New Look At WWE's Crazy ThunderDome Setup
WWE is going all out with the Amway Center's special set design.
Today will see WWE host a special rehearsal of their much-hyped ThunderDome setup in the Amway Center, Orlando ahead of the gimmick's debut on this week's episode of SmackDown, with a limited number of fans invited to participate and trial what the promotion is calling a "state-of-the-art viewing experience."
Before that, Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso and Pro Wrestling Sheet's Ryan Satin have become come through with exclusive videos of the work-in-progress ThunderDome.
Barrasso tweeted the following, which shows the ThunderDome being pieced together:-
The Pro Wrestling Sheet video offers a different perspective:-
This thing looks nuts. It's about as far removed from the dingy Performance Center aesthetic as WWE could possibly get without fans and while incomplete, it's clear that the promotion is going for the big, bombastic, and explosive here. Pyrotechnics, drone cameras, lasers, and more are promised for the ThunderDome, which is expected to be in place for the duration of WWE's Amway Center residency (through October).
WWE is also moving back to a live broadcasting schedule with the implementation of ThunderDome, shifting away from pretaped shows at the Performance Center. SmackDown will be the first, featuring virtual fans streaming in from around the world, so here's hoping the rehearsal goes well.