WWE Gets A Wrestlemania 36 Update Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Currently, COVID-19 (the coronavirus) has caused the cancellation of SXSW and postponement of ECCC. However, there is one major event coming to Tampa, Florida on April 5 fans are worried about, Wrestlemania. WWE has given a statement on the coronavirus situation and plans to move forward with the show.

This week, though, the first cases of coronavirus in Tampa were confirmed. Still, in a statement to ESPN, WWE says the show is still scheduled to go on as planned. "The health and safety of our fans, performers and employees are our top priorities and we are monitoring the situation closely with our partners and government officials in Tampa Bay," the company said in the statement. "We remain committed to hosting WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, April 5, and like other entertainment properties in the U.S., there are currently no plans to cancel or postpone our upcoming events."

Of course, this could all change in the coming weeks, depending on how the outbreak of COVID-19--the official name of this strain of the coronavirus--evolves. Previously, in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, WWE Chief Branding Officer Stephanie McMahon asserted that the company would be ready to enact prevention measures, should that be necessary. "We don't want to put anyone in a bad situation ever, regardless of the circumstance," she explained. "Those are not risks worth taking."

While Wrestlemania is still scheduled to occur, other aspects of the entertainment industry are being impacted by COVID-19. Theme parks in China and Japan have closed, while multiple movies are facing delays. No Time to Die, the latest James Bond film, has been pushed back to November, while the release of Sonic the Hedgehog in China had been postponed. Additionally, production on the next Mission Impossible movie, as well as the next season of The Amazing Race, have been shut down for the time being.