AEW’s Jim Ross: Pay-Per-Views Should Be 3 Hours Long

One big thing: Jim Ross advocates for shorter PPVs

AEW announcer and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross believes professional wrestling pay-per-views should be three hours long, citing audience attention span and the importance of the main event.

Key points:

• Ross shared his opinion on his “Grilling JR” podcast, responding to recent discussions about PPV length.
• He stated that “if you can’t conduct your business in three hours, you need to reevaluate your plan.”
• Ross referenced his experience with WCW, where pay-per-views were typically two hours and 50 minutes long.

Why it matters:

The debate over PPV length has intensified recently, with WWE opting for shorter cards while AEW’s events tend to be longer. Ross’s perspective as a veteran in the industry adds weight to the ongoing discussion about optimal event duration.

By the numbers:

• WWE’s upcoming Money in the Bank features 5 matches.
• AEW’s recent Forbidden Door show included 15 matches across the pre-show and main card.

What they’re saying:

Ross: “Somewhere in that three-hour range would be my preference… You gotta cater to that audience, make sure they’re covered, make sure they like the order.”

The big picture:

As wrestling promotions continue to experiment with event formats, finding the right balance between content volume and audience engagement remains a crucial challenge.

What do you think is the ideal length for a wrestling pay-per-view? Share your thoughts in the comments below!