WWE Resumes Tapings With Reported Rewrites And Mandatory COVID-19 Testing (UPDATE)

UPDATE: According to PWInsider‘s Mike Johnson, as of 11:30 AM EST this morning, tapings for today have yet to begun as WWE is a solid 40 minutes behind schedule. Johnson reported that staff and talent were still standing outside awaiting their COVID-19 test results as they’re not allowed in the Performance Center until they get word of clearance. The word is that people are reportedly frustrated with the morning as the process is evidently slow moving.

Earlier this week, WWE announced that a developmental talent tested positive for COVID-19. The company cancelled its television tapings for June 16 in order to run COVID-19 testing. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider and Jeremy Lambert of Fightful, WWE is resuming tapings on June 17, and it will tape the majority of next week’s programming. Johnson reports that that the following content will be taped:

-Next Monday’s Raw

-Next Monday’s Raw talk

-Next weekend’s WWE Main Event.

-Next Friday’s Smackdown

-This and next Friday’s episodes of 205 Live

Update: According to Cassidy and Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, the Smackdown tapings have been cancelled.

Just heard this as well. No word on the rest of the tapings https://t.co/0GimQvmSEj

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 17, 2020

Per Johnson, both the 6/17 and 6/24 episodes of NXT will be taped later today at Full Sail Live.

The tapings will reportedly feature content that’s different than what the company had initially planned. According to Gary Cassidy of Sportskeeda, Wednesday’s tapings will involve multiple rewrites. Johnson also states that, as of this writing, due to the COVID-19 testing, the tapings are behind schedule.

I’ve been told that, yesterday, some WWE employees had to wait for up to three hours to undergo COVID-19 testing.

I’ve also been told that there have since been “multiple rewrites” for this week’s programming.

— Gary (@GaryOnACross) June 17, 2020

Additionally, Cassidy reported that the taping will now require everyone involved to be tested for COVID-19.

I’ve also just been told that, following a developmental talent testing positive for COVID-19, there will be mandatory testing tomorrow for everyone – talent and crew included – attending the Performance Center.

— Gary (@GaryOnACross) June 16, 2020