Could WWE WrestleMania 36 Postponement DESTROY Indy Wrestling?
A Coronavirus shutdown would have serious knock-on effects...
VICE published a report that explored the knock-on impact WrestleMania 36's cancellation could have on the independent wrestling scene.
It makes for rather grim reading.
Highspots promoter Michael Bochicchio told the site that he has so much money tied up in events surrounding 'Mania week in Tampa that he'd likely have to sell his house if they didn't go ahead. Others, like indy wrestler Chris Dickinson, would lose up to nine scheduled bookings on shows hoovering up residual business from WWE's showpiece pay-per-view in the local area.
That'd leave him out of pocket, and he's not alone. Countless other indy workers would lose significant money from one of their biggest weekends if WWE and Tampa officials do decide to either postpone or outright scrap WrestleMania.
Dickinson is particularly worried because of the matches he has lined up; he's set to work with some "prominent Japanese stars" that'd help get new eyes on his work, so there's a long-term impact beyond one week in Florida too.
VICE describe the potential cancellations as "catastrophic" for the indy circuit. Black Label Pro promoter Michael Blanton perhaps put it best when he said it'd be akin to "a nine-to-fiver being cut from 40 hours to five".