So we are living in unprecedented times right now, not since the early 1900's have we seen a virus that has affected the population on a global scale the way COVID-19 has. That being said, let's take a look at the current state of both WWE and AEW because of this.
For some strange reason Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, has decided that WWE (thus by proxy AEW) is an "essential service" and was able to stay open during the entire quarantine thus far. Why specifically Florida ?? WWE is holding all of their event taping of RAW, SmackDown, and most PPV's at their Performance Center in Orlando; AEW films Dynamite and their PPV's in Jacksonville. I don't care to speculate on Mr. DeSantis' relationship with the McMahon family and the Republican Party; but I don't think "sports entertainment" is in any way essential.
Far from it, I believe the safest thing would be for all of the wrestlers and staff of both companies to stay home and be with family and not in harms way. Especially in something that is a physical and contact involved athletic event. What has this led to, well WWE has fired an untold number of talents for no reason whatsoever they say it's to save money but the money they make on events would cover all the salary of those fired and they'd still have a surplus per every event held. This has also led to WWE and AEW continuing to hold their events but with no fans.
Now, both wrestling or "sports entertainment" need one key thing to work in their favour to drive stories forward and to make people at home watching feel invested. Angles in wrestling involve a babyface wrestler or tag team and a heel wrestler or tag team to go against; with no audience we have no reaction to what the wrestlers are saying when they cut promos and I have to say it's sad. I don't tune in as much as I used to and definitely haven't since this started but I checked one promo on YouTube where Bray Wyatt was trying to offer Braun Strowman his black sheep mask back in order to get him to hand over the Universal Title and re-join Bray. Just.......it was sad. That's all I can say, with an audience it'd be neat to hear the crowd, but it was in front of no one and I swear you could hear crickets when they were talking to each other. Another thing about a lack of audience is it makes the wrestlers look weak, like their talent isn't good enough to fill an arena with maybe 150 seats in it; I understand the situation but since it is that bad just don't have the show.
But Vince McMahon and Tony Khan need that $$$ still regardless of the times we live in. It is more important to put on an INCREDIBLY BORING and lackluster product than keep everyone safe, and to those like Sami Zayn who are trying to stay safe he was stripped of his Intercontinental Championship because he wasn't going to be there, well that shows what kind of company they really are.
And here's that above mentioned promo, just listen to the crickets, it's so deafeningly silent.
For some strange reason Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, has decided that WWE (thus by proxy AEW) is an "essential service" and was able to stay open during the entire quarantine thus far. Why specifically Florida ?? WWE is holding all of their event taping of RAW, SmackDown, and most PPV's at their Performance Center in Orlando; AEW films Dynamite and their PPV's in Jacksonville. I don't care to speculate on Mr. DeSantis' relationship with the McMahon family and the Republican Party; but I don't think "sports entertainment" is in any way essential.
Far from it, I believe the safest thing would be for all of the wrestlers and staff of both companies to stay home and be with family and not in harms way. Especially in something that is a physical and contact involved athletic event. What has this led to, well WWE has fired an untold number of talents for no reason whatsoever they say it's to save money but the money they make on events would cover all the salary of those fired and they'd still have a surplus per every event held. This has also led to WWE and AEW continuing to hold their events but with no fans.
Now, both wrestling or "sports entertainment" need one key thing to work in their favour to drive stories forward and to make people at home watching feel invested. Angles in wrestling involve a babyface wrestler or tag team and a heel wrestler or tag team to go against; with no audience we have no reaction to what the wrestlers are saying when they cut promos and I have to say it's sad. I don't tune in as much as I used to and definitely haven't since this started but I checked one promo on YouTube where Bray Wyatt was trying to offer Braun Strowman his black sheep mask back in order to get him to hand over the Universal Title and re-join Bray. Just.......it was sad. That's all I can say, with an audience it'd be neat to hear the crowd, but it was in front of no one and I swear you could hear crickets when they were talking to each other. Another thing about a lack of audience is it makes the wrestlers look weak, like their talent isn't good enough to fill an arena with maybe 150 seats in it; I understand the situation but since it is that bad just don't have the show.
But Vince McMahon and Tony Khan need that $$$ still regardless of the times we live in. It is more important to put on an INCREDIBLY BORING and lackluster product than keep everyone safe, and to those like Sami Zayn who are trying to stay safe he was stripped of his Intercontinental Championship because he wasn't going to be there, well that shows what kind of company they really are.
And here's that above mentioned promo, just listen to the crickets, it's so deafeningly silent.