May 31, 2021 Observer Newsletter: WWE returning to live crowds, WarnerMedia-Discovery merger

WWE announced the return of live shows starting with the 7/16 Smackdown tapings at the Toyota Center in Houston, with them running shows in 25 cities through Labor Day.

But the biggest potential news revolves around SummerSlam. While not confirmed, those within the company believe the show to be on 8/21 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But with the Manny Pacquiao vs. Errol Spence Jr., fight already announced for 8/21 in Las Vegas, it would make SummerSlam the secondary event of the weekend. And nothing has been said officially.

Sports Business Journal, which has a close relationship with key WWE higher-ups, wrote that the show was targeted for the weekend of 8/22, and that it would take place at an NFL stadium, listing Las Vegas, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, NRG Stadium in Houston, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ and Nissan Stadium in Nashville as the possibilities. The 8/21 date would seem to make no sense because it would put it head-to-head against Pacquiao vs. Spence, and the combination of unfamiliar night for WWE PPVs, which have been on Sundays for more than a decade, and the boxing competition would hurt viewership greatly.

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