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WWE hasn’t broached the subject of how they’ll handle SummerSlam yet. “The Biggest Party of the Summer” was scheduled for August 23 in Boston’s TD Garden, along with an NXT TakeOver event and an Axxess convention. Some had even hoped the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony might finally take place in Beantown.
Given where the world still is with the coronavirus pandemic, there had to be a lot of folks thinking that wouldn’t happen. In a Twitter thread this afternoon, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh confirms it.
“We are planning a healthy re-opening and an equitable recovery process---as soon as the health data tells us it is safe. But we do not envision a point this summer when it will make sense to have large crowds gathered in close contact for prolonged periods.
I can announce that parades and festivals will not take place this summer in the City of Boston, up to and including Labor Day on September 7.
For smaller events, we will be looking at them on a case-by-case basis as we move through the summer months. If your event brings crowds together in close contact—like a concert, a road race, or a flag raising— you should start looking at alternatives now.”
WWE has surely been looking at alternatives, and has one at the ready... they can continue to broadcast from the Performance Center and enhance PPV events with “cinematic” matches like WrestleMania 36’s Boneyard and Firefly Fun House ones and Sunday’s Climb The Corporate Ladder Money in the Bank main event(s).
A June PPV was never officially announced. July brings Extreme Rules, which was supposed to happen in San Jose, California, but almost certainly isn’t.
Who knows when we can expect a traditional packed house wrestling show again. Survivor Series? Royal Rumble 2021?
It won’t be SummerSlam. At least not in Boston.