Filmmaker, writer, and podcaster Kevin Smith recently spoke with Wrestling Inc. to discuss AEW and WWE pushing forward with shows during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights from his interview can be found below.
On fans looking for a distraction:
I think everyone looks for a welcomed distraction at this period. To have life as disrupted as it’s been for some people, it’s always welcome to find some aspect where it’s, ‘Oh, at least we still have this.’ So with wrestling coming back early as it did, never once was I like, ‘This is WRONG’ especially since they said there wasn’t going to be a crowd,” said Smith. “I’m no wrestling expert, but having been to one match live, I felt like the crowd was absolutely indispensable. They created the passion and the enthusiasm. They are the third person on the canvas, more so than most live interactive experiences I’ve seen.
Believes wrestling fans are enjoying the empty arena product:
When I heard they were coming back without audiences, are you suddenly viewing it through a completely different prism that makes you go, ‘You know? I’ll wait.’ So far, it doesn’t seem to be the case. Everything I saw on social media said they were happy to have it even with this empty arena version,” stated Smith. “So, I’m all for it as it helps distract those stuck at home. The only concern would be for the wrestlers themselves. I assume, hopefully, that if they’re being put back to work that they’re being tested like crazy.
On pro-wrestling being guinea pigs for the return of professional sports:
In time, a bunch of people who aren’t seasonally-oriented – because wrestling goes year-round – I could see amongst people that view sports, that would be more meaningful than any other sport. It’s a sport that people have interacted with since childhood and a sport they get to interact with year-round,” said Smith. “They never put it down. It’s never like, ‘It’s no longer baseball season. We’ve got a year until the Boys of Summer.’ Wrestling is like the internet [and is always on]
Full interview below. (H/T and transcribed by Wrestling Inc.)