Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE has started taping its shows in advance, and in recent weeks, the decision was made to use NXT developmental talent as a makeshift crowd. It's an idea which has been met with a mixed response, as the whole thing comes across as a little bogus thanks to the way those wrestlers are clearly being told to act.
The hope among WWE officials is that their presence will make shows more exciting, but a new report from Wrestling Inc. elaborates on the lengths WWE is going to in order to keep them energised.
While they're bound to be tired after taping RAW and SmackDown on the same day, as well as the same shows the next one (not to mention 205 Live and Main Event), that's not something WWE is too worried about, because when they became "somewhat sluggish" while sitting through those latter two shows, the in-house P.A system was used to tell them to be more enthusiastic. It's been described as a, "parent talking down to a child."
That sounds like a very WWE thing to do, and this report also confirms that these "fans" have been kept away from main roster talent. Whereas they get catering, these NXT wrestlers had to bring their own packed lunches.
That's WWE, folks!