WWE Deemed Essential Business by Florida Governor's Office Amid COVID-19
April 13, 2020
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has allowed WWE to continue filming at its Performance Center after determining the company to be an essential business.
Many wondered how DeSantis' stay-at-home order would impact WWE, which has moved all of its televised shows to Orlando, Florida, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings confirmed Monday the promotion received the green light from DeSantis.
"I think initially there was a review that was done and they were not initially deemed an essential business," Demings said, per Wrestling Inc's Marc Middleton. "With some conversation with the Governor's office regarding the Governor's [stay-at-home] order, they were deemed an essential business. Therefore they were allowed to remain open."
Some have questioned whether WWE should continue operating, even on a limited basis, as the pandemic has forced sports leagues across the world to go on an indefinite hiatus.
UFC had to cancel UFC 249 on April 18 after California state officials reached out to Disney, one of the company's biggest media partners, to express their reservations about the event, per the New York Times' Kevin Draper and Oskar Garcia.
WWE has avoided the same level of outside attention, however. It staged taped versions of Raw, SmackDown and WrestleMania 36 at the empty Performance Center and will resume live action without fans for Monday's edition of Raw.
The outcry surrounding WWE's current approach grew after Pro Wrestling Sheet's Ryan Satin reported an on-screen talent, who isn't an in-ring performer, tested positive for COVID-19.