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WWE debuted its ThunderDome virtual experience this past week at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL. The interactive setup allows fans to be a part of the action, with the use of led screens projecting webcams from the audience member’s home.
Former WWE star Jon Moxley recently spoke with Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzalez of Wrestling Observer Radio, and provided his thoughts on WWE’s latest incarnation.
Moxley admitted he has watched some WWE product during the pandemic, and believes things within the company will not change until Vince McMahon is gone, or steps down from his position.
“We know what the problem is, it’s one person, three letters, VKM, until he’s gone, or relinquishes control, it’s not going to change” Moxley stated. “When I watched the show, especially during the pandemic era, I think ‘Oh thank God I’m not there!’
When he first saw photos of the WWE ThunderDome, it reminded him of a Zoom call, but then described a particular scene from the 1950s dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451.
“All the LED boards, and shit in the ThunderDome isn’t going to fix their problem, we know what their problem is.” Moxley said. “I saw a picture of the ThunderDome, and it was like a Zoom call with all the faces on the wall, and it tripped me out, because it immediately made me think of the book Fahrenheit 451”.
Moxley went on to speak on the similarities between the book, written nearly 70-years ago, and the WWE’s ThunderDome.
“This book was written in 1953 by a guy named Ray Bradbury, it’s kind of like a dystopian kind of thing, kind of like ‘1984’. He basically predicts in 1953, exactly what 2020 will be like. It’s trippy, if you read it you’re like ‘Whoa!’. The firemen they burn books, because they don’t want people to think for themselves, they just want to feed them with all this mindless entertainment. Why the ThunderDome made me think of it, because this is in the 50s before computers and social media, but he kind of imagined what it would be like, and the thing was like your family in the parlor wall. In your living room your wall would be filled with all these faces that you communicate with, and hangout with. That’s exactly what the ThunderDome looked like, I was like ‘It’s the thing from Fahrenheit 451 come to life!”.
Moxley then reiterated he doesn’t hate the WWE, and he has a lot of friends there. He believes if WWE’s product is subpar, it affects all wrestling, as it could drive fans away from the entire product.
“I want WWE to be awesome! Honestly, when WWE sucks, at this point I don’t get excited about it like ‘Ha Ha! You Suck!’. It kinda pisses me off, because they are the number one brand in the sport. They represent the sport to a lot of people. When that product is embarrassing to watch it makes all wrestling look bad. You’re driving away fans that could potentially be WWE and AEW fans. I want wrestling all of the world to be awesome!”
If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio with a h/t to HeelByNature.com for the transcription.