Report: WWE Wants To Return To The Road Before AEW
WWE will reportedly act to make sure AEW isn't the first promotion to return to touring.
WWE is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that AEW doesn't go down as the first wrestling promotion to return to something resembling a regular touring schedule after over a year of COVID-19 restrictions.
Dave Meltzer writes in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that if AEW announces live shows for July, as has been suggested by Jim Ross, WWE will likely attempt to jump ahead of their closest competition.
Per the writeup, word within the company is that WWE may look to tour from June. Talent have been told August or late July. PWInsider's Mike Johnson has previously reported that all shows through July will go down in the ThunderDome, currently located in Tampa, Florida's Yuengling Center.
Whatever happens. Meltzer reports that WWE wants to be cautious, avoid missteps, and not rush things, hence why they haven't booked full capacity arenas in Florida and Texas despite restrictions being lifted in those states.
WWE welcomed around 20,000 fans into Tampa's Raymond James Stadium for each night of WrestleMania 37 last month. The past weekend saw live crowds return to Florida in a big way, as 15,269 people crammed into Jacksonville's VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena for UFC 261.