Real Reason For Upcoming Taped WWE Shows
WWE has made a big change to its taping schedule that was unthinkable while Vince McMahon was in charge.
The 22nd of November SmackDown in Salt Lake City will provide a two-for-one for fans in attendance as the company will tape two shows with one to air on the 29th of November – the night before Survivor Series in Vancouver, Canada.
But it seems WWE management wants talent to be able to make the most of the holiday in the US beforehand.
WWE Letting Talent Enjoy Thanksgiving
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed the change in WWE’s schedule was to allow talent to enjoy the holiday with their families – a marked change in approach from the management of Vince McMahon:
The November 22nd SmackDown, they’re gonna be taping two shows, the reason is the 29th is the day after Thanksgiving. I think this is the first time they’ve ever done this, they’re not gonna run a taping that night.
So all the talent can spend Thanksgiving night with their families because if they have a Friday taping, and it’s in Salt Lake City, you’ve gotta fly out the day before if it’s not in the vicinity of the north-east or the south-east because most of the talent live in Florida.
The point of this all is they’re letting talent spend all of Thanksgiving with their family and they’re gonna get Friday off. The old ownership – they hadn’t had people work Thanksgiving but they did have people having to fly on Thanksgiving to get to the Friday tapings, that’s happened for years so they’re not doing that this year.
The 11th of November edition of Raw preceded a taped edition to air on the 18th of November. Those shows have huge implications for Survivor Series as one WWE star is in danger of being sucked into Roman Reigns’ world once again for WarGames.
If you use any quotes from this article please credit original source and then h/t with a link back to TJR Wrestling for the transcription.