WWE announces ThunderDome, the interactive experience that will (sort of) allow fans to be back in attendance at its shows starting this Friday.
Ever since the world went into lockdown back in March, WWE's shows have been taking place at the Performance Center. Other than the odd cinematic match, and NXT's shows which have moved down the road to Full Sail. It started out as an empty PC, but developmental wrestlers have since been brought in to liven tapings up a little.
Not many expected the pandemic to drag on this long, and there is still no sign of a time when shows will be able to carry on as normal. WWE higher-ups will have desperately been trying to think of loopholes or ways to improve its shows, and it recently discovered one. Moving them to the Amway Center, also in Florida. Those shows will begin this Friday on SmackDown, just in time for SummerSlam.
WWE has now confirmed the move, and also that it will (sort of) have fans in attendance. While it is yet to explain exactly how the system will work, WWE revealed on Monday that the system it is putting in place is called ThunderDome. The statement reveals that WWE plans to "virtually bring fans into the arena via live video on massive LED boards," as has been done in other sports.
The first show to take place in the Amway Center with WWE's ThunderDome in place will be Friday's SmackDown. NXT TakeOver XXX will also take place there, as will SummerSlam and the following night's Raw. WWE has every show for the rest of the month scheduled to air live from the Amway Center but has also added the addendum that all WWE shows will take place there from now on until it is safe to perform elsewhere.
Fans who want to appear on the LED boards and be a part of WWE's ThunderDome can do so right now. Either by visiting WWEThunderDome.com, or via WWE's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. No word on how WWE will vet those who want to appear, or punish anyone for being obscene on camera. It isn't clear how many people will feature, or how big their images will be, so that might not be a problem.