AEW vs. WWE notes, The Sphere, Mania 43 backup (Patreon)

AEW vs. WWE.

With the announcement that AEW is going to air Dynamite: New Year's Smash on Friday, January 1st, 2027, a WWE source indicated to WrestleVotes on Fightful Select that the company has no plans to reshape its taping schedule to go head-to-head live with the competition.The 1/1/27 SmackDown will be taped in advance, and there will be a double taping scheduled for Monday, December 28th in Tampa, Florida. We're told the decision to tape both shows that night was made to allow talent to avoid working New Year's Day, and per a source, WWE intends to stick with that plan, regardless of what AEW has scheduled.There is an expectation internally that the ratings for the holiday edition of SmackDown could draw a lower number than the usual live broadcast, regardless of AEW airing a live episode against it.

The Sphere rumors & WM43 backup:WrestleVotes on Fightful Select was told, as of this writing, that The Sphere in Las Vegas is not a backup plan for WWE in case they move WrestleMania 43 away from Saudi Arabia.While WWE has expressed interest internally in utilizing The Sphere, meaningful negotiations between the two sides have not transpired to our knowledge.Last March, it was reported by Fightful Select that WWE and The Sphere could not come to an agreement around WrestleMania 42 season on displaying Danhausen promotional material on the exterior of the venue.  We're told WWE does have a backup blueprint for hosting WrestleMania domestically, should world events require a change of plans. However, those details are being kept secret.