I never understand this. I almost think it's oversaturation. I told my son that you'd never see Hogan wrestle if it's wasn't PPV or unless they did those late saturday night specials. I think it's watered down a lot of the sell of it. WWE has made their product disposable to the modern entertainment fan.
Disposable is a very good word.
I remember when their Monday night show was called
Prime Time Wrestling. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan hosted what consisted of a recap of taped matches, they aired promos/interviews showcasing current angles and story lines, plugging upcoming PPV's and merchandise, etc. It was essentially the weekend shows, but with Heenan & Monsoon discussing everything that was happening.
Vince eventually changed the format of the show to feature a live studio audience (WWF office employees) and - surprise - himself. It didn't last like that for long before going to a paneled discussion format, and finally a live show moving to that Manhattan theater ballroom.
The weekly Manhattan shows began an era in which "special" matches usually reserved for PPV's and shows like
Saturday Night's Main Event were now aired weekly. WCW copied that formula, causing the Fed to up their weekly game. By then - and especially now - it was increasingly difficult to make a big show special anymore.