The one-time event born from a scrapped revival and a legal hurdle
In short: WWE's 2017 'Great Balls of Fire' was never meant to exist. Originally planned as the return of the Bad Blood pay-per-view, the event was pivoted at the last minute into a brand-exclusive spectacle that would only ever happen once.
Dallas, Texas hosted this occasion within the American Airlines Center during July 9, 2017. It was originally announced on March 21, 2017, as the return of 'Bad Blood,' which would have been the first such event since 2004 and the fourth overall. However, WWE scrapped those plans on April 28 to create 'Great Balls of Fire.' This shift meant that Bad Blood would not actually return until 2024.
The name itself was a point of contention. The theme music for the show was based on a Jerry Lee Lewis track sharing that title. WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler revealed that his personal attorney—who also represented Lewis—initially inquired about potential legal action over the title. Lawler successfully negotiated the rights to use the song, despite the name receiving significant negative criticism on social media.
The event was exclusively for the Raw brand, a result of the 2016 brand extension that split the main roster between Raw and SmackDown. It featured nine matches resulting from scripted storylines produced on Monday Night Raw and 205 Live. Notable bouts included Brock Lesnar defeating Samoa Joe for the Universal Championship and an ambulance match where Braun Strowman defeated Roman Reigns.
Despite its scale, 'Great Balls of Fire' was a historical anomaly. After WrestleMania 34 occurred in April 2018, WWE ended main roster livestreaming and pay-per-view shows that were brand-specific, despite their absence from the initial 2018 calendar. This move significantly reduced the frequency of such standalone brand events moving forward.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: WWE Great Balls of Fire
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