Florida governor Ron DeSantis' decision to deem "professional sports and media production with a national audience" as essential businesses, clearing the path for WWE, AEW, and UFC to run events, drew criticism Tuesday with Linda McMahon coming into focus.
WWE resumed their regular weekly TV schedule at the Orlando, FL, Performance Center Monday, just three days after Vince McMahon changed his mind on the doorstep of a multi-day taping that would have covered the company for weeks.
Questions were raised at how they were able to make that decision given the state's previous order that only essential businesses remain open. On Monday, that was answered as it was revealed the state government issued a memo on April 9th that all professional sports could return to business if the location was closed to the public.
Coverage of the decision was featured in a variety of news outlets that don't normally cover wrestling like CNBC, The Guardian, USA Today, and more.
Stephanie Coueignoux and Jon Alba of Central Florida's Spectrum News 13 performed a further investigation into the situation Tuesday, noting that the Orange County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to the PC in both March and April, advising WWE they were not in compliance and would have to close down. Days later, pro sports, including WWE, ere added to the essential business list.
However, Spectrum News 13, providing a timeline, found that the change of heart came on the same day as a pro-President Donald Trump super PAC (political action committee) announced that they were going to spend $18.5 million in both the Tampa and Orlando markets. That super PAC is headed up by Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon's wife, and the former head of Trump's Small Business Administration. DeSantis has been known as an ally of Trump, a WWE Hall-of-Famer and friends with Vince.
Vince's decision to resume live WWE programming at the PC happened the next day.
In a statement to Spectrum 13, DeSantis' office said WWE was critical to Florida's economy and the employees at those locations benefit. WWE was set to hold WrestleMania in Tampa this year, generating millions for the local economy, before having to move it to the PC.
While no make-good for WrestleMania has been announced, Tampa could be a fallback option if WWE is unable to hold next year's event in Los Angeles, CA, as previously scheduled due to lingering issues related to the pandemic.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump said at a press conference that Vince and UFC president Dana White would join a group of sports commissioners in helping figure out how to get things "re-opened" in the country.
WWE resumed their regular weekly TV schedule at the Orlando, FL, Performance Center Monday, just three days after Vince McMahon changed his mind on the doorstep of a multi-day taping that would have covered the company for weeks.
Questions were raised at how they were able to make that decision given the state's previous order that only essential businesses remain open. On Monday, that was answered as it was revealed the state government issued a memo on April 9th that all professional sports could return to business if the location was closed to the public.
Coverage of the decision was featured in a variety of news outlets that don't normally cover wrestling like CNBC, The Guardian, USA Today, and more.
Stephanie Coueignoux and Jon Alba of Central Florida's Spectrum News 13 performed a further investigation into the situation Tuesday, noting that the Orange County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to the PC in both March and April, advising WWE they were not in compliance and would have to close down. Days later, pro sports, including WWE, ere added to the essential business list.
However, Spectrum News 13, providing a timeline, found that the change of heart came on the same day as a pro-President Donald Trump super PAC (political action committee) announced that they were going to spend $18.5 million in both the Tampa and Orlando markets. That super PAC is headed up by Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon's wife, and the former head of Trump's Small Business Administration. DeSantis has been known as an ally of Trump, a WWE Hall-of-Famer and friends with Vince.
Vince's decision to resume live WWE programming at the PC happened the next day.
In a statement to Spectrum 13, DeSantis' office said WWE was critical to Florida's economy and the employees at those locations benefit. WWE was set to hold WrestleMania in Tampa this year, generating millions for the local economy, before having to move it to the PC.
While no make-good for WrestleMania has been announced, Tampa could be a fallback option if WWE is unable to hold next year's event in Los Angeles, CA, as previously scheduled due to lingering issues related to the pandemic.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump said at a press conference that Vince and UFC president Dana White would join a group of sports commissioners in helping figure out how to get things "re-opened" in the country.
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