WWE Makes More Moves to Pre-Tape TV NXT Episodes During the Holiday Season

WWE is shaking things up again, continuing the trend of pre-taping episodes for its major shows during the holiday season. This includes upcoming episodes of NXT, SmackDown, and Raw, as the company adjusts its schedule to give wrestlers and staff time off for the holidays.

It was previously reported that the December 17 NXT event in Lowell, MA, will be on a one-hour tape delay to accommodate both that night’s episode and the Christmas Eve show. WWE also taped the November 24 SmackDown a week early on November 22 in Salt Lake City to allow everyone to enjoy Thanksgiving.

The adjustments don’t stop there. WWE plans to pre-tape the December 20 episode of SmackDown a week prior on December 13 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Meanwhile, Raw for December 23 will be taped on December 16 in Boston, MA, at the TD Garden.

During the latest WrestleVotes Radio, it was confirmed that NXT on the CW will also pre-tape its New Year’s Eve edition. “The New Year’s Eve edition of NXT on the CW will be taped on Thursday night, December 19, at the PC,” the podcast shared. “The show, however, will air as normal on the CW on New Year’s Eve, likely with the New Year’s Eve-type theme.”

The decision to pre-tape is being viewed as a considerate move by WWE, giving their younger NXT talent the opportunity to enjoy New Year’s Eve festivities. “It’s nice that WWE is giving the young cats down there New Year’s Eve off so they can go out and celebrate and do a little drinking and partying and whatever you feel like doing on New Year’s Eve,” the report noted.

These changes are part of WWE’s strategy to balance entertainment for fans while offering its performers much-needed time off to recharge.