10 Ways Wrestling Business Could Be Changed Forever By Current World Events
7. Live Shows Could Become A Thing Of The Past
While taped shows are a problem for a company like WWE due to spoilers leaking online in advance, the ratings for editions of RAW and SmackDown which have hailed from the UK in recent years prove that it can actually help increase viewership numbers rather than hurt them.
Now, with reports swirling that WWE is planning to pre-tape weeks worth of shows (and possibly even WrestleMania itself), could we see this become a permanent change? Sitcoms with a studio audience, for example, don't air live each week, while wrestling remains more entertainment than sport, so it's not like it no longer being a live broadcast will lessen interest.
If WWE (and potentially AEW) decide that taping shows is easier, cheaper, and better for storylines and talent, then we could see it become a permanent change.
PPVs being broadcast live does make sense, but beyond that, there's no real need for the likes of RAW and Dynamite to not be taped beforehand...it certainly never hurt NXT during the period several episodes were taped in advance at Full Sail!