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WWE News: WWE Planning to Continue Taping From the Performance Center This Week, Money in the Bank PPV

By Matthew Fowler • Published 7th April 2020
TJR Wrestling

The WWE mantra of the show must go on will seemingly hold true for at least another month. PWInsider is reporting that WWE will proceed with tapings at the Performance Center in Orlando, FL for Raw, Smackdown and NXT starting either this Wednesday night or Thursday morning. That likely also includes shows like 205 Live and Main Event as well. There were also similar reports on Fightful Select and it has also been confirmed by the Wrestling Observer as well.

The plan is for WWE to bring in all the talents they need into the Orlando area and have them all stay at one hotel. They will then bring the talent systematically in for the tapings in “waves” according to PWInsider, while trying to adhere to the CDC’s guidelines. They plan on sanitizing the ring and ropes between each match, in the hopes of keeping everybody healthy. They have been sanitizing the ring and ropes during the tapings over the last month as well.

It was also noted by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer that episodes of NXT will likely take place at Full Sail University in Orlando. A lot WWE superstars, especially those in NXT, live in Orlando, so that makes commuting to the tapings a lot easier.

The entire state of Florida is presently under a stay in place order, allowing for only essential businesses to operate. It is unclear how WWE has gotten the ability to bypass this ordinance.

During these tapings, WWE is reportedly planning on taping enough content to get them close to May 10th, when their next PPV Money in the Bank is scheduled to take place in Baltimore, MD. It is believed that there is also a good chance that Money in the Bank will have to be relocated to the Performance Center as well, though nothing has been made official at this time.

Matt’s Musings: I am as much of a wrestling fan as anybody, but even I can’t justify professional wrestling as being “essential.”