NXT, PC talent acting as fans for WWE Raw & SmackDown

Update —

The NXT/Performance Center wrestlers are standing spaced apart from each other in the crowd on Raw and there’s plexiglass surrounding them on the barricades. Tom Phillips said on commentary that they’ve been obliged to be six feet apart and are practicing safe social distancing. He also said they’ve been tested, presumably referring to the temperature checks WWE has been doing.

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According to a Fightful story Monday, members of both the NXT roster and WWE Performance Center will be in the crowd acting as fans for both Raw and SmackDown, the first time they have done so since the pandemic shows at the Performance Center began.

If accurate, tonight’s Raw will be the first show in which they are in the stands as they embark on a three-day taping stretch.

The “audience members” will be kept off camera intentionally, according to an internal memo Fightful acquired, but will be used to create a better environment. Aside from keeping people off camera, that would follow what AEW has been doing with Dynamite, Dark, and this past Saturday’s Double or Nothing at both Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL, and the Norcross, GA, tapings.

Our Bryan Alvarez confirmed they were considering talent and staff in the crowd for NXT, but the final decision was to be made by Vince McMahon so nothing was set in stone until it actually happens.

It’s unknown whether the audience members will also be present for NXT as well.

The Fightful report detailed that the aforementioned talents were screened for COVID-19 this morning at an offsite location and transported back and forth to the PC. They also mentioned that Dominik Dijakovic, Chelsea Green, Shotzi Blackheart, and Jessamyn Duke are among those expected to be participating.