Cody Rhodes: WWE’s European Live Events Exist to Test Appetite for Bigger Shows Across the Continent

Cody Rhodes has acknowledged something many fans have long suspected — that WWE’s European live-event tours are, at least in part, a deliberate effort to measure demand before committing to larger-scale productions on the continent.

Rhodes was candid on the subject, saying it is “not a secret” that the company uses those dates to gauge audience interest in potentially expanding its European footprint in a bigger way. It is a straightforward admission of strategy: run the shows, read the room, and plan accordingly.

The context here matters. In recent years, WWE has steadily raised its European profile beyond the traditional stadium stop. The company has staged several Premium Live Events across the continent, including Clash-branded shows in Wales, Scotland, Paris, and Italy. Those events have typically been anchored within broader touring runs, giving WWE a chance to assess crowds and markets across multiple cities rather than relying on a single data point.

For a company that has historically leaned heavily on North American infrastructure, the sustained push into Europe represents a meaningful shift. WrestleMania-caliber events in European markets have been a topic of fan conversation for years, and Rhodes’ comments suggest WWE is actively working through that question rather than dismissing it outright.

With each Premium Live Event the company runs abroad, it builds a clearer picture of where permanent or recurring large-scale investment might make sense. If the touring numbers continue to support the case, a more permanent European presence — whether that means annual PLEs, television tapings, or something larger — appears to be very much on the table.