WWE Confirms Employee Tested Positive For COVID-19 After WrestleMania Taping

WWE has confirmed that an employee that worked at Wrestlemania 36 tested positive for COVID-19 following the taping of the production.

The employee, who is not an in-ring performer, was reportedly exposed to the virus after WWE completed production of many events from March 25-26, including Wrestlemania 36. The individual has since made a "complete recovery," according to WWE.

"We believe this matter is low risk to WWE talent and staff, as the individual and a roommate became symptomatic in the days following exposure to two people working in acute health care on the evening of March 26, after WWE’s TV production on a closed set was already complete," WWE's statement reads, according to Fightful. "The employee had no contact with anyone from WWE since being exposed to those two individuals, is doing well, and made a complete recovery.”

rior to WWE's statement, a memo had circulated that was sent to employees in regards to the positive case. Per Fightful, employees were informed that WWE believed that the matter is "low-risk" and confirmed that the individual was not an in-ring performer.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Wrestlemania 36 was pre-recorded at WWE's training center in Orlando, Fla. and aired on April 5-6. All matches took place on closed sets and no fans were in attendance.

Wrestlemania 36 was originally scheduled to take place on April 5 and air live from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. No further coronavirus cases have yet to be reported from tapings of WWE events.

source: si.com

WWE To Celebrate 25 Years Of Triple H

It was announced during tonight's SmackDown on FOX that the celebration for 25 years of Triple H will begin on SmackDown in two weeks, on April 24.

Triple H debuted with WWE on April 30, 1995 with a win over Buck Zumhofe on Wrestling Challenge.

There's no word yet on what WWE has planned for the celebration, but the commercial indicated that the festivities will go on past SmackDown that night.

Stay tuned for updates on the Triple H 25th anniversary celebration from WWE.

Below is a promo from the WWE On FOX Twitter account:

XFL suspends all operations, lays off employees

The XFL suspended operations Friday morning and laid off nearly all of its staff, multiple sources told ESPN. While a handful of executives remain employed, the league currently has no plans to return in 2021.

The league canceled its season last month after five games as part of a nationwide shutdown due to coronavirus concerns, pledging to return next year.

The XFL has suspended all its operations and laid off all its employees due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Alika Jenner/Getty Images
But XFL CEO Jeffrey Pollack changed course Friday, conducting a 10-minute conference call to inform employees of the news.

Commissioner Oliver Luck, hired in 2018 to guide the most ambitious spring football league in decades, did not speak on the call. It was not immediately clear if he is still with the league.

According to a prominent former XFL staffer who was on the call, Pollack stopped short of saying the league was going out of business. But the strong implication was clear. "It's done," the staffer said. "It's not coming back."

There was no immediate comment from the league.

The XFL is owned by WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, who was making his second foray into professional football. His rowdy 2001 version of the XFL also folded after one year.

McMahon pivoted 180 degrees for XFL 2.0, asking Luck to create a serious football league that would market a new version of the game while avoiding direct competition with the NFL. Luck led a group of staffers through two years of product development, establishing a series of innovations -- from its new kickoff alignment to its three-tiered extra point structure -- that caught the eye of multiple members of the NFL competition committee.

XFL staffers fully believed that the league would resume play in 2021. Players had previously been told they would be paid through the end of the regular season, which was scheduled to end this weekend.

The XFL is the second spring football league in as many years to suspend operations before completing its final season, albeit for much different reasons. The Alliance of American Football (AAF) ran out of money in 2019 and closed after eight weeks of play. The XFL might have been the first pro sports league to fall victim to the economic crisis caused by the global pandemic.

Ric Flair and Steve Austin Play Word Association

The next “Broken Skull Sessions” episode on the WWE Network will air this Sunday with WWE Hall of Famers Steve Austin, the host, and Ric Flair.

Stone Cold played “word association” with The Nature Boy. Austin gave Flair several names of Superstars and Hall of Famers, and here are his replies:

* Randy Orton – Unbelievable

* Triple H – Not only a great worker but a great executive

* Ricky Steamboat – The greatest of all-time

* WWE NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair – The G.O.A.T. for the women’s division

* Sting – One of the greatest guys I’ve ever known

* Shawn Michaels – The greatest in-ring performer of all-time (Austin agreed)

WWE NXT Barely Tops AEW Dynamite In Viewership

Week 27 of the Wednesday Night War saw WWE NXT finally top AEW Dynamite in viewership, but by just 1,000 viewers.

Wednesday's NXT episode drew 693,000 viewers on USA (+17%), topping the 692,000 (+1%) viewers garnered by Dynamite on TNT by just 0.1%, according to Showbuzz Daily.

AEW ranked #32 in the Cable Top 150 in the 18-49 demo, while NXT ranked #51. AEW ranked #79 in total viewership, while NXT ranked #73.
Last week's Dynamite episode drew 685,000 viewers and ranked #37 in the Cable Top 150, and #73 in total viewership. Last week's NXT episode drew 590,000 viewers and ranked #74 in the Cable Top 150, and #79 in viewership.

This is the second-lowest Dynamite viewership of 2020, going back to last week. This is also the third-lowest AEW viewership in history.
AEW drew a 0.26 rating (+1%) in the 18-49 demographic while NXT drew a 0.19 (+27%) in the same demo this week. Last week's AEW show drew a 0.25 rating while the NXT episode drew a 0.15 in that demographic.

AEW's 0.26 rating is tied with the November 27 and March 11 episodes for the second-lowest ever.

Triple H On What His Life Would Be Like If He Never Met Stephanie McMahon

Over the years, many people have given flack to Triple H about being in the position he's in with WWE because he is married to the owner's daughter, Stephanie McMahon.

During an interview with ESPN MMA, Triple H talked about what his life would be like if he had never met Stephanie. Triple H noted that he was interested in the behind-the-scenes aspect of the business well before he met Stephanie.

"It's a funny thing because long before I ever met Steph, I had a very strong fascination with the behind the scenes of the business," Triple H said. "It's how I started working with Vince behind the scenes, being involved with some creative years ago smack dab in the beginning of the Attitude Era. I had never even met Steph at that point, he and I were working creatively when a bunch of writers left us and Vince was kind of doing everything solo, he kind of tagged me in to help him in a manner and riff ideas off of and bounce things off of. Then I started sitting in on production meetings and it became more and more my involvement, even for stuff that had zero to do with me, which I tended to prefer.

"I didn't like to weigh in on the stuff that had to do with me as much because I felt like it was wrong to do and your vision can get warped in that. To weigh in on other people's things, to weigh in on other shows, I was always fascinated with that side of the business. I'd like to think in some manner I'd be doing the exact same thing from a behind the scenes standpoint. My relationship with Steph, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me from a standpoint that she's my wife, my kids and everything else. Every aspect of my life would be different, but from a business standpoint I'd like to think I'd be doing the same thing because of the relationship that I had with Vince and the creative relationship that we had long before any of that."

Triple H was asked what happened when he asked Vince if he could marry his daughter. Triple H noted that he would one day like to write a book to detail the experience he went through.

More?

WWE Arena Events Not Resuming Until August?

ESPN.com reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had a conference call with major league sports commissioners on Saturday to discuss the future of sporting events while the Coronavirus pandemic is occurring. The article noted the following:
“Trump also said he hopes to have fans back in stadiums and arenas by August and September, sources said, though it is currently unclear if medical experts find that to be a realistic timeline amid the current coronavirus pandemic.”
The article noted that top executives from WWE were among those that were part of the call. As previously noted, the belief is that the Money in the Bank PPV scheduled for May 10th will not be taking place in Baltimore. The WWE live event at Madison Square Garden that was originally scheduled for March 22nd has been rescheduled for June 27th but it’s unknown if the event will be postponed again.

Vince McMahon To Be On Donald Trump Phone Call With Other League Commissioners

President Donald Trump is scheduled to have a phone call with all major league sports commissioners today at 12 pm ET, according to The White House.


ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Vince McMahon will be on that call along with the following commissioners: Adam Silver (NBA), Cathy Engelbert (WNBA), Rob Manfred (MLB), Roger Goodell (NFL), Gary Bettman (NHL), Jay Monohan (PGA Tour), Dana White (UFC), John Middlebrook / Jim France (NASCAR), and Don Garber (MLS).

The exact topics weren't given, but will likely involve a timeline for when leagues can start up again due to the coronavirus pandemic that suspended this year's seasons for nearly all of the leagues mentioned above.


UFC's Dana White has maintained UFC 249 on April 18 will go on in a staff-only capacity.

Last week, WWE taped enough footage at the WWE Performance Center through Monday's post-WrestleMania RAW. Although, a report did come out that WWE may consider taking a break after WrestleMania with Florida recently issuing a stay-at-home mandate.

As noted, WWE has also cancelled all of its events in April.

Scheduled participants on call with Trump:

NBA – Adam Silver
WNBA – Cathy Engelbert
MLB – Rob Manfred
NFL – Roger Goodell
NHL – Gary Bettman
PGA Tour – Jay Monahan
UFC – Dana White
WWE & XFL - Vince McMahon
NASCAR – John Middlebrook or Jim France.
MLS – Don Garber

Lawsuit Against Vince McMahon And WWE Dismissed

The Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System vs. WWE lawsuit has been dismissed.

The lawsuit, filed in the Court of Chancery in Delaware, was voluntarily dismissed on March 10, 2020, according to Wrestlenomics on Twitter.

"Pursuant to Court of Chancery Rule 41(a)(1), Plaintiff Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System hereby files this Notice of Voluntary Dismissal, dismissing the above-captioned case with prejudice, each side to bear its own costs and expenses," the Notice of Voluntary Dismissal reads.

As noted back in December, WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon and WWE had been sued on behalf of the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System as the pension fund, which owns stock in WWE, claimed there was "a credible basis to believe" that Vince and other senior WWE officials had diverted resources to Vince's XFL football league, which would be a breach of their commitments to WWE shareholders. It was also alleged that WWE's Board of Directors failed to conduct a reasonable investigation to make sure that Vince wasn't engaging in financial transaction for the XFL that would be a conflict with WWE interests. The lawsuit was seeking documents that explained WWE's ties to the XFL.

A fan asked Wrestlenomics if there was any way of knowing what changed with the lawsuit, and if the coronavirus pandemic may have invited a longer and costlier battle in court.

"It's difficult to know because there wasn't really anything filed leading up to this which indicated why they were dropping the case. Likely there was some behind-the-scenes negotiations. Also, the claimed XFL valuation they were using in the case didn't appear to be sound," Wrestlenomics responded.

Vince's XFL league recently canceled the remainder of their 2020 re-launch season, which was considered by some to be a success in the 5 weeks that it ran. The league remains committed to running a season in 2021 and beyond.

Is Vince McMahon Ready to Tap Out?

Vince McMahon was once tossed into a grave and almost buried alive by the Undertaker. But that’s nowhere near as bad as the year he’s having now.

The burial, of course, was staged, while the agony of 2020 is very real. The coronavirus pandemic has temporarily taken down the business of live sports — both real and fake. That’s left McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. to hold matches in empty arenas, making the spectacle feel even more theatrical than sports-like, with dramatic monologues delivered directly to the camera instead of to the shouting fans that normally line the stands. Meanwhile, McMahon’s XFL football league, which he rebooted earlier this year, had to cancel the rest of its season. XFL is privately held by McMahon; however, shares of WWE have plunged more than 40% since December.

McMahon, the 74-year-old chairman and CEO of WWE, is now looking to free up funds without relinquishing his control over the wrestling empire. On Tuesday, the company disclosed that McMahon entered into a prepaid variable forward contract, which essentially functions as a cash advance from a bank. The way it works is, McMahon agrees to eventually sell some of his shares at some future date — March 2024, in this case — receiving the money now, but without having to actually turn over the stock or pay taxes on the sale yet.

According to Bloomberg News’s Drew Singer, the bank was Morgan Stanley and the deal priced 2.26 million shares at $38 apiece, representing more than $80 million in freed-up liquidity. In the meantime, McMahon gets to collect the usual dividends on those shares, and he can keep the holdings by settling the contract for cash. The agreement also doesn’t affect McMahon’s other 25 million or so class B shares, which represent just over 70% of the company’s total voting power.

Even before the coronavirus began sweeping through the U.S., WWE was having a tough year, amid a shrinking number of subscribers to its streaming-TV service, WWE Network, and setbacks with international distribution deals...More?

source: washingtonpost.com

WrestleMania To Debut On PPV On Fox Sports

FOX Sports announced a new slate of WWE programming on their network. That new content will include the network's first-ever pay-per-view presentation of WrestleMania on the FOX Sports App and FOXSports.com.

This year's WrestleMania is set to be hosted by FOX Sports' Rob Gronkowski in a two-night affair. The event will also be held in the Performance Center in front on no fans.

The live stream of the WrestleMania pay-per-view will be available for $59.99 for both night on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW Apps via mobile and other connected streaming devices or at FOXSports.com. The WrestleMania Kickoff Part 1 and Part 2 will begin coverage this Saturday and Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. ET on FS1 and FOX Deportes, with a panel of experts breaking down the night's upcoming matches.

FOX Sports also announced additional programming. WWE Backstage will return to FS1 at 11:00 p.m. ET where host Renee Young and analysts Mark Henry, Booker T and Paige will give their predictions on WresteMania. The network is also set to air more than 22 hours of programming starting Tuesday night.

"FOX Sports will present 22 hours of timeless WWE content to air on Tuesday nights this spring, beginning with Royal Rumble 2020 tonight at 7:00 PM ET on FS1," FOX Sports announced in a press release. "Additional programming on FS1 includes one-hour editions of WrestleMania 31, WrestleMania 33 and WrestleMania 34, in addition to other specials from the 'WWE 24' and 'Ruthless Aggression' series. Content also includes WWE's brand-new series titled 'Best Of WWE' featuring 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Charlotte Flair, Ric Flair, Brock Lesnar, Becky Lynch, Shawn Michaels, Roman Reigns and The Undertaker."

President of FOX Sports, Mark Silverman said that he hopes this new programming can offer fans a positive outlet during this time.

"We're pleased to offer this new slate of WWE programming for viewers during these challenging times," said Mark Silverman, President, National Networks, FOX Sports. "We hope this lineup of sports entertainment programming serves as a much-needed relief for fans. We appreciate the hard work and creativity of the teams on both sides of our long-term partnership with WWE."

WWE Chief Brand Officier, Stephanie McMahon also discussed the further development of WWE's partnership with FOX that started with bringing Smackdown to FOX.

"Six months after our historic partnership brought Smackdown to its new home on FOX, we are thrilled to deliver even more premium programming, including WrestleMania, across the entire FOX Sports portfolio," said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. "In partnership with FOX Sports, it's a privilege to be able to entertain our fans each week and put smiles on their faces particularly during a time when they need it the most."

Triple H on The Decision to Continue With WrestleMania, Competing Without An Audience

Triple H appeared on ESPN SportsCenter to discuss WWE’s decision to hold WrestleMania amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the difficulty of competing without a crowd and more. You can see some highlights and the full video below:

On if he’ll be making an appearance at WrestleMania 32: “Right now I am full-time office. It’s funny, ironically I wasn’t originally scheduled to be in this year’s WrestleMania anyways. Every year as time goes by this gets more and morehectic for me, and getting in the ring just becomes an added burden.”

On his favorite moments from WrestleMania: “God you know, it’s so hard. WrestleMania, it’s the one thing, I mean, this year will be WrestleMania 36 but every year there this epic moments. The [moments] themselves just kind of transcend theactual event and become these just epic moments that last through generations. And there’s these moments in time, pictures like Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III or Shawn Michaels descending from the rafters on a skyline. Years later,I would have an end of an era match with the Undertaker, with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. And it was listed as “The End of an Era” because we were the last of our generation of talent and the last sort of epic clash of them that you wouldsee. And there’s a moment at the end of that match with the three of us, the Undertaker, myself, and Shawn Michaels are standing at the top of the ramp. And I’ll never forget it, it’s burned into my brain of the, just that moment in time of the three of us,the respect level that we all had for each other are all standing out over that sea of people. It’ll last with me forever.”

On the decision to hold WrestleMania amid the pandemic: “Well you know, in this time I think we believe, WWE, I think our talent, our staff, our crew that probably now more than ever, entertainment for people is a necessity. Our fans arethere for us year-round. They’ve been doing it for years, and we have a message in the WWE that is, we say what our jobs are every day is to put smiles on people’s faces all over the globe. And we truly believe that. And in this time, maybe more than any otherin my memory, people need those smiles right now more than anything. So you know, we choose to carry on and to try to be able to deliver those smiles.”

On competing without the energy of the audience: “It’s tough. I can tell you that that is very tough. The WWE Universe, our fanbase is sort of the secret sauce of what we do. We’re actually one of the very first interactive television shows,if you look at it that way, or products out there. We encourage fans to bring signs, they make their own chants. There’s a sense of community in the WWE with our fanbase, and that community, their energy, that’s what drives our performers to put on the showthat they do. And I can tell you that what we do is very physical. And that physicality hurts a lot more more when there’s no one there egging you on, and there’s no adrenaline from the the fans’ standpoint.”

On why WrestleMania needed two days: “I’m telling you right now, it’ll be something special. Gronk’s the host, you know that’ll be special, so it’s gonna get crazy, it’s gonna be fun and it’ll put a smile on your face.”

source: ESPN SportsCenter 411mania.com.

Vince McMahon To Sell 3.5 Million Shares Of WWE Stock Through Morgan Stanley

According to a recent SEC filing, Vince McMahon is parting with some of his stake in World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. through Morgan Stanley in an effort to provide more liquidity for the company during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The filing itself indicates that McMahon has entered into a variable prepaid forward contract that covers around 3.5 million shares of Class B common stock. This contract will allow McMahon to maintain voting and dividend rights in the stock, as well as price appreciation during and after the contract.

This is no doubt an effort to help offset some of the losses that WWE will have to suffer through thanks to the recent COVID-19 outbreak. With the XFL shutting down its season early and tons of WWE shows – including WrestleMania 36 – forced to be held with no audience present, McMahon now has to find other ways to make sure everyone in the company is taken care of, and it looks as if he has.

Triple H Cleverly Trolls Deontay Wilder During ‘WrestleMania 30’ Rerun

Well played, Hunter

I usually don’t like to lead this column by writing about just a single tweet, but look: there are no sports going on and this is a really good tweet.

ESPN is filling some of the gaps in its programming schedule over the next few Sundays by airing old WrestleManias, starting with WrestleMania 30 yesterday. It’s a smart move for ESPN. The network gets to fill four hours of the schedule with well-liked, pre-made, eye-catching programming. WWE and ESPN have also been rumored to be in discussions to air new pay-per-views on ESPN+, so this is a way to whet the audience’s appetite for wrestling.

If you’re trying to get people interested in current-day WWE, there’s no better place to start than with 2014’s WrestleMania 30. The show is most memorable for the match where Brock Lesnar snapped The Undertaker’s 21-match WrestleMania winning streak, a good John Cena-Bray Wyatt match and the crowning of lovable underdog Daniel Bryan as World Heavyweight Champion.

The event also featured an all-time great entrance by Triple H before his show-opening match against Bryan.

If it looks a bit familiar, maybe you’re thinking of heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder’s entrance before last month’s rematch against Tyson Fury. The music was different but Wilder’s costume was awfully similar.

Wilder ended up losing that fight and said part of the reason was because the costume, which was made of steel and fitted with LED lights, weighed 45 pounds and made his legs weak by the time he actually got to the ring.

Like Wilder, Triple H also lost his fight and he had a cheeky explanation for it during ESPN’s re-air.

When I first saw Triple H’s tweet, I thought, “Wow, that’s a good reference to something that happened a long time ago.” But the Wilder fight was only a month ago! It’s impossible to keep track of time these days. It’s still a great reference, though.

source: si.com/extra-mustard

Matt Hardy Believes He Would Have Had A Better Opportunity In WWE If Triple H Was In Charge

Matt Hardy shocked many fans during AEW Dynamite when he made his AEW debut siding with The Elite against The Inner Circle. Hardy appeared on the latest episode of Talk Is Jericho where the two talked about how Vince McMahon views older talent in WWE.

"Yeah, it's definitely frustrating. I mean, I think everyone goes there being optimistic that you can break through or maybe achieve something different, but it's definitely frustrating. And then once again, once your a little older, you probably experienced some of this as well, like I was not a star on your level, you know, you did stuff as a singles competitor world champion several times over, but once you get to a certain age, Vince's like well, this guy's kind of old," Hardy said. "Even for himself, at his age, he doesn't even want to be on TV because you're old. Nobody wants to see an old person. It's just like if you're a talent and you get to a certain age, it's kind of like, I don't know."

Hardy said that he told everyone that he was going to leave, and it was reported before that Hardy did not want to re-sign with WWE due to how he was being used creatively. He said that even Triple H had tried to contact him to try to stay after his contract had expired. Hardy believes that if Triple H were in charge, then there would have been more opportunities for him creatively.

"What a weird day, and it was like I'm very honest and open with everyone. I told everyone from Vince all the way down what I wanted and what I expected if I was going to stay around. Once we were on the same page, and I said, okay, well, thank you guys very much," Hardy said. "I'll just go my own way, and even days after I left, I talked to to Triple H. It's just like he was cool, and I feel like if if Triple H would have been the guy that was solely in power, I would have probably had a much better opportunity of kind of getting to do what I wanted creatively, but it is what it is."

XFL Issues Statement On Re-Launch Season Ending Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic

Vince McMahon's XFL football league has officially cancelled the rest of their 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

XFL Commissioner & CEO Oliver Luck and XFL President & COO Jeffrey N. Pollack issued a joint statement this evening to officially announce that the remainder of the XFL return season has been canceled. They ended the statement by looking ahead to the 2021 season, but no details have been announced for next year as of this writing. The league, which has found success in the first 5 weeks of play this year, remains committed to playing a full season in 2021 and beyond.

It was announced back on March 12 that that the season was being suspended, and that all players would still be paid their base pay and benefits for the 2020 regular season. It was also said that XFL ticket holders would be issued refunds or credit towards future games when play is resumed. This new statement issued today makes the cancellation official.
Stay tuned for updates on the XFL moving forward. Below is the full statement issued to fans this evening:

A THANK YOU TO OUR FANS

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the most recent local and state regulations, have left the XFL no choice but to officially cancel the remainder of the 2020 season. This decision has been made with the health and safety of the entire XFL family as our top priority.
While we are disappointed to not complete the 2020 season, our hearts are full of appreciation for your overwhelming support.
Your passion, your commitment to your favorite XFL team and your love of football made our season a success beyond our wildest dreams. We're grateful for the incredible response and look forward to playing full seasons for you -- and with you -- in 2021 and beyond.
When our teams return to the field, we'll make every effort to ensure your faith in us is rewarded with even more fun and excitement. Your passion is our purpose, and everything we do, every day and for every season to come, is For the Love of Football.
We hope you will stay connected to our league and team social and digital channels for news, features, and updates along the way.

ESPN To Air Classic WWE WrestleMania Events

ESPN is set to air classic WWE WrestleMania events to build to WrestleMania 36, according to Variety.

ESPN will air classic WrestleMania events over the next three Sundays, on their flagship cable network, and then on their mobile app.

The first showing will be this Sunday at 7pm ET as ESPN airs WrestleMania XXX from 2014.
Variety noted that this is the latest example of ESPN working to fill its schedule with "unorthodox content" in the wake of the nation's coronavirus pandemic, which has put a stop to many sporting events.

"This unique opportunity is a byproduct of the terrific working relationship we've enjoyed with WWE over the years and the unprecedented circumstances we all find ourselves in," said Burke Magnus, ESPN's Executive Vice President of Programming. "WrestleMania is one of the most popular global events in sports and entertainment and the spectacular content it provides will be a treat for fans."

WWE To Air WrestleMania 36 From Multiple Locations

As noted earlier, WWE announced this evening that WrestleMania 36 will be a two-night streaming event for the first time ever. The Grandest Stage of Them All will air on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5 at 7pm ET on pay-per-view and the WWE Network. WWE also announced that former NFL player Rob Gronkowski will be hosting WrestleMania this year, and he will be on Friday's SmackDown to promote the show.

Besides the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, WrestleMania 36 will reportedly air live from "multiple other locations," according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi. There's no word yet on where these other locations will be, but the WWE announcement confirmed that the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida will be one, and that there will be no crowd due to the "essential personnel only" policy brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

WrestleMania 36 To Air As A Two-Night Streaming Event, Rob Gronkowski Announced As Host

WWE has announced that WrestleMania 36 will be a two-night streaming event for the first time ever.

WrestleMania 36 will air on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5 at 7pm ET on pay-per-view and the WWE Network. It will still air from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, with no crowd.

WWE also announced that former NFL player Rob Gronkowski will be hosting The Grandest Stage of Them All this year.

Gronk, who will be on Friday's SmackDown to push the appearance, took to Twitter and commented on the big announcement.

"It's official! I'm hosting @WrestleMania this year...and it's gonna be too big for just one night. For the 1st time, #WrestleMania will be a [alarm emoji] 2-NIGHT [alarm emoji] event: Saturday, April 4 AND Sunday, April 5 on @WWENetwork! Tell you more this Friday night on #SmackDown at 8 ET on @FOXTV," he wrote.

Below is the full announcement WWE sent to us:

For Immediate Release
WRESTLEMANIA® TOO BIG FOR JUST ONE NIGHT

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 18, 2020 – WrestleMania, for the first time ever, will be held as a two-night event streaming on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm ET on WWE Network and available on pay-per-view.

The two-night pop culture extravaganza will be hosted by three-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski. Tune in to SmackDown this Friday at 8 pm ET on FOX to see what Gronk has in store for WrestleMania.

As previously announced, only essential personnel will be on the closed set during the production of WrestleMania.

WWE Issues Statement On If Wrestlers And Staff Are Being Tested For Coronavirus

WWE confirmed in a new statement to Sports Illustrated that all company talent and staff are required to participate in medical screenings before entering the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

WWE issued the following statement in response to a question on if talent and staff are being tested for the COVID-19 virus:

"In consultation with WWE Medical Director Dr. Maroon, WWE Associate Medical Director Dr. Dugas and ringside physician Dr. Westerfield, as a best practice and precautionary measure all WWE performers and staff are required to participate in medical screenings prior to entering WWE's training center, which is now operating as a closed set."

Furthermore, SI reports that WWE has established a series of protocols, based on guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to minimize risks and to protect its performers and staff. Due to the lack of testing for those in need, WWE sources close to the situation reported to SI that WWE is not testing people that are showing no symptoms, or asymptomatic.

Triple H Brings Sense of Normalcy, Fun at Time of Great Uncertainty

There was an eery sense of reality that fell over Friday night's show.

The relocation of the show and absence of audience hammered home just how surreal a world we are living in right now. Just when discomfort set in, though, the WWE Universe's dad rushed to its aid and provided a night of unexpected fun and entertainment.

Triple H welcomed the viewing audience to his baby, the WWE Performance Center, and proceeded to join Michael Cole on the headsets for one of the most refreshingly fun and light-hearted commentary performances in recent memory.

He was hilarious, using insider references to break up the monotony that sometimes engulfs the announce position and played off Cole extremely well. He was engaging, took nothing too seriously and even jumped behind a camera while referencing the short-handed nature of the production.

And best of all, he did it all without taking away any attention from the Superstars on the show.

There are fans who will point to the NXT brand as proof that Triple H can run WWE and do so to great success, but there may be no greater example of that than what he was able to accomplish Friday night on short notice and with a skeleton crew to work with.

Without him, the broadcast would most certainly have been an uncomfortable viewing experience for an audience already shell-shocked by what is going on in the world.

source: bleacherreport.com

WWE Hall of Fame and NXT Takeover Postponed

WWE has issued the following statement:

“The WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony and NXT TakeOver will not take place as previously scheduled. We will share further details as they become available.”

The nWo, Batista, The Bella Twins, JBL, Davey Boy Smith, and Jushin Liger were all expected to be inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame. It’s possible they may be holding these events later this year, possibly during SummerSlam weekend if that event even goes on as planned.

WWE Statement Regarding WrestleMania 36

In coordination with local partners and government officials, WrestleMania and all related events in Tampa Bay will not take place. However, WrestleMania will still stream live on Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm ET on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view. Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania.

Triple H Jokes About His "Demotion" On Last Night's WWE SmackDown

Earlier in the week there were reports of Triple H receiving a "quiet demotion" due to a title change within the company about five months ago that just recently came out in a SEC filing. Triple H previously worked as the Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events & Creative since 2013, but received a new job title—Executive Vice President of Global Talent Development & Strategy. He also has his Senior Producer and creator roles with the NXT brand.

He was reportedly moved away from being in charge of talent and his main duties are now the growth and operation of NXT, selling the NXT TV rights to overseas partners, and the global expansion of the black & yellow brand.

Vince McMahon's Chief of Staff, Brad Blum, took over Live Events the department that Triple H previously ran.

On last night's WWE SmackDown, the show was moved from Detroit to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando due to the Coronavirus pandemic. SmackDown did not have an audience and Triple H worked commentary alongside Michael Cole.

During the show, Triple H joked about his "demotion," saying he was busier than ever.
"I'm not really that busy at all!" Triple H said. "I'm the only man in the history of the world that can get demoted and get busier, apparently, I don't know, but here I am."

Today, in a report from PWInsider, Triple H is indeed busier than ever in his new role, which also includes leading the way to opening new WWE Performance Centers, both domestically and around the world, for more talent to be trained.

XFL to allow players to sign with NFL teams immediately

After announcing it is suspending the remainder of its season due to the coronavirus, the XFL announced it will allow players to sign contracts with NFL and CFL teams immediately.

In an interview with NFL Network, XFL commissioner Oliver Luck said all players will be paid their base pay and benefits for the remainder of the season, and players are allowed to sign any contract with an NFL or CFL team once they clear a physical.

It’s great news for players like Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker, who was already catching the eye of NFL teams. Walker emerged as the XFL MVP in the first half of the season and will likely receive plenty of interest from NFL teams.

While players originally wouldn’t have been allowed to sign with another team until after the XFL Championship Game, the league’s decision to suspend the season changed things.

Walker likely won’t be the only XFL player to attract attention. Los Angeles Wildcats quarterback Josh Johnson, Roughnecks receiver Cam Phillips and St. Louis BattleHawks quarterback Jordan Ta’Amu could also attract some attention.

The XFL plans to return for the 2021 season, and it’s great to see the league do right by all of its players and fans.

source: msn.com

Rumor Killer On The Wrestling Observer's Claim That Triple H Was "Quietly Demoted"

The Wrestling Observer claims the Triple H was "quietly demoted" when his job title was changed from EVP Talent, Live Events and Create to EVP Global Talent Development and Strategy. While the Live Events department is now being overseen by Vince McMahon's Chief of Staff Brad Blum, it is clear from the 2020 Proxy filing that Triple H has not lost any status with Vince or the company:

Paul Levesque has served as our Executive Vice President, Global Talent Strategy since February 2020, and prior thereto was Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative since August 2011. In his current role, he oversees the Company's Talent Relations and Talent Development departments. Additionally, Mr. Levesque plays an integral role in the Company's creative process, helping shape the creative direction and storylines of WWE programming.

Triple H also serves on the Board of Directors and is a member of the executive committee.

The Board believes that its current members comprise an appropriate mix of background, diversity and expertise. In particular, Mr. McMahon is a seasoned manager who understands what is necessary for the Company to thrive in the dynamic and competitive markets in which we compete. As our co-founder, Mr.McMahon has decades of experience overseeing all of our revenue streams and is familiar with every aspect of our business and industry. He has significant expertise in creative matters, television, talent development and live events, each of which is a critical aspect of our business. Similarly, Ms. McMahon and Mr. Levesque have decades of experience in our Company and both have been important players in all aspects of our creative process, including television, talent and live events. They have extensive practical experience with many of our revenue streams and have been critically involved in our business transformation over the past several years as well as our continuing brand development.

He no longer has the responsibility of Live Events. But the autonomy concerning the global expansion of NXT and opening more Performance Centers has increased.

Not sure this qualifies as a demotion.

WWE Statement on Potential Impact of COVID-19

WWE today communicated perspective regarding the potential impact of COVID-19 on the Company's financial performance.

WWE has substantial financial resources, both available cash and debt capacity, which currently total more than $0.5 billion, to manage the challenges ahead. The fundamentals of the Company's business remain strong reflecting the passion of WWE's fans and the quality of its content. Management continues to believe the Company is well positioned to take full advantage of the changing media landscape and increasing value of live sports rights over the longer term.

The health and safety of WWE's fans, performers and employees are the Company's top priorities and management is monitoring the situation closely domestically and internationally.

The potential impact of COVID-19, and corresponding changes in the way WWE operates, may adversely impact the Company's business including, but not limited to, its live event ticket sales and the sale of merchandise at those events. It should be noted that the Company may be directed to cancel, postpone or relocate certain upcoming events and the number of these changes is unknown at this time. The Company is currently unable to quantify the potential financial impact of COVID-19, but the financial impact to the Company may be material. Accordingly, the Company is withdrawing its previously announced first quarter and full year 2020 guidance due to the increased uncertainty of the financial impact of COVID-19 to the Company.

"While we remain committed to hosting WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, April 5, we are putting contingency plans in place in the event that it is cancelled by government officials, civil authorities and/or local venues," WWE said. "The health and safety of our fans, performers and employees are our top priorities and we are monitoring the situation closely with our partners and government officials in Tampa Bay."

XFL Cancels Rest Of Season Due To COVID-19

The relaunched XFL did not get a chance to finish its season. Despite ratings declining, that was not what did it in.

The league joined much of the sports world as it suspended play after five weeks. This is due to the coronavirus that is currently spreading around the world. Several states have banned more than 250 people from showing up to arenas around the country.

The XFL provided a statement that assured that players will be paid their base salary, while also including benefits. All XFL ticket holders will be issued refunds or credit towards future games.
Prior to everything shutting down, the Seattle Dragons were going to be playinginside an empty stadium against the Los Angeles Wildcats. XFL President and COO, Jeffrey Pollack stated the following during that time:
"Based on the proclamation issued Wednesday by Washington Governor Jay Inslee, the Seattle Dragons will host the LA Wildcats this Sunday, as scheduled. The game will take place at 4pm PT at CenturyLink Field without fans in the venue. The game will be broadcast live, also as scheduled, on ESPN2."
Since then, MLB, NHL, NCAA (including the NCAA Tournament), boxing and MMA have all decided to cancel, move or hold events without fans. WWE has been forced to move SmacklDown to the Performance Center, while Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW, among others, have had to alter their schedule to accommodate what is going on.
According to the la test from CNN, the coronavirus has infected over 124,518 people, with 4,607 deaths confirmed.

Tampa City Officials Make Announcement Regarding WrestleMania 36

WWE's WrestleMania 36 will move forward as scheduled, at least for now.

As we've noted, top WWE officials and local officials met today in Tampa to discuss the status of WrestleMania 36 and the coronavirus pandemic. Local officials were also discussing the possible cancellation and changes to other events in the area.

With WrestleMania still 3 weeks away, officials have decided that they do not want to cancel the event just yet.

"Right now WrestleMania is out about three weeks," Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller said this afternoon. "We came to the conclusion that at this point, we don't want to pull that plug. However we wanted to give it at least a week to see what was going to happen, if WWE was going to do anything at all. If they don't, at that point, I will suggest that we do come together for an emergency meeting to discuss what we do at that particular point in time."
It was noted that WWE and local officials will reconvene next week as we get closer to April 5, which is the day of the WrestleMania 36 pay-per-view from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. WrestleMania 36 Week and the non-WWE wrestling events will begin in the area several days before that.

More?

WWE Issues Statement Saying SmackDown In Detroit Is Still Scheduled

WWE has issued a statement debunking a report that SmackDown in Detroit has been cancelled.

WWE statement:

“WWE has not cancelled Friday Night SmackDown in Detroit, however, based on the current situation, we are putting contingency plans in place in the event that upcoming WWE shows are cancelled by government officials, civil authorities and/or local venues.”

It should be noted however, WWE is working on several contingency plans should events have to be canceled due to government intervention.

Rumor Mill - WWE Reportedly Moving This Week's SmackDown To The Performance Center Due To Coronavirus

The coronavirus continues to have an impact on the world of professional wrestling.

WWE has reportedly nixed Friday's SmackDown on FOX and WWE 205 Live episodes from the Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit, Michigan due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to PWInsider.

WWE will now broadcast Friday's two shows from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, where they aired tonight's WWE NXT episode on the USA Network from.

Tonight's NXT episode aired from the Performance Center due to a previously scheduled non-WWE event at Full Sail University, and not because of the virus.

WWE officials reportedly made the decision to make the drastic changes to SmackDown earlier this afternoon due to the outbreak. An official announcement will be coming soon.

There's no word yet on if Monday's RAW will still air from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA, but we will keep you updated.

Rob Gronkowski Signs With WWE, Will Debut On SmackDown And Appear At WrestleMania 36

Gronk is reportedly headed to WrestleMania 36.

Former NFL player and WWE celebrity friend Rob Gronkowski has signed with WWE and is set to appear at WrestleMania 36 next month, according to The Wrap.

The former New England Patriots tight end has now signed a contract with WWE, and will make his official debut during the March 20 episode of SmackDown on FOX from New Orleans. Gronk is also scheduled to appear at WrestleMania 36. It was noted that current plans for the WrestleMania 36 appearance will lead to a future match for the three-time Super Bowl champion. Gronk is not scheduled to wrestle on The Grandest Stage of Them All this year, but that appearance will lead to the match they have in mind.

The 30 year old Gronk, who retired from the NFL one year ago, signed with FOX Sports as an analyst back in October. The Wrap reached out to FOX Sports for comments on if the new WWE deal will impact Gronk's NFL work, but there's no word yet.
It was noted on WWE Backstage on Tuesday that Gronk and WWE were close to finalizing a deal. That deal has been officially signed, according to the new report from The Wrap.

Gronk, a noted pro wrestling fan and good friend to Mojo Rawley, made his WWE debut at WrestleMania 33 back in 2017, to help Mojo win the 4th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
There's no word yet on the terms of Rob's deal with WWE.