WWE in Canada

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

WWE in Canada
Promotions
WWE
BrandsRaw
SmackDown
NXT

WWE (formerly World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment), an American professional wrestling promotion based in Stamford, Connecticut in the United States owned by the McMahon family, has been promoting events in Canada since its founding in 1980.

History

On January 24, 1963,

NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Lou Thesz in a one-fall match in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This disagree led to Mondt, McMahon, and the CWC leaving the NWA in protest, creating the World Wide Wrestling Federation (the predecessor to the WWE) in the process.[1][2]

In 1984 Vince McMahon purchased Stampede Wrestling, before selling it back the following year.[3] Also in 1984, WWF acquired Maple Leaf Wrestling, and continued to run it for a couple of years. In 1986 Maple Leaf Wrestling was shut down, and the name was used for the Canadian broadcasts of WWF Superstars of Wrestling.

In 1985 WWF created the WWF Canadian Championship, which was given to Dino Bravo. Bravo was the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship for many years for Lutte Internationale. Due to his previous success, Bravo was billed as the WWF Canadian Champion in some Canadian cities until January 1986, when the title was abandoned.[4]

In 1986 WWF hosted The Big Event in Toronto which drew over 74,000 fans.[5] Ten years later, the WWF held an anniversary show of The Big Event, WWF Xperience, which drew over 21,000 fans.[6]

In 1997 Survivor Series was broadcast from Montreal and is infamous for the Montreal Screwjob.[7]

WrestleMania X8 in 2002 set the attendance record for an indoor event in Canada, at the Rogers Centre 68,236 people.[8]

In 2019, Montreal hosted the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up.[9]

Broadcast

In its early days, WWF/E programming was shown on TSN for Monday Night Raw and The Score for SmackDown! broadcasts. The programs were also aired on CHCH Hamilton, CJNT Montreal, CKMI Quebec and CKVR Barrie. ECW and NXT were seen on Global Television Network until 2010.

Beginning in 2014,

This Week in WWE on Sportsnet 360.[10]
This deal excludes reality series, such as Total Divas (which is produced for E! and shown on its Canadian counterpart owned by Bell Media).

As part of this deal, the

TV channel for subscribers to cable providers, instead of a standalone service.[11][12][13]

On September 7, 2017, WWE and TVA Sports announced a multi-year agreement to air a weekly recap of Raw in French.[14]

Pay-per-view/WWE Network events

Date Event Venue Location Final match Ref
August 28, 1986 The Big Event Exhibition Stadium Toronto, Ontario Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Paul Orndorff for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
January 24, 1988 Royal Rumble Copps Coliseum Hamilton, Ontario
two-out-of-three falls match
April 1, 1990 WrestleMania VI
SkyDome
Toronto, Ontario
WWF Intercontinental Championship
[15]
October 22, 1995 In Your House 4 Winnipeg Arena Winnipeg, Manitoba
WWF World Heavyweight Championship
[16]
July 21, 1996 In Your House 9: International Incident
General Motors Place
Vancouver, British Columbia
six-man tag team match
[17]
July 6, 1997 In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
Canadian Airlines Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta
ten-man tag team match
[18]
November 9, 1997 Survivor Series
Molson Centre
Montreal, Quebec
WWF World Heavyweight Championship
[19]
September 27, 1998 Breakdown: In Your House
Copps Coliseum
Hamilton, Ontario
WWF Championship
[20][21]
December 13, 1998 Rock Bottom: In Your House
General Motors Place
Vancouver, British Columbia
Buried Alive match
[22]
March 17, 2002 WrestleMania X8
SkyDome
Toronto, Ontario
Undisputed WWF Championship
[23]
February 23, 2003 No Way Out Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec Hulk Hogan (3) vs. The Rock [24]
April 18, 2004 Backlash
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta
triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship
[25][26]
August 15, 2004 SummerSlam
Air Canada Centre
Toronto, Ontario Chris Benoit (2) (c) vs. Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship [27]
September 17, 2006 Unforgiven
Air Canada Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWE Championship
[28]
September 13, 2009 Breaking Point Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
submission match for the World Heavyweight Championship
[29]
March 12, 2016 Roadblock
Ricoh Coliseum
Toronto, Ontario [30]
November 19, 2016 NXT TakeOver: Toronto
Air Canada Centre
Toronto, Ontario Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship [31]
November 20, 2016 Survivor Series
Air Canada Centre
Toronto, Ontario Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar [32]
August 10, 2019 NXT TakeOver: Toronto Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
barbed wire steel cage match) for the NXT Championship
[33][34]
August 11, 2019 SummerSlam Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario Brock Lesnar (2) (c) vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship [33]
February 18, 2023 Elimination Chamber Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
July 6, 2024 Money in the Bank Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
July 7, 2024 NXT Heatwave Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario

Weekly Television shows

1995-2000

Date Name Brand Venue City Notes
October 23, 1995 Raw Brandon, Manitoba
October 23, 1995
Aired October 30, 1995
Raw Brandon, Manitoba
October 23, 1995
Aired November 6, 1995
Raw Brandon, Manitoba
October 23, 1995
Aired November 13, 1995
Raw Brandon, Manitoba
January 31, 1997
Aired February 3, 1997
Raw
SkyDome
Toronto, Ontario This was the first 2-hour Raw
July 7, 1997 Raw Northlands Coliseum Edmonton, Alberta
July 21, 1997 Raw
Halifax Metro Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia
November 10, 1997 Raw
Corel Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
November 11, 1997
Aired November 17, 1997
Raw Cornwall Civic Complex Cornwall, Ontario
February 8, 1999
Aired February 13, 1999
Raw
SkyDome
Toronto, Ontario
May 29, 2000 Raw
General Motors Place
Vancouver, British Columbia

2001-2010

Date Name Brand Venue City Notes
May 28, 2001 Raw
Pengrowth Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta
May 29, 2001
Aired May 31, 2001
SmackDown!
Skyreach Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
September 3, 2001 Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
September 4, 2001 SmackDown! Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario Special Tuesday live broadcast
October 15, 2001 Raw
Corel Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
October 16, 2001
Aired October 18, 2001
SmackDown!
Molson Centre
Montreal, Quebec
March 18, 2002 Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
March 19, 2002
Aired March 21, 2002
SmackDown!
Corel Centre
Ottawa, Ontario
May 13, 2002 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
May 14, 2002
Aired May 16, 2002
SmackDown! SmackDown! Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
May 27, 2002 Raw Raw
Skyreach Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
May 28, 2002
Aired May 30, 2002
SmackDown! SmackDown!
Pengrowth Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta
October 14, 2002 Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
October 15, 2002
Aired October 17, 2002
SmackDown! SmackDown! Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
February 24, 2003 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
February 25, 2003
Aired February 27, 2003
SmackDown! SmackDown!
John Labatt Centre
London, Ontario
May 5, 2003 Raw Raw
Halifax Metro Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia
May 6, 2003
Aired May 8, 2003
SmackDown! SmackDown!
Halifax Metro Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia
July 7, 2003 Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
July 8, 2003
Aired July 10, 2003
SmackDown! SmackDown! Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
August 4, 2003 Raw Raw
PNE Coliseum
Vancouver, British Columbia
August 5, 2003
Aired August 7, 2003
SmackDown! SmackDown! Prospera Place Kelowna, British Columbia
April 19, 2004 Raw Raw
Pengrowth Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta
April 20, 2004
Aired April 22, 2004
SmackDown! SmackDown! Prospera Place Kelowna, British Columbia
May 31, 2004 Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
June 1, 2004
Aired June 3, 2004
SmackDown! SmackDown! Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
July 5, 2004 Raw Raw Winnipeg Arena Winnipeg, Manitoba
July 6, 2004
Aired July 8, 2004
SmackDown! SmackDown! Winnipeg Arena Winnipeg, Manitoba
August 16, 2004 Raw Raw
John Labatt Centre
London, Ontario
August 17, 2004
Aired August 19, 2004
SmackDown! SmackDown!
Copps Coliseum
Hamilton, Ontario
January 17, 2005 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
January 18, 2005
Aired January 20, 2005
SmackDown! SmackDown! Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
May 30, 2005 Raw Raw
Pengrowth Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta
May 31, 2005
Aired June 2, 2005
SmackDown! SmackDown!
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta
August 15, 2005 Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
August 16, 2005
Aired August 18, 2005
SmackDown! SmackDown! Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
September 18, 2006 Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
September 18, 2006
Aired September 22, 2006
SmackDown! SmackDown! Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec First episode to air on The CW
May 28, 2007 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
May 29, 2007 ECW ECW
John Labatt Centre
London, Ontario
May 29, 2007
Aired June 1, 2007
SmackDown! SmackDown!
John Labatt Centre
London, Ontario
May 5, 2008 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
May 6, 2008 ECW ECW
John Labatt Centre
London, Ontario
May 6, 2008
Aired May 9, 2008
SmackDown SmackDown
John Labatt Centre
London, Ontario
December 22, 2008 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
December 22, 2008
Aired December 26, 2008
SmackDown SmackDown Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
August 10, 2009 Raw Raw
Pengrowth Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta
August 11, 2009 ECW ECW
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta
August 11, 2009
Aired August 14, 2009
SmackDown SmackDown
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta
September 14, 2009 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
September 15, 2009 ECW ECW
Copps Coliseum
Hamilton, Ontario
September 15, 2009
Aired September 18, 2009
SmackDown SmackDown
Copps Coliseum
Hamilton, Ontario
May 17, 2010 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
May 18, 2010
Aired May 21, 2010
SmackDown SmackDown
Scotiabank Place
Ottawa, Ontario
October 18, 2010 Raw Raw Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, Alberta
October 19, 2010
Aired October 22, 2010
SmackDown SmackDown
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta

2011-present

Date Name Brand Venue City Notes
August 22, 2011 Raw Raw
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta
August 23, 2011
Aired August 26, 2011
SmackDown SmackDown Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, Alberta
September 12, 2011 Raw
Scotiabank Place
Ottawa, Ontario
September 13, 2011
Aired September 16, 2011
SmackDown Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
September 10, 2012 Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
September 11, 2012
Aired September 14, 2012
SmackDown
Scotiabank Place
Ottawa, Ontario
May 27, 2013 Raw Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, Alberta Bret Hart appreciation night
May 28, 2013
Aired May 31, 2013
SmackDown
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta
September 9, 2013 Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
September 10, 2013
Aired September 13, 2013
SmackDown Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa, Ontario
July 7, 2014 Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
July 8, 2014
Aired July 11, 2014
SmackDown Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa, Ontario
May 4, 2015 Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
May 5, 2015
Aired May 7, 2015
SmackDown Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa, Ontario
November 21, 2016 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
November 22, 2016 SmackDown SmackDown Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa, Ontario
August 7, 2017 Raw Raw Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
August 8, 2017 SmackDown SmackDown Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario
April 30, 2018 Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
May 1, 2018 SmackDown SmackDown Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
August 27, 2018 Raw Raw Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
August 28, 2018 SmackDown SmackDown Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
April 15, 2019[35] Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up
April 16, 2019[36] SmackDown SmackDown Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up
August 12, 2019[37] Raw Raw Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
August 13, 2019[38] SmackDown SmackDown Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
February 14, 2020[39] SmackDown SmackDown Rogers Arena Vancouver, British Columbia First time back at Rogers Arena since May 2000 after a reported ban[40] and first time back in Vancouver since 2003
February 24, 2020[41] Raw Raw
Bell MTS Place
Winnipeg, Manitoba First time ever hosting at this arena and first time back in Winnipeg since 2004
August 19, 2022 SmackDown SmackDown Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
August 22, 2022 Raw Raw Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
September 26, 2022 Raw Raw Rogers Place Edmonton, Alberta First time back in Edmonton or Alberta since 2013
September 30, 2022 SmackDown SmackDown Canada Life Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba
February 17, 2023 SmackDown SmackDown Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
February 20, 2023 Raw Raw Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa, Ontario
August 11, 2023 SmackDown SmackDown Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, Alberta First time back in Calgary since 2013
August 14, 2023 Raw Raw Canada Life Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba
August 18, 2023 SmackDown SmackDown Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
August 21, 2023 Raw Raw Centre Vidéotron Quebec City, Quebec First WWE televised show in history to be held in Quebec City[42]
January 5, 2024 SmackDown: New Year's Revolution SmackDown Rogers Arena Vancouver, British Columbia
April 15, 2024 Raw Raw Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec
July 5, 2024 SmackDown SmackDown Scotiabank Arena Toronto, Ontario
July 8, 2024 Raw Raw Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa, Ontario
September 6, 2024 SmackDown SmackDown Rogers Place Edmonton, Alberta
September 9, 2024 Raw Raw Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary, Alberta

References

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  4. .
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