CM Punk’s clean loss to Chad Gable at a live event wasn’t a random result. According to a new report, it was part of a plan to make house shows feel like must-see events.
Fightful Select reported that WWE has been trying to produce viral, buzzworthy moments at live events to encourage attendance. The Halloween-themed matches at recent shows and Gable’s pinfall win over Punk were both part of that effort.
The aim is to make fans think twice before assuming live events are predictable, and to give people a reason to pull out their phones and post what happened.
We had mentioned a number of times that WWE has aimed to get viral moments or buzzworthy items out of their live events to encourage attendance. The Halloween themed matches, and Chad Gable beating CM Punk were both a part of that.
The result happened on October 29 at the Road to Survivor Series: WarGames event in Youngstown, Ohio. Gable pinned Punk cleanly with no interference.
Afterward, Punk shook Gable’s hand and raised his arm. Footage spread online quickly, and a match that took place away from WWE television got attention anyway.
That suggests Gable’s win isn’t the start of a major storyline. It was booked for the buzz. WWE appears to want a few real surprises on house shows so that they don’t feel like nights where everyone knows what’s coming.
