-- In a statement to ESPN, WWE confirmed their plans to return to live programming for Raw, Smackdown and NXT starting with Monday's show. In their statement, the company points to a need to provide the public with a "diversion from these hard times" and that the shows would be produced with only "essential personnel" present. As noted already, WWE had originally planned to tape significant content over the next week but suddenly reversed course on Friday afternoon while taping Smackdown, deciding instead to air each of their flagship shows live. If rumors are to be believed, this was almost strictly a Vince McMahon decision.
"We believe it is now more important than ever to provide people with a diversion from these hard times. We are producing content on a closed set with only essential personnel in attendance following appropriate guidelines while taking additional precautions to ensure the health and wellness of our performers and staff. As a brand that has been woven into the fabric of society, WWE and its Superstars bring families together and deliver a sense of hope, determination and perseverance."
