WWE will resume live television shows beginning next week despite the coronavirus pandemic, a spokesperson confirmed Saturday with ESPN.
Starting Monday with its Raw program, WWE will run live shows without fans after several weeks of taped programming, which included WrestleMania 36 earlier this month.
WWE has three TV shows per week: Raw (on USA Network), NXT (USA Network) on Wednesday and SmackDown (Fox) on Friday.
Raw and SmackDown are reportedly expected to air live from WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida. NXT is reportedly expected to be live from Full Sail University, its usual home, in Winter Park, Florida.
Pro Wrestling Sheet was the first to report the news of WWE’s live shows resuming Friday.
“Only essential personnel” will be allowed at the venues, a WWE statement to ESPN said.
“We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times,” the statement said. “We are producing content on a closed set with only essential personnel in attendance following appropriate guidelines while taking additional precautions to ensure the health and wellness of our performers and staff. As a brand that has been woven into the fabric of society, WWE and its Superstars bring families together and deliver a sense of hope, determination and perseverance.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a stay-at-home order for the state April 1, which runs through April 30. Only essential businesses are supposed to remain open during that time. Those include businesses in the healthcare, financial, energy, food, communications and transportation sectors.
A request for comment from DeSantis’ office was not immediately returned Saturday. Most other sports and pro wrestling promotions have suspended games and events in the United States due to regulations and guidelines set forth during the COVID-19 crisis.
The UFC announced Friday that it would be postponing events indefinitely after initially attempting to forge ahead beginning next week. All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the second biggest pro-wrestling promotion in the U.S. after WWE, has reportedly taped several weeks of television on closed sets in Florida and Georgia.
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