Tampa Hit By Storm Hours Before WrestleMania 37 - The Latest
Lightning and rain hits Tampa hours before WWE WrestleMania 37...
UPDATE (6:14 PM EST): Fans inside Raymond James Stadium have now been told to return to their seats as the severe weather warning has passed.
UPDATE (5:51 PM EST): Per Bryan Alvarez, tonight's show is currently "on hold."
Tampa, Florida has just been hit by what looks like a serious rainstorm hours before WWE WrestleMania 37 is due to start.
WWE on FOX's Ryan Satin tweeted the following a few minutes ago, revealing that those inside Raymond James Stadium had been told to seek cover ahead of the heavens opening:-
They just announced lightning and rain is about to start. Told us to get under cover. #WrestleMania
Advertisement— Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) April 10, 2021
This video shows the extent of the conditions inside the building, with the cardboard cutout fans blowing wildly in the wind:-
This isn’t looking good. Big yikes. #WrestleMania
AdvertisementVid Credit: @spookybabushka pic.twitter.com/lAgoo7CdI7
— WrestleOps (@WrestleOps) April 10, 2021
Raymond James Stadium has issued a weather alert, closing the building's parking lots and instructing drivers to remain in their vehicles. Here's what the situation looked out outside the building at around 5:20 pm local time.
The elaborate pirate ship-themed stage is already taking a battering as the lightning closes in:-
Stage in deep s**t pic.twitter.com/XlkdkPaHqT
— Bryan Alvarez (@bryanalvarez) April 10, 2021
There is currently no word on how this might impact WrestleMania 37's scheduled start time. The pay-per-view main card is due to kick off at 8pm local time, but we'll just have to wait and see how the storm develops.
Anyone who wants to track the storm's progress can do so here.
Tonight's first half of WrestleMania 37 is due to be headlined by SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks vs. 2020 women's Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair.