For decades, professional wrestling has been called fake. Now, it is being called essential.
World Wrestling Entertainment was classified as an “essential business” in Florida and will continue taping and airing live matches and interviews from the company’s Performance Center near Orlando, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
>> Coronavirus checklist: 100-plus disinfectants that may kill coronavirus on surfaces
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has grappled with the decision since issuing a monthlong “shelter-in-place” order April 1, but in a memo Thursday he added professional sports to the list of essential businesses that include health care, financial, energy, food, communications and transportation, ESPN reported.
“Employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience -- including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production -- only if the location is closed to the general public,” would be permitted to operate, DeSantis wrote in his memo.
>> Coronavirus symptoms: What you need to know
At a news conference Monday, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said a conversation he had with DeSantis helped sway the governor’s mind.
“I think initially there was a review that was done and they were not initially deemed an essential business," Demings said. "With some conversation with the governor’s office regarding the governor’s (shelter-in-place) order, they were deemed an essential business. Therefore, they were allowed to remain open.”
>> Coronavirus: Know the facts directly from the CDC
WrestleMania 36, which was supposed to be a live event April 5 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, was taped at Orlando’s Performance Center on March 25-26, the WWE said on its website. It was shown in two parts, with its second segment featuring Drew McIntyre’s defeat of Brock Lesnar for the WWE heavyweight title.
Live shows -- without fans -- began Monday with WWE’s “Raw” program, which airs on USA Network. Other televised WWE shows include Wednesday’s “NXT” program, also on USA Network; and "SmackDown: every Friday on Fox.
>> Coronavirus: Can the government make you stay home if you are sick?
“We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times,” WWE 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.”
DeSantis’ stay-at-home order is scheduled to expire April 30 but could be extended.
