More on WWE Being Declared an “Essential Service” in Florida

As noted before, WWE resumed live weekly production for their television shows at the Performance Center starting with this past Monday’s episode of RAW. The company originally planned to tape several weeks worth of episodes for their shows this week but those plans were dropped due to a decision by Vince McMahon, who was speculated to be worried over the terms of WWE’s television contracts in regards to the number of taped shows allowed.

WWE being able to continue running live shows at the Performance Center despite Florida’s current shelter-at-home order was revealed to be due to a new executive order issued on Thursday by Florida governor Ron DeSantis. This order listed “professional sports and media production with a national audience” as “essential services” and allowed them to run in the state as long as they’re closed to the general public.

Spectrum News’s Stephanie Coueignoux and Jon Alba reported that prior to the new order by Florida’s governor, WWE had been informed multiple times over the past several weeks by the Orange County Sheriff that they were in violation of the state’s initial stay-at-home executive order and “advised them that they would have to close down.” Alba reported that the sheriff’s office was also called for yesterday’s Raw, but the new executive order had already been signed by then.

.@OrangeCoSheriff was called again yesterday (April 13) regarding the live Monday Night Raw taping, but at that point, the new Executive Order signed April 9 allowed for #WWE to operate as an essential business.

— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) April 14, 2020

In an interesting note, Coueignoux and Alba also noted that Linda McMahon’s Super PAC had committed around $18.5 million to Florida on April 9th for President Donald Trump’s re-election efforts in the state. That same day, Florida governor Ron DeSantis issued the executive order declaring WWE and other sports as “essential services.”

.@StephanieCNews and I pieced together this timeline regarding #WWE:

April 9: DeSantis qualifies WWE as essential. Same day, Linda McMahon's re-elect Trump Super PAC commits $18.5 million to Florida.

April 10: Vince McMahon reportedly made decision to tape live in Orlando. https://t.co/lmyomQUmSp

— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) April 14, 2020

I have asked how @WWE is "critical to Florida's economy": no audience, only essential personnel- what revenue is being generated and if so- how is it benefiting Florida residents and taxpayers? I'm waiting on @GovRonDeSantis office to respond. @MyNews13 #n13covid19

— Stephanie Coueignoux (@StephanieCNews) April 14, 2020