The world of sports is paralyzed by the coronavirus crisis, but the world's largest wrestling company (commonly known in Spain as pressing catch ) is not stopping. World Wrestling Live Entertainment ( WWE ), which has not stopped broadcasting even after 9/11 or after suffering the loss of active fighters, 'survives' Covid-19 for the moment.
WWE has found the formula to continue airing its wide range of weekly shows ( Raw , Smackdown , NXT , etc.). Each episode is recorded at the Performance Center , the training center that the company has in Orlando ( Florida ), and with the minimum and essential personnel to carry it out. The same thing that will happen with Wrestlemania 36 , the PPV in which each season culminates and which is followed by millions of fans throughout the world.
The world of sports is paralyzed by the coronavirus crisis, but the world's largest wrestling company (commonly known in Spain as pressing catch ) is not stopping. World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ), which has not stopped broadcasting even after 9/11 or after suffering the loss of active fighters, 'survives' Covid-19 for the moment.
WWE has found the formula to continue airing its wide range of weekly shows ( Raw , Smackdown , NXT , etc.). Each episode is recorded at the Performance Center , the training center that the company has in Orlando ( Florida ), and with the minimum and essential personnel to carry it out. The same thing that will happen with Wrestlemania 36 , the PPV in which each season culminates and which is followed by millions of fans throughout the world.
This year's edition of Wrestlemania will be different because of the coronavirus. There will be no public and it will also move to the Performance Center. The company's solution to prevent the show from becoming heavy from home (it can exceed six hours) has been to change the format of the event and hold it on two different days (April 4 and 5). As an addition, it will have the presence of the three-time Super Bowl champion , Rob Gronkowski , who will host the event.
To analyze the changes in Wrestlemania and the measures that WWE has taken to continue standing in times of the coronavirus, EL ESPAÑOL has spoken with his fighter A-Kid . Carlos Ruiz , real name of the Spanish wrestler , is confined to Madrid and has no other choice but to continue with his training routine at his home.
A-Kid competes in NXT UK , the WWE division that is recorded in the United Kingdom and that could be paralyzed for its next recordings: "There are many people from all over Europe, I don't know how it will be at the level of travel. It depends only on whatever the experts say," says Carlos. He, like the rest of the fighters, had a security talk and passed several tests carried out by the company itself, as he reveals.
"They have been very cautious and we have to be aware of what is there. -In addition to the talk and the tests- A couple of emails to see if everything was correct and I needed some kind of help. But well, fortunately, having a contract and a fixed salary these months helps a lot, "adds A-Kid about the care that WWE is taking with its employees.
And it is that one of the risks that Wrestlemania still leaves in the air is that some member of the WWE staff tested positive for coronavirus. We also have to see how the pandemic is evolving and the risks that can be added to the show if the situation continues to worsen.
A huge impact on wrestling
"We received an email about how everything and everything was going to work," says A-Kid about WWE's decision to hold its most important date on the PC and without an audience. "For example, I was going to go to Wrestlemania, because it is not only the event that many people see. We have the Axxess, the Hall of Fame and there are many independent companies that perform shows. It has been a really hard impact for the world of wrestling in I, without going any further, am unable to go, obviously," he explains.
Regarding the new format, he highlights the creative capacity of WWE to carry out the event in this situation that hits everyone: "In the end, WWE has the ability to take an idea and make an excellent set. It could work in one day and could work in two. In the end, this situation is the ideal one to try a new format. If the show is long in itself and on top of that we don't have an audience to have that direct feedback , it can be long on this occasion. Being in two days they give more entertainment for people, in fact. It seems perfect to me", he confesses.
Entertainment in difficult times
And it is that WWE can become a great entertainment alternative with people locked up in their homes: "It seems very positive to me that at the moment we are now there is still entertainment for wrestling fans even if the shows are without an audience and it's something that can distract us a bit from the situation we're in," he says. Wrestlemania will be broadcast on WWE Network, which has its first month free and can be a great alternative these days.
Regarding the events scheduled for May that were going to be held in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), A-Kid tells us that now everything is "up in the air": "Starting in April... There are people who are canceling, people no. At least, in WWE everything is up in the air. It depends on the authorities. "