USA Pins Down ‘WrestleMania’ Pre-Show Special

By
published

USA Network will team with the WWE to develop companion programming to the pro wrestling organization’s April 3 WrestleMania 32 pay-per-view event.

The network, which airs WWE weekly series WWE Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, will air April 3 the WrestleMania Kickoff Show, a live one-hour pre-show leading up to the start of the PPV event. The live telecast will include the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, featuring 20 WWE Superstars in the ring at the same time.

Other USA specials leading up to WrestleMania include a special March 31 SmackDown that will feature live segments from Dallas where WrestleMania is being held.

A week later on April 7, USA will broadcast the 2016 WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony, said network officials.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.