WWE followers have felt the sting of rising ticket costs in 2025—however now, WWE President Nick Khan is defending the spike, making it clear it’s a deliberate technique, not simply inflation.
Throughout TKO’s 2025 Third Quarter Financials Name, Khan addressed rising criticism over the price of attending WWE occasions like RAW, SmackDown, and premium dwell occasions. When requested if the rise in income was resulting from pricing or crowd dimension, Khan mentioned it’s each—however principally provide and demand.
“It’s each. Capability continues to be very excessive. We’ve elevated costs appropriately with {the marketplace}. That’s for the PLEs, Uncooked, SmackDown, Saturday Night time’s Predominant Occasion, and each different ticketed program that WWE has. We stay bullish on it.”
Khan then pointed to a serious shift in WWE’s touring mannequin that started after the TKO merger.
“A few years in the past when TKO was put up, one of many first issues we collectively did was scale back the non-televised dwell occasions, which created extra shortage within the market for our televised occasions and our continued worldwide growth solely furthered that.”
He additionally teased the early success of WWE’s upcoming tour in Europe, hinting that demand within the U.S. is barely going to rise because of this.
“In January, you’ll see us on a European tour for Uncooked and SmackDown, main into Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. Tickets already on hearth for that occasion and it creates extra shortage in america, which is an efficient factor by way of our general gauge.”
In response to earlier stories, common ticket costs for WWE’s North American TV reveals have jumped 60% from 2024 to 2025. Regardless of the steep climb, attendance numbers are holding sturdy. WrestleTix information reveals WWE is averaging 11,500 tickets distributed per episode of RAW and SmackDown this 12 months, and Pollstar stories that common gross sales have climbed to 12,200 per present.
With fewer dwell occasions and surging demand, WWE appears to be banking on shortage as their path to record-breaking gates—and it’s working. The corporate reportedly noticed a $31.4 million increase in dwell occasions and hospitality income up to now 12 months alone.
Is WWE pricing out its most loyal followers, or is that this simply good enterprise in right now’s market? Please share your ideas and suggestions within the remark part under.