Author: John Bass

AEW To Host Live Ticketed Events With Limited Capacity Starting This Month

AEW has announced they’ll be hosting live, ticketed events at Daily’s Place with 10-15 percent capacity starting on August 27th.

The announcement from AEW with all the details states:

AEW TO HOST LIVE, TICKETED EVENTS AT 10-15 PERCENT CAPACITY AT DAILY’S PLACE OPEN-AIR VENUE

— Starting Thursday, Aug. 27, Live Open-Air Shows in Jacksonville, Fla., Open to Limited, Physically Distanced Spectatorsin Compliance with State and Local Regulations and CDC Guidelines —

August 20, 2020 – All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced it will host limited, ticketed crowds of 10-15 percent capacity for its live shows at the open-air Daily’s Place amphitheater in Jacksonville, Fla., starting on Thursday, Aug. 27.

To safely bring back the energy of a live audience to AEW’s shows — in compliance with state and local regulations and CDC guidelines — a select number of physically distanced seating pods will be available for sale in groups of two, three, four and six around the outdoor venue. For the first ticketed show on Aug. 27, a maximum crowd of 10 percent capacity will be permitted. Going forward, as long as safety protocols are followed meticulously, a maximum crowd of 15 percent capacity will be permitted for all live events at Daily’s Place.

Limited tickets to attend the Aug. 27 DYNAMITE show, airing on TNT, will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m. ET via AEWTIX.com and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $30 (not including service charges or fees).

Guests will be required to wear face coverings that cover the nose and mouth, and to physically distance from any person who is not a member of their pod. Guests will also be asked not to attend the day of the show if they have COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19 or have had close contact exposure to someone who they know has COVID-19 or symptoms. In addition, all guests will have their temperature scanned prior to entry. An increased number of hand sanitizing stations will be available, and floor markings will also be used to assist with physical distancing. Industrial fans were also added this past year to further improve air circulation at the open-air venue.

As a further safeguard, all tickets will be mobile and may only be purchased online at AEWTIX.com and Ticketmaster.com (no box office sales). Daily’s Place will also transition to cashless payment and mobile ordering for most transactions, including food and merchandise purchases.

“We’ve missed the incredible energy of our fans at shows, and from what we’ve heard from them, they’ve missed being with us. With our enhanced safety measures and outdoor venue, we look forward to welcoming our fans back to become part of the action in-person,” said Tony Khan, AEW President and CEO.

“Please be assured, we are mindful and respectful of the situation,“ Khan added. “The health and safety of our AEW family and our fans remains our highest priority. Our leadership team and medical staff have adjusted our operations for limited, physically distanced fans in an outdoor, open-air setting in compliance with the most current state and local regulations and CDC guidelines. We can’t wait for the August 27 DYNAMITE, as the road to ALL OUT will represent the beginning of a new chapter in AEW history.“

ROH Announces Return Of TV Tapings, Big Spoiler For This Week’s TV Tapings

Ring of Honor announced it will be returning to TV production later this month in Maryland.

Starting back in March, ROH had cancelled all its upcoming events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fans will not be allowed at the tapings later this month. ROH also noted the Pure Title Tournament (originally scheduled for April) is set to be a focus for the shows.

“Taking care of our people during this difficult time has been and still is our No. 1 priority,” ROH Chief Operating Officer Joe Koff said. “That’s why we have spent many weeks working alongside the Maryland State commission in gearing towards our return to producing wrestling action. The strictest of protocols, testing and measures will be in place to assure us of this directive.”

Below is the full announcement:

 

RING OF HONOR TO RETURN TO TELEVISION PRODUCTION THIS MONTH IN MARYLAND

With the safety and health of talents, staff and production crew at the forefront, Ring of Honor Wrestling will return to producing new episodes of the “Ring of Honor Wrestling” television program this August 2020 in the home state of Maryland.

ROH will adhere to a very stringent protocol as well as the regulations set in place by the Maryland State Athletic Commission. ROH will be instituting the necessary testing and safety measures in a continued effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There will be no fans or staff who are not essential to the production present during these events.

“Taking care of our people during this difficult time has been and still is our No. 1 priority,” ROH Chief Operating Officer Joe Koff said. “That’s why we have spent many weeks working alongside the Maryland State commission in gearing towards our return to producing wrestling action. The strictest of protocols, testing and measures will be in place to assure us of this directive.”

Ring of Honor’s last events were the cancelled 18th Anniversary and Past vs Present shows in Las Vegas last March 13th and 14th. Since then, the company has opted to cease taping operations until there was a safe way to resume. These new tapings will pick up right where ROH left off with a focus on the ROH Pure Title Tournament, which had been originally scheduled for April.

 

 

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER 

EC3 is reportedly scheduled to make his Ring of Honor debut at this week’s TV tapings.

The Impact Wrestling star is currently in Baltimore, Maryland and will be working the ROH TV tapings, according to PWInsider.

EC3 returned to Impact in July after being released by WWE in mid-April due to the company-wide cuts brought on by COVID-19. He is currently feuding with TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose for the title.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 8/19/20

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will feature the final build for Saturday’s “Takeover: XXX” event.

WWE ThunderDome For SmackDown Quickly Reaches Capacity, Rules For Fans Revealed

WWE ThunderDome registration went live last night and capacity was quickly reached for the debut that will come with Friday’s SmackDown on FOX episode from the Amway Center in Orlando, which will be the SummerSlam go-home show.

WWE announced on Twitter shortly after registration for SmackDown opened, “#WWEThunderDome has reached maximum capacity for #SmackDown this Friday. Stay tuned for your chance to register for virtual seats in the WWE ThunderDome at #SummerSlam!”

WWE will have rows of fans shown on almost 1,000 LED boards for the new state-of-the-art viewing experience. ThunderDome will be used for all upcoming RAW, SmackDown and pay-per-view events for the foreseeable future.

The rules for ThunderDome registration notes that seats are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. WWE reminded fans that they will be on a live TV show, asking them to be camera-ready.

WWE also noted in the rules that they reserve the right to remove any fan from the live stream for inappropriate conduct or technical issues.

“We reserve the right to terminate your participation at our sole discretion if your attire contains any immoral graphics, images or text, any political statements, slogans, logos, graphics or other commercial identification of third-parties other than the WWE, its athletes and sponsors,” the rules note.

Below are part of the registration rules issued to fans:

All registered fans are further selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Please make sure you are camera ready. Remember, you will be appearing on a live show.We reserve the right to remove you from the live stream at any time, for any reason. The audience will be refreshed throughout the night and you may not be included in the entire broadcast. In addition, we may remove you from the live stream for any inappropriate conduct or technical issues. Watch the show through the stream on your device.

Position yourself in front of your camera from your midsection up, leaving a little room above your head. Make sure you have good lighting.

Only one fan permitted per seat.

Your attire must be appropriate and must remain on at all times.

Officially licensed WWE clothing is preferred, if available.

We reserve the right to terminate your participation at our sole discretion if your attire contains any immoral graphics, images or text, any political statements, slogans, logos, graphics or other commercial identification of third-parties other than the WWE, its athletes and sponsors.

 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Renee Young Reportedly Leaving WWE

Renee Young is reportedly leaving WWE.

Young reportedly gave her notice to the company one week ago, according to PWInsider. The news was first reported by OutKick.

There is no word yet on when Young’s final date with the company will be.

Young took some time off earlier this summer after testing positive for COVID-19. She has appeared via video for some WWE programming since then, and recently revealed plans for her first cookbook.

WWE first hired Young in 2012. She has worked on several shows since then, including as the host of Talking Smack and a cast member of Total Divas. She also hosted FS1’s WWE Backstage show earlier this year until it was nixed by the network. Young became the first full-time female member of the WWE RAW announce team in August 2018, before she was moved to SmackDown as a special contributor in October 2019.

Young is married to AEW World Champion Jon Moxley. There is no word yet on what her next move is, but it’s likely that she will continue to have interest from other wrestling and media organizations.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling “Emergence” Night One Preview 8/18/20

Tonight on a all-new IMPACT! 9/8c on AXS TV and Twitch. Impact Wrestling Presents Night One of Emergence

* Impact World Tag Team Championship: Motor City Machine Guns (c) vs. The North

* Wrestle House – Taya Valkyrie vs. Kylie Rae

* TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Moose (c) vs. Trey Miguel

* X-Division Championship: Chris Bey (c) vs. TJP vs. Rohit Raju

* Good Brothers vs. Ace Austin and Madman Fulton

 

WWE RAW Preview 8/17/20

Tonight’s WWE RAW episode will feature the go-home build for Sunday’s SummerSlam pay-per-view.

* Shawn Michaels appears to address Randy Orton

* Will Rey Mysterio return?

* Natalya returns to the ring

* The final red brand build for SummerSlam

Former ROH Star Xavier Passes Away At 42

Former ROH star Xavier (John Bedoya) has passed at age 42, according to PWInsider. There is no word yet on the circumstances of his passing.

Xavier was the second ROH World Champion. He would hold the title for six months. He last wrestled in ROH in 2007.

He was slated to wrestle Jay Lethal at ROH Presents: Past Vs. Present in March, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19.

Xavier wrestled a few matches on WWE Velocity and made several appearances in WWE as an extra.

He also wrestled in Defiant Championship Wrestling, East Coast Wrestling Association, Ultimate Championship Wrestling, and USA Xtreme Wrestling.

Xavier had a career in MMA too. He made his debut in 2009.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Details On “WWE ThunderDome” Amway Center Residency With Virtual Fan Wall

WWE will be bringing fans back into the arena via live video on massive LED boards for their residency at the Amway Center – in what they’re calling the “ThunderDome.”

The company sent out a press release on Monday which explains:

WWE® BRINGS THE THUNDER

STAMFORD, Conn., – August 17, 2020 – WWE ThunderDome™, featuring a state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras, will take WWE fans’ viewing experience to an unprecedented level starting this Friday, August 21 on FOX, kicking off SummerSlam® Weekend.

“WWE has a long history of producing the greatest live spectacles in sports and entertainment, yet nothing compares to what we are creating with WWE ThunderDome,” said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Vice President, Television Production. “This structure will enable us to deliver an immersive atmosphere and generate more excitement amongst the millions of fans watching our programming around the world.”

With the debut of WWE ThunderDome, WWE will take residency at Amway Center in Orlando and virtually bring fans into the arena via live video on massive LED boards, in conjunction with The Famous Group and its proprietary technology, for every Monday Night Raw®, Friday Night SmackDown® and WWE pay-per-view event. Starting tonight, fans can register for their virtual seat to be part of upcoming shows via www.WWEThunderDome.com or at WWE’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.

“As WWE takes residency at the world-class Amway Center, we have reimagined our live event experience for today’s environment,” said Brian Flinn, WWE Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “In partnership with The Famous Group, we will virtually bring our fans back into the show and recreate the interactive in-arena atmosphere that has been a staple of WWE events for decades.”

WWE Event Schedule for August:

• Friday, August 21 – Friday Night SmackDown®, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on FOX

• Saturday, August 22 – NXT TakeOver® XXX, Full Sail Live, 7 pm ET on WWE Network

• Sunday, August 23 – SummerSlam, Amway Center, 7 pm ET on WWE Network

• Monday, August 24 – Monday Night Raw®, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on USA Network

• Wednesday, August 26 – NXT®, Full Sail Live, 8 pm ET on USA Network

• Friday, August 28 – Friday Night SmackDown, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on FOX

• Sunday, August 30 – Payback®, Amway Center, 7 pm ET on WWE Network

• Monday, August 31 – Monday Night Raw, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on USA Network

WWE’s Amway Center residency will continue for the foreseeable future and Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-view programming will be produced on closed sets with only essential personnel in attendance. WWE will continue to administer its health and safety protocols for talent, crew and employees in conjunction with each production, including PCR testing for COVID-19, social distancing and wearing masks.

Man Arrested On Kidnapping Charge Outside The Home Of Sonya Deville

Phillip A. Thomas II, 24 from South Carolina, was arrested outside of the home of Sonya Deville (real name, Daria Berenato) early Sunday morning, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He’s charged with aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping, and criminal mischief. Thomas is being held without bail.

According to police, Thomas had begun planning the abduction eight months ago. Early Sunday morning, he waited on the property for three to four hours, where he cut a hole in the patio screen to listen and watch until the homeowner went to bed. He then entered through a sliding glass door, which activated an alarm.

Police said Thomas was spotted by the homeowner, who left with a guest in a car, and also called 911.

The report continued that Thomas was still on the property when police arrived and “was carrying a knife, plastic zip ties, duct tape, mace and other items, and told deputies he was planning to take the homeowner hostage.”

“Our deputies are unveiling the suspect’s disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the news release. “It’s frightening to think of all the ways this incident could have played out had the home alarm not gone off and alerted the homeowner of an intruder.”

Sonya Deville took to Twitter to release the below statement about the harrowing incident:

Thank you everyone for your love and concern. A very frightening experience but thankfully everyone is safe. A special thank you to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for their response and assistance.

https://twitter.com/SonyaDevilleWWE/status/1295164230593843200

Deville is scheduled to face Mandy Rose in a Hair vs. Hair Match at this Sunday’s SummerSlam.

Source: Wrestling Inc.