Category: WWE

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.

WWE Reportedly Has More Positive COVID-19 Tests Come Back

WWE reportedly had another round of positive COVID-19 tests last week.

There were issues at the WWE Performance Center TV tapings on Tuesday, August 4. WWE had plans to tape multiple episodes of SmackDown and 205 Live, but ended up taping just one episode of each show. It was noted then that the delays were due to problems with organization, and possibly with how late the RAW taping ran the night before. The delay led to WWE holding another taping yesterday, August 13, for tonight’s SmackDown and 205 Live episodes.

Last week’s delay was reportedly due to more people testing positive for the coronavirus.

It was reported by PWInsider, via three different sources, that the second SmackDown taping scheduled for last week was nixed at the last minute because more positive COVID-19 test results came back.

WWE implemented additional COVID-19 protocols and put significant effort into preventing the spread of the virus after the large outbreak in June. There is no word yet on who tested positive in this latest round of tests, or if more wrestlers tested positive than other employees. However, it was reported last week that some talents who were booked for the tapings had to be pulled at the last minute, which also contributed to the delay. Two of the wrestlers who were reportedly pulled from the SmackDown taping were Killian Dain and Danny Burch, but they both wrestled on this week’s WWE NXT episode. It’s possible that they were pulled due to creative reasons.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Preview 8/14/2020

The Road to WWE SummerSlam will continue with tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX episode.

* Big E vs. John Morrison

* Braun Strowman promises a monstrous confrontation with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

* Alexa Bliss sit-down interview to discuss her recent interactions with The Fiend

* Tri-Brand Battle Royal to determine who will challenge WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bayley for her SmackDown Women’s Title at SummerSlam

WWE Expected To Announce Amway Center In Orlando As location Of SummerSlam, May Hold Other Events and TV Tapings At The Site, Virtual Fans

WWE is expected to announce the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida as the location for the SummerSlam pay-per-view on August 23. They’re also looking at the venue for other upcoming events and TV tapings.

It was reported on Thursday, via PWInsider, that WWE was considering the use of virtual fans for SummerSlam, something FOX has done for recent MLB broadcasts. Now @Wrestlevotes reports that WWE has a much bigger interactive experience planned for the Amway Center.

It was noted that WWE is about to begin a “new long term residency” at the Amway Center, indicating they have signed a lease with the venue, which has been “officially” closed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This residency includes a new interactive experience that will see fans appear live on the show via LED boards. The interactive experience will be hosted by WWE Superstars and Legends.

The interactive experience will be shown in the arena with more than 2,500 square foot of LED boards.

WWE should be announcing details on the interactive experience soon as it was noted that applications for people to appear on screen will open next week.

UPDATE

WWE production trucks have arrived at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Local reporter Jon Alba tweeted the following video of WWE loading their equipment into the building today.

WWE is set to tape upcoming pay-per-view and TV events from the Amway Center. You can click here to read our recent report on a very interesting new “interactive experience” WWE has planned for the venue, in which fans will be shown on large LED boards.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the return to live TV will begin with next Friday’s SummerSlam go-home edition of SmackDown on FOX. If everything goes smooth with SummerSlam Weekend, the idea is to host as much live TV as possible from the Amway Center for the forseeable future.

The idea is that WWE really wants to get out of the Performance Center as far as filming goes. They are putting part of the blame for the drop in TV ratings on not being live and the darkness of the Performance Center, according to The Observer.

The return to live programming outside of the Performance Center will mean an increase in production costs that the company has saved on while filming at their own facility. It will also mean talent and staff will be traveling twice as much, assuming they stay with live programming, and effectively ignoring the 14-day quarantine mandates set by states like Connecticut and New York.

The WWE NXT brand will not be impacted by the main roster move to the Amway Center as the current plan for the black & yellow brand is to remain at the NXT Arena on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Shotzi Blackheart’s Car And Helmet Located By Police

NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart got her car and signature helmet stolen this week, but as seen in a new video officers reunited her with both last night.

As we previously reported, Blackheart’s ride was jacked outside of her apartment Tuesday morning with her gear and helmet (which had a lot of sentimental value) inside of the trunk.

Shotzi shared an update via YouTube on Thursday explaining that she received a call from police Wednesday evening about her car while brushing her teeth. Fellow NXT wrestler Jake Atlas then gave her a ride to meet with officers who were in the field with her vehicle.

When officers opened the trunk for Blackheart, who was in her wrestling gear, she was overjoyed seeing her helmet again and hugged it tightly after it was handed to her.

Watch the video below.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE NXT Preview 8/12/20

The road to WWE NXT “Takeover: XXX” will continue during tonight’s taped NXT episode on the WWE Network.

* Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae let the NXT Universe into their home

* Adam Cole responds to last week’s attack by Pat McAfee

* NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar vs. Tyler Breeze in a non-title match

* Karrion Kross vs. Danny Burch

* Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest

* Kushida vs. Cameron Grimes vs. a mystery opponent in a Triple Threat qualifier for the “Takeover: XXX” Ladder Match for the vacant NXT North American Title

Shotzi Blackheart Says Her Car Got Stolen With Gear Bag And Helmet Inside

NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart says she might be wrestling in street clothes this week, because her car got stolen Monday night with her gear and helmet inside.

Blackheart tweeted Tuesday morning saying, “My car was stolen outside my apartment last night in Orlando. 2015 WHITE HONDA CIVIC LYTP77 last tracked driving down chickasaw at 5am.”

“Also my gear bag with all my gear, boots, entrance jacket and helmet were in the trunk. If you are wondering why I’m wrestling in street clothes and dont have my helmet that is why,” she added.

“Im mostly sad about my helmet… my first day of training seven years ago I saw that helmet hung up on the wall next to the ring. I looked at it everyday I went to training. Finally when it was time for me to start having matches I asked my trainers if I could have it. RIP HELMET.”

If you have any information on the whereabouts of her car, please contact local authorities.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE RAW Preview 8/10/20

The Road to SummerSlam continues with tonight’s taped WWE RAW episode on the USA Network.

* Kevin Owens goes one-on-one against Randy Orton

* Asuka faces Bayley with a SummerSlam title opportunity hanging in the balance

* Who will fight in Raw Underground next?

Wrestling Legend Kamala Passes Away At Age 70

Former WWE star Kamala (James Harris) has passed away yesterday at age 70.

The word of his passing first came from WWE Hall of Famer Koko B. Ware.

The cause of Kamala’s death has been reported by Jason King from Bleacher Report.

King shared on Twitter that he reportedly spoke with Kamala’s wife, who revealed that her husband went into cardiac arrest and passed away yesterday afternoon.

Also according to Jason King, Kamala had tested positive on Wednesday for COVID. He was then hospitalized on Wednesday night.

https://twitter.com/JasonKingBR/status/1292650848288485376

Kamala made his WWE debut in 1984 and would make his RAW in-ring debut in 1993. During his WWE career, he feuded with Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Hulk Hogan, and The Undertaker.

He also wrestled in such promotions as Mid-South Wrestling, WCW, USWA, WCCW, and NWA Tri-State.

In recent years, Kamala had a number of health issues including a battle with diabetes that required his legs to be amputated. In 2015, he released an autobiography called “Kamala Speaks.”

Kamala was inducted in the Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.

WWE has released the below statement about his passing.

WWE is saddened to learn that James Harris, known to WWE fans as Kamala, has passed away at age 70.Under the frightening face paint of Kamala, the 6-foot-7, 380-pound Harris battled the greatest Superstars in sports-entertainment history, including Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker and Andre the Giant.

He terrorized opponents and thrilled audiences in Mid-South, World Class Championship Wrestling, WCW and WWE until 2006.

WWE extends its condolences to Harris’ family, friends and fans.

Source: Wrestling Inc.