It looks like Vince McMahon has changed his mind yet again on how to handle TV tapings during the studio era of WWE. Initially the plan was to tape every episode of Raw, SmackDown, and NXT all the way up to Money in the Bank. A few days later the plan was flipped on its head and Mr. McMahon decided to go back to all live taping, which is what we’ve seen the past two weeks.
Now WWE has landed in a middle ground of sorts. Closed set tapings will still take place in the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, but instead of going with either all live TV, or all pre-taped TV, the company will do a mix of both. Pro Wrestling Sheet is reporting that WWE has shaken things up yet again and is now going with a schedule that they believe will best protect their staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How live TV is supposed to be safer than pre-taping everything scheduled up until Money in the Bank is anyone’s guess.
“We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times,” the company said in a statement. “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.”
Below is the new taping schedule:
- SmackDown will air this evening live as scheduled on FOX
- Raw will air on Monday live as scheduled on USA Network
- NXT will air on Wednesday live as scheduled
- Next Friday, SmackDown will air live as scheduled
- Saturday, April 25; two episodes of SmackDown will be taped (airing May 1 and May 8)
- Monday, April 27; two episodes of Raw will be taped (one for that night and the other will air the following week on May 4)
- Wednesday, April 29; two episodes of NXT will be taped (one is for that night, the other will air on May 6)
- Monday, May 11; one episode of Raw will be taped for that night and one episode of SmackDown will be taped for May 15
- Tuesday, May 12; one episode of Raw will be taped for May 18 and one episode of SmackDown will be taped for May 22
- Wednesday, May 13; two episodes of NXT will be taped (one is for that night, the other will air on May 20)
- Monday, May 25; two episodes of Raw will be taped (one for that night, the other will air on June 1)
- Tuesday, May 26; two episodes of SmackDown will be taped (one will air on May 29, the other will air on June 5)
- Wednesday, May 27; two episodes of NXT will be taped (one is for that night, the other will air on June 3)
- Monday, June 8; one episode of Raw taped for that evening and another episode of SmackDown taped for June 12
- Tuesday, June 9; one episode of NXT will be taped for June 10
- Monday, June 15; one episode of Raw taped for that evening and another episode of SmackDown taped for June 19
- Tuesday, June 16; one episode of Raw taped for June 22 and another episode of SmackDown taped for June 26
- Wednesday, June 17; two episodes of NXT will be taped (one is that night, the other will air on June 24)
- Monday, June 29; two episodes of Raw will be taped (one for that night and the other will air on July 6)
- Tuesday, June 30; two episodes of SmackDown will be taped (one for July 3 and one for July 10)
- Wednesday, July 1; two episodes of NXT will be taped (one is for that night, the other will air on July 8)
Given that WWE has already changed the taping schedule 3 times in the last month, don’t be surprised if we have a new report for you on the matter in the coming days.
Let us know what you of the new schedule and WWE’s statement down in the comments or hit me up on Twitter, @heyitsjjtravers.
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