WWE designated essential service. Can resume filming audienceless live shows.
https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/29031903/wwe-deemed-essential-business-florida-mayor-says
If you haven’t seen one of these shows they film at their training facility with no audience, I highly suggest it. Even if you don’t like wrestling, it is utterly hilarious to watch them so basically the same shows they normally do, with speeches and everything, to no one.
They were horrendous shows at first but either I'm getting used to them or they're figuring out how to do good shows in front of no one.
I enjoyed most of WrestleMania and Raw tonight was pretty good too.
Governor of Florida wouldn't go into why the ruling was reversed on WWE not being an essential service. The US president is in the WWE Hall of Fame and a long time friend of Vince McMahon so I can only imagine.
The POTUS may be the WWE Hall of Fame, but he couldn’t sell the Stone Cold Stunner to save his life.
He wouldn't go into it because they did it for purely political reasons that will be absolutely impossible to defend if anyone is harmed.
Also, Florida.
Peak Florida.
You just know Dana White is on the phone with the FL Governor (that is, if Dana White still isn't going to do UFC on his private island).
Watching these without an audience is like watching a Samuel Beckett play.
ROFL!
I don't know how many people are involved in these events but if they have them in different cities and venues, there are going to be a lot of auxiliary folks necessary to make the show go. Not only that but there is going to be hotels, and food necessities. Will there be get-togethers? Hookers? Could be a SARS-CoV-2 pipeline...
With the suspension of the XFL, the WWE was in more trouble than Vince McMahon would care to admit. VM needed $500M cash for XFL, so he sold WWE shares to do it.
WWE is already losing $ due to COVID19 and if they shutdown their fan-less shows, they’d be in danger of losing their tv contract(if I recall correctly). If they lost their tv contract with USA or FOX, WWE would be in serious trouble. The WWE was way more involved with the XFL than anyone, including investors, thought.
WWE shows during a pandemic and Florida gov calling it an essential service.
Dumb and dumber!
I wonder if the existence of McMahon's GOP Super Pac influenced Governor DeSantis' decision?
I wonder if any reasons other than this fact helped with DeSantis’ decision.
I mean, Trump might have asked him to do it. But if you're wondering if there are any reasons that aren't purely political bullshit, there cannot possibly be any.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
Exactly my point!
The only thing wrong about your statement is that you are only “wondering”. Delete “I wonder if” from it and then it’s accurate.
AEW's empty arena Dynamite episodes have been sooooo much better. The way theyve filled and worked the spaces make it seem more like something serious than a stage act (aside from the small amounts of obligatory "outlaw mudshow"© stuff). RAW and SD just looked like Performance Center rehearsals, and loaded up on all the stuff that made me stop watching in the first place.
Florida gonna Florida.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
This is essential but golf can’t be played, weird...is it a coincidence that UFC and WWE are “essential” in this election year, oh and don’t forget virtual NASCAR...?
April 14th, 2020 at 11:58 AM ^
I had no clue what "virtual NASCAR" was and all I could find were articles about some driver using the N-word during one of those races. Maybe virtual NASCAR isn't such a good idea.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:57 AM ^
Easy call. Vince's wife is in Donald's cabinet. The FL Gov. shares their political party. Business as usual on either side of Big Gubmint.
Unintended consequence: AEW can run shows if they want to. Vince has spent as much as $50 million on raises, even going so far as to pay some talent $500K a year to do nothing so they won't go to AEW. He really wants them out of business. AEW, however, cares more for the talent, so I am guessing they won't be running shows. Besides, they taped enough to make it through the middle of May.
I just hope nobody dies because of this.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Didn't they already confirm someone already tested positive?