was regarded as one of the best of the year with the critically acclaimed banger between Gunther and Sheamus and a strong belief that Drew McIntyre might be the one to dethrone Roman Reigns. While we as fans would like to forget the ending of that night, especially with Tyson Fury’s cameo, fans were hungry for more.
The following year and the 2 biggest companies showed their hands once more, this time with WWE hosting Money in the Bank in London. With a night that included the signature matches that are always popular and Roman Reigns suffering a rare pinfall loss, this was a show to remember once again.
While rival company AEW was guaranteed to return to the UK in 2024 with the second All In, the country and the rest of Europe waited to see if any other shows would be announced, and WWE had something very special in mind. With major shows confirmed for France and Germany for the first time ever, the continent buzzed with excitement that something big was finally coming their way.
France helped Backlash become unforgettable and a sleeper hit for one of the shows of the year, largely due to that crowd. Deafening from the opening of SmackDown right through to the main event, with even the most established stars shaken with how big their reactions were. Not one to be outdone, the UK crowds put on a great response with both the WWE and AEW tapings while showing off their unique chants. Where else would you hear “Just sold my car to Santos Escobar” at a WWE show?
Rounding out the European PLEs in 2024 was Bash in Berlin on August 31st. Presenting a televised show for the first time since 1997, the fans came out en masse once more with deafening chants and clearly showing that they were there to make it a good one. As soon as the bell rang for Gunther vs. Randy Orton at Bash in Berlin, the cheers were loud and the crowd even broke into a Mexican wave, which even Orton couldn’t help but join in due to the energy being so infectious.
Why Are International WWE Shows So Special?
Let’s be honest, on paper a lot of the international cards could be easily forgotten at the end of the year. With many of the results feeling predictable, only 5 matches on the card and notable stars being absent, if the same show were to take place in America it would not hit the same, and hasn’t done in the past.
So why are the overseas shows so special and something to look forward to? Put simply, it’s the fans. With wrestling events guaranteed to be in typical markets such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles multiple time a year, fans know what they can expect and are generally formulaic unless something major happens. At times quieter, only a high spot or a surprise appearance can wake the fans up. However, when it comes to European shows, fans will pop for literally everything to make the show much more enjoyable. Frequently breaking the 100-decibel mark, chanting in unison and clearly starved of a major wrestling show, the fans let it be known that they are having a great time and it reflects back at home. No one will forget that Backlash crowd in France anytime soon, with the “il est vraiment phénoménal” chant still resonating among fans all these months later. Some American fans have complained online that the chants are too much, but they don’t like fun so their opinion is invalid on this as they just don’t like fun apparently.
On top of the loud reactions, it’s the subtleties that make the show so much more fun. After hearing “One, two, three” throughout the year, there is something fun about “Eins, zwei, drei” ringing out that makes things that much more enjoyable and gives each international event a unique feel and ultimately unforgettable. While the fact that being able to watch the shows at a normal time is an added bonus, seeing thousands of fans finally seeing a major show come to their town and celebrating all night is a sight to see. So much so that most overseas shows automatically have that intrigue on how the crowd is going to react and which unlikely star could break 100 decibels for simply standing there.
It should be noted that not all the international shows are hits. The Saudi Arabia shows are more of a contractual necessity and politics remains an issue that many still take issue with, but they have improved compared to what first took place back in 2018. Additionally, the crowd at Elimination Chamber in Australia did not feel as hot as other shows in 2024 but that could be down to the fact that the sound was not contained in an arena. However, while most of the loudest shows have been in Europe, the exception to the rule is Puerto Rico, who rivalled France with their thunderous cheers all night, especially when Bad Bunny made his entrance.
With WWE setting the record for the highest-grossing arena show in company history 3 times already in 2024, there clearly is an appetite for fans in Europe to attend the shows, no matter the cost. With France and Germany experiencing the big shows for the first time, fans are also hoping it is not the last, which is the same for many fans watching back home when the follow-up Raw can feel flat by comparison. While many have teased that WWE will be coming back to their country for a big show, fans around the world are hoping for more PLEs to be announced in Europe imminently. Guaranteed to make it a good one, fans will not disappoint.
Featured image: WWE
