Florida Governor Names WWE Essential Business

Many people have argued that the WWE is not an essential business and that it should not be operating during the Coronavirus crisis.

However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis deems that the WWE is an essential business. So, they can continue during the current pandemic.

WWE Reviewed By Government Officials

World Wrestling Entertainment did not receive its essential business status from the beginning. The essential nature of the business first came into question when Governor DeSantis announced a “shelter-in-place” order for Florida.

During a press conference on Monday, Orange County’s Mayor Jerry Demings answered questions about the WWE’s status. In a statement, he admitted the WWE was not an essential business originally.

“I think initially there was a review that was done and they were not initially deemed an essential business. With some conversation with the governor’s office regarding the governor’s [stay-at-home] order, they were deemed an essential business.”

In other words, the WWE needed to get permission to remain open. But, Demings did not go into detail about why the Governor’s office changed its stance on WWE.

Fans on both sides weighed in on Twitter:

And: 

Is The WWE Staying Operational Best For Talent And Staff?

Even though there is no audience, each episode of Raw and SmackDown requires a large number of staff.

Last week, reports revealed a potential Coronavirus infection within WWE staff. So, all people working for the WWE at the moment could encounter the virus.

From a health standpoint, the WWE’s tactics are certainly not the best. Yet, the company staying open could be good for employment, the economy, and of course fans.

The WWE says the health and safety of talent and staff is their top priority:

“We are producing content on a closed set with only essential personnel in attendance following appropriate guidelines while taking additional precautions to ensure the health and wellness of our performers and staff. As a brand that has been woven into the fabric of society, WWE and its Superstars bring families together and deliver a sense of hope, determination and perseverance.”

There is no denying that the staff working for the WWE at the moment are still getting an income. Since the crisis impacts many people’s jobs at the moment, steady employment is a welcome change at this point.

“We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times.”

Not all WWE employees were able to keep their job, as some are left home without pay.

Fortunately, WWE superstar Rusev donated some of his money to help these staff members make ends meet.

Since the world is expected to enter an economic crisis that hasn’t been seen since the second World War, any jobs remaining are welcome at this point in time.

When Will Live Audiences Return?

Even if the WWE gets the go-ahead in the nearby future to have a live audience, I don’t think things will run that fast.

Many people will be left fearful after this crisis and unwilling to attend events with a large number of people.

Once the lockdown lifts, I expect to see some smaller venues or at least a lot of open seats at live events.

Eventually, things will return to normal, but it will all takes some time.

At this time, it is important for the lockdown to stay in place to protect people’s lives. No matter how annoying you find the isolation, it is in everyone’s benefit that lockdown rules are adhered to.

While we wait for the lockdown to end and the coronavirus infection to disappear, we have the WWE to keep us entertained. We can still enjoy the storylines.