On last night's episode of Busted Open Radio, host Dave LaGreca explained what it's like to be part of the WWE ThunderDome live experience. In recent weeks, WWE has taken measures to stop fans from sharing inappropriate or offensive imagery on the screens which surround the ring, and there have been reports of fans being told when to cheer and boo.
Thanks to LaGreca, we now have a much better idea of what it's like to take part, and it doesn't sound as bogus as some fans have assumed in recent weeks after watching it on television and PPV.
"About 5 minutes before 205 Live starts, they kind of give you the low down. They say try not to use any signs unless it’s show related. We don’t want any vulgar obscene gestures or anything like that. Let’s keep it clean and be animated. You never know when we are going to go to you so be as animated and as loud as possible," he explains.
"Then the show starts. What they say is hey, WWE universe, we have about 30 seconds, let’s start getting loud. We are going to be on TV. Let’s get animated. They will even say there are a lot of you in a dark room. Let’s try to get some overhead lighting so we can see your faces. You will hear them say let us hear what you feel about Roman Reigns or Paul Heyman. Or, here comes Sasha Banks and Bayley, tell us what you think."
"Not once during that whole time did they say, alright, here comes Big E, let’s have everybody cheer," he continues. "Or here comes your Universal Champion, Roman Reigns and he is a heel so let’s boo. That never happened during the experience. If you’re seeing on social media they are coaching you on how to feel, that did not happen. Did they coach you to be excited and say you are going to be on TV so be animated, yes."
What All Elite Wrestling are doing with Dynamite still seems like the smarter option to create a wrestling crowd, but it's fascinating to get this insight...and a relief to know that it's now all staged!