WWE Betting

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WWE, or World Wrestling Entertainment, is the biggest pro wrestling, sports entertainment company globally with roots traced as far back as 1963 with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWF).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Bet on WWE?

Yes. Match outcomes, though predetermined, are carefully held secrets, and a finish is truly never guaranteed on a live show, creating a level of unpredictability, which is why many sportsbooks have opened up betting opportunities.

Is the WWE Considered a Sport?

It wasn’t until the 1990s that WWE truly transitioned from predominantly sports presentation to more of an entertainment property featuring larger-than-life characters. This has evolved since then with more of a balance between the two.

At its core, the pseudo sport is a series of athletic exhibitions performed by world class trained athletes. However, the matches are predetermined by creative teams similar to television writer’s rooms putting together storylines for shows.

Are WWE Winners Predetermined?

Yes. Producers also work backstage with talent to help lay out their bouts. That said it’s a long tradition within the industry to keep outcomes under wraps. Even though NDAs can be enforced, anonymous sources have been known to blab to wrestling news sites.

However, the fact of the matter is decisions are often tweaked or fully changed right up until bell time. There are outside circumstances that can affect a story and who gets a win.

When are the Major WWE Events?

Royal Rumble is the first major event of the calendar year, held in January. Wrestlemania is next, held at the beginning of April usually around the March Madness final. SummerSlam is held in August while the final major event Survivor Series is held in Novemeber, usually around Thanksgiving.

What are the championships in WWE?

There are many championship belts in the WWE, with their two shows Raw and Smackdown Live having champions for each. The Universal, Raw Women's, Raw Tag Team and United States Championship are typically on Raw. The WWE, Smackdown Women's, Smackdown Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships are typically on Smackdown Live. The 24/7 Championship and the Women's Tag Team Championship appear on both shows.


WWE Betting Explained

There are several ways to bet on WWE, from match outcomes and predicting future opponents to what will be the main event of WrestleMania months away.

The moneyline for an event or match allows bettors to pick a wrestler or wrestlers they think will win. In other instances, individuals can also decide who will face a particular wrestler at an event such as WrestleMania.

A positive number (i.e. +200) translates that the particular choice is an underdog and the amount the better would win with a $100 bet. At the same time a choice who has a negative number (i.e. -150) recognizes a favorite with the bettor having to wage $150 to win $100.

Bettors will often see a choice between two sides, but there are cases when it’s a “Future,” predicting for example who a wrestler will feud with on the road to WrestleMania or if there will be a match involving The Rock or Brock Lesnar at the event.

There are three ways the odds are formatted: American, Fractional and Decimal. If “American” odds on an underdog are +150, that would translate to 3/2 for “Fractional” odds and 2.50 for “Decimal” odds. Different countries employ different methods.

Top WWE Betting Events

  • Royal Rumble | A 30-person over-the-top-rope battle royal with the last one standing earning an opportunity at a heavyweight championship at WrestleMania. In 2017, WWE hosted its first women’s Royal Rumble match. The event usually kicks off WrestleManiaseason.
  • WrestleMania | WWE’s biggest show of the year since 1985, often called the Super Bowl of pro wrestling or sports entertainment. It’s the culmination of major storylines in the past year. These grand spectacles have sold out football stadiums, broken records and drawn mainstream attention.
  • Money in the Bank | The card usually holds at least one Money in the Bank ladder match. These involve a handful of superstars fighting to climb the ladder to retrieve the briefcase hanging high in the air. The case contains a contract a performer can cash in for a future heavyweight title opportunity.
  • SummerSlam | The second biggest WWE show of the year often features the top feuds from the Raw and SmackDown brands.
  • Survivor Series | Along with SummerSlam and WrestleMania, it’s among the longest running Pay-Per-View shows. There are usually teams competing in elimination style matches with the remaining members of a team deemed the sole survivors.
  • Other PPV Events | WWE hosts at least 12 live PPVs a year, as well as others for its Network. Depending on the year, those can include Hell in a Cell, Backlash, Elimination Chamber, TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Fastlane and WWE’s developmental NXT TakeOver Network specials. In 2018, the company expanded further with shows like the inaugural all-women’s PPV Evolution and international spectaculars Super Show-Down, Greatest Royal Rumble and Crown Jewel.

WWE Betting Tips

Storylines

Think about how the story is headed into the show. Who is made to look strong and who isn’t, which is often done to throw off the viewer. For example, if the champion is getting beaten up every week on TV, it’s usually to create doubt that the title holder will retain against the challenger.

Know the Competitors

Read up on developments surrounding the competitors. Just like traditional sports, keep an eye on who might be injured or working hurt.

There might be information out there about the length of a particular performer contract or if they are under negotiations to stay with WWE or not. If someone has one foot out the door, typically they aren’t going to get the proverbial “push” and win matches.

Past Performance

Scan historical data of past events. Looking at a superstar’s record can help influence a decision of who to pick for a match or who might be going into a WrestleMania to headline.

Match Location

See what city the event is being held in, as WWE superstars are notorious for losing in their home towns more times than not.

TV Presence

Look at the current landscape of WWE as far as the ones getting quality television time. Those are the ones the company sees on top. That should be kept in mind before placing a bet.

Top WWE Markets to Bet On

  • Singles matches (men, women)
  • Tag matches (men, women; traditional, six-person and mixed made up of men and women)
  • No disqualification matches
  • Cage matches
  • Elimination Chamber matches
  • Hell in a Cell matches
  • Battle royal matches
  • Royal Rumble matches
  • Last person standing matches
  • Falls count anywhere matches
  • Title matches
  • War Games matches
  • Ladder matches
  • Tables matches
  • Tables, Ladders & Chairs matches

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