With the advent of WWE ThunderDome, WWE has shown that even a global pandemic won’t stop them from continuing to be at the forefront of innovation. Speaking with Insider, Stephanie McMahon talked about feeling obligated to move forward with WrestleMania in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Working with the local government offices in Florida, the CDC, and the World Health Organization, we made sure we were aligned with all the recommendations from the organizations to do the right thing. There were a lot of scenarios being planned all at the same time,” McMahon said.
“We had to quickly pivot to decide — A) does the show still go on? and B) if so, where and how? We decided that yes we have a responsibility to our audience, and to our partners, to continue to produce our programming. We wanted to provide an opportunity for our viewers to escape. We still do. It’s our mission to put smiles on people’s faces. WrestleMania took place at our Performance Center over two nights in front of absolutely no people, and it was definitely a unique experience.”
RELATED: Report: WWE Exploring Outdoor Show Ideas After ThunderDome Contract Expires
McMahon deals Thunderdome is on the cutting edge of the future of the live event industry.
“We really do want to create the best possible experience for our fans. One that’s worthy of their passion so we’re examining all kinds of things and you could see both. I think we’re going to see a lot in all businesses and in particular the entertainment industries and sports, a lot of combinations of the new learnings from all this technology, plus the fundamental foundational learning that we have to move our businesses forward. So it’ll be an intersection of what works best.”
WWE For Your Consideration Triple H Stephanie Jimmy Uso Naomi Braun Charlotte Sasha
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
Wrestlers Kofi Kingston (L), Big E (C) and Xavier Woods (R) of "The New Day" arrive at the first-ever WWE Emmy For Your Consideration event at the TV Academy Saban Media Center, in North Hollywood (near Los Angeles), on June 6, 2018 (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
Wrestler Paul "Triple H" Levesque arrives at the first-ever WWE Emmy For Your Consideration event at the TV Academy Saban Media Center, in North Hollywood (near Los Angeles), on June 6, 2018 (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Jimmy Uso attends WWE's first-ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Sasha Banks attends WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Braun Strowman attends WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Sasha Banks attends WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Paul "Triple H" Levesque and Stephanie McMahon attend WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Shawn Michaels attends WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Ronda Rousey and Shawn Michaels attend WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Brie Bella attends WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Ronda Rousey arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Ronda Rousey arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Shawn Michaels arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Ronda Rousey arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Ronda Rousey, Shawn Michaels arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Nia Jax arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Seth Green arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Alexa Bliss arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Braun Strowman arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Braun Strowman arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Nikki Bella arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Roman Reigns arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Triple H arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Triple H arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Triple H arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Charlotte Flair arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Charlotte Flair;Triple H arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Triple H, Stephanie McMahon arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Triple H, Stephanie McMahon arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Stephanie McMahon arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Naomi arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Jimmy Uso arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Jimmy Uso, Naomi arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Jimmy Uso, Naomi arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
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WWE For Your Consideration Red Carpet
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods arrives at the WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
