WWE’s push for live tapings should not surprise anyone

WWE gaining essential status to keep taping in Florida is a development that shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Nothing about our current atmosphere is normal but the WWE has found a way to continue to provide weekly, live content to millions of homes. How and why has raised a lot of concern and pushback, but the Vince McMahon led organization is continuing to move forward.

As more details come out, no one should really be surprised that McMahon has taken these steps to secure as much potential revenue for the company. Especially not when looking at recent dealings with Saudi Arabia.

As news continued to break on Monday around WWE obtaining “essential” status, there was a collective groan across many organizations that cover the industry. The world is wrapped up in a global pandemic that has caused the cancellation of nearly every form of sport and any major gatherings.

Even the UFC, as Dana White contemplated securing a private island for events, was forced to stand down and postpone future events.

All Elite Wrestling, a viable competitor to the WWE has taped content through May in order to shut down for a brief amount of time. All these developments persist while the WWE continues to push on in a very uncertain time.

As mentioned, WWE was deemed “essential” as additional information came out. According to Jonathan Easley of The Hill, The America First Action PAC has committed to spending $18.5 million in advertising dollars directed to getting President Donald Trump reelected. What does this have to do with the WWE?

The Chief of America First is Linda McMahon. Yes, Vince McMahon’s wife, whom many may remember from various storylines involving the likes of Trish Stratus, is the person in charge of the group that committed to spending millions in the same state that deemed scripted professional wrestling as essential.

No one involved has referenced this commonality between politics in Florida and the WWE, and its safe to assume that none of the individuals involved will. But it’s a clear line between the two that should be discussed.

Vince McMahon was also recently involved in a call with President Trump as he spoke to the leaders of major sports organizations around the country in reference of opening their doors soon.

In today’s dismal economic climate, it’s clear the WWE is suffering just like other organizations and McMahon is doing all that he can to protect the organization his family built.

The wide speculation is that WWE is pushing to continue taping live event based on the commitments to NBC Universal and FOX which only allow for a certain amount of taped content each year.

If WWE failed to meet those commitments, there’s a potential opportunity for these networks to change these deals in their favor.

Its important to draw these relational lines when talking about how the WWE continues to mismanage its response to the global pandemic.

Even as the WWE addresses the fact that an on-air talent has contracted COVID-19, the organization makes the decision to trot out 70-year old Jerry Lawler for live tapings, even though he’s in the high-risk demographic for this deadly condition.

One of the company’s biggest stars, Roman Reigns, has elected to take a step back from being involved with the show as he’s had recent issues with cancer treatment. He didn’t want to be put at risk, but the risk is rampant as the WWE puts its staff in a peculiar position.

As this becomes one of the biggest talking points in the industry, it shouldn’t surprise anyone, as the WWE has been in bed with the controversial leadership regime of Saudi Arabia.

McMahon is also caught up in a developing story around the WWE owning portions of the XFL, as documents revealed that McMahon’s previous statements about the opposite were not true. Controversy seems to follow the WWE very closely and this development fits right into the list.

More than half a million people in the United States are infected with coronavirus as the death toll exceeds twenty thousand. Even as that rages, the WWE has found a way to gain an “essential” tag that was reserved for health care workers, fire fighters and police staff.

No one should be surprised because at the end of the day, the bottom line is the most important goal for an organization like the WWE.