Man, 2022 was a weird, wild, and honestly transformative year for WWE. If you look back at the WWE 2022 PPV schedule, it wasn’t just a list of dates. It was the year the company basically blew up its own playbook. We saw the "Premium Live Event" (PLE) branding take over, the end of the Vince McMahon era (temporarily, at least), and the rise of Roman Reigns into a stratosphere we hadn't seen in decades.
Most people just remember Cody Rhodes' pec or Logan Paul actually being good at wrestling. But when you dig into the actual flow of that calendar, you see a company trying to figure out how to be a global stadium attraction rather than just a TV show that travels.
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The Experimental Start: Day 1 and the Rumble
It kicked off on New Year's Day. Literally. WWE Day 1 happened on January 1, 2022, in Atlanta. It was supposed to be the "new tradition," but honestly, it ended up being a chaotic pivot. Roman Reigns caught COVID-19 right before the bell, forcing Brock Lesnar into the WWE Championship match on the Raw side. Brock won. Because of course he did.
Then came the Royal Rumble on January 29 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. This show was... divisive. Fans were pretty vocal about the Men's Rumble being a bit of a slog, especially with Brock Lesnar winning it after losing his title earlier that night. But Ronda Rousey’s return? That was a massive pop. It set the stage for a year where the women's division often outshone the guys in terms of pure work rate.
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The Road to WrestleMania 38
February took us to Jeddah for Elimination Chamber. This was the first time the Chamber match itself went international. It was basically a giant showcase for Brock Lesnar to wreck everyone and regain the WWE title, setting up that "Winner Take All" match against Roman.
Then we hit the big one. WrestleMania 38 in Arlington, Texas. Two nights: April 2 and 3.
- Night 1 gave us the return of Cody Rhodes. The pop was deafening.
- Night 2 saw Roman Reigns unify the titles, beating Brock in a match that felt like the end of a very long, very loud chapter.
The Mid-Year Grind: Injuries and Iconography
Honestly, the WrestleMania Backlash (May 8) and Hell in a Cell (June 5) stretch is usually forgettable. Not in 2022. Hell in a Cell gave us that image of Cody Rhodes with a chest that looked like a bruised plum. He wrestled Seth Rollins with a torn pectoral muscle for 24 minutes. It was gruesome. It was heroic. It was arguably the match of the year.
July was the "Summer of Stadiums."
Money in the Bank moved from an arena to the MGM Grand Garden Arena (originally it was supposed to be a stadium, but they pivoted). Liv Morgan cashing in on Ronda Rousey remains one of the most genuine "feel good" moments in recent memory.
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Then came SummerSlam on July 30 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. This was the Last Man Standing match where Brock Lesnar literally lifted the ring with a tractor. You can't make this stuff up. It was pure spectacle, and it marked a shift in how WWE produced these big shows—they were going for "viral" moments every single time.
Crossing the Pond and WarGames
The back half of the WWE 2022 PPV schedule was all about history. Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales (September 3) was the first major UK stadium show in 30 years. The atmosphere was terrifyingly loud. Drew McIntyre almost did it, but Solo Sikoa showed up to ruin everyone's day and cement The Bloodline's dominance.
We wrapped the year with:
- Extreme Rules (Oct 8) – The "White Rabbit" reveal of Bray Wyatt.
- Crown Jewel (Nov 5) – Logan Paul proved he belonged by nearly beating Roman.
- Survivor Series: WarGames (Nov 26) – The first time the main roster got the double-cage match. Sami Zayn choosing The Bloodline over Kevin Owens was peak storytelling.
What to Watch Next
If you’re going back through the archives on Peacock or WWE Network, don't just watch the highlights. The WWE 2022 PPV schedule is best viewed as a long-form drama. Start with WrestleMania 38 Night 1 for the Cody return, then jump straight to Hell in a Cell to see his legendary performance with the injury. Finally, watch Survivor Series: WarGames to see the masterclass in character work from Sami Zayn. It’ll give you the perfect snapshot of why 2022 was the year WWE finally got its groove back.