Felix Upton on June 20, 2021
WWE constructed the ThunderDome when they had to bring in virtual fans during the pandemic. Tonight’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view will be the final special event in the ThunderDome before the company returns to live touring in July. AEW did not go that direction, but they used Daily’s Place to the best of their ability.
Tony Khan recently spoke to UPI where he explained why AEW did not erect a giant virtual fan structure in Daily’s Place. Instead, they used the amphitheater’s outdoor features to safely bring in fans in a socially distanced setting to bring even more life to the product.
“I didn’t want to have a video wall, and I pushed back when I got pushed to do a video wall. It was a fine idea and WWE did it, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I respect it, it’s good and it’s economical, but I wanted to continue to find a way to do the shows for the fans every week. And the fans at Daily’s Place supported us. We built like a wrestling territory having a weekly audience. I’m really proud of that.”
“And the fans at Daily’s Place supported us. We built like a wrestling territory having a weekly audience. I’m really proud of that.”
Tony Khan didn’t want a video wall on his show, and he pushed back on the idea. Fans saw his vision for the pandemic instead, and they continued receiving support from fans who attended events live at Daily’s Place instead of sitting at home and projecting their faces on a screen.
We’ll have to see if WWE ever uses the ThunderDome idea again after they return to the road. Hopefully, the pandemic won’t cause they to retreat back to a no-fans environment, because that is the last thing they need right now after making so many plans to get back on the road.
What’s your take on WWE vs AEW programming during the pandemic? Which did you enjoy more? Sound off in the comments!
June 20, 2021 8:36 am
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