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TKO President says SummerSlam 2026 could have been a one-night event

TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro told investors during a conference call that they could have done SummerSlam on one night but opted for two nights for a “better viewing experience.”

Shapiro admitted that a one-night event could have had a higher ticket per cap but it would have affected the overall fan experience.

“We thought it would be a better viewing experience on ESPN. We thought we would get more marketing for our brand on ESPN,” Shapiro said.

He also stressed the importance of going back to the Midwest for premium live events as they have not done enough there.

“It’s not always about the actual bottom line. We prioritize the fan experience and improving profitability. They are not mutually exclusive and not always in that order,” he continued.

WWE did not announce an attendance number for SummerSlam, probably the first time since transitioning to stadium events for their big shows. Tickets took a long time to get moving and only moved due to massive sales throughout the past few weeks.

It’s believed that the company had around 35,000 or a bit less each night for the show, which would make it the least-attended SummerSlam since 2021.

Colin Vassallo
Colin Vassallohttps://www.dev.wrestling-online.com
Colin Vassallo has been editor of Wrestling-Online since 1996. He is born and raised in Malta, follows professional wrestling and MMA, loves to travel, and is a big Apple fan!

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