Backstage at a history making WWE Backstage on FS1 from Miami during NFL Super Bowl Week
The formation of The Nexus; John Cena vs. The Rock; the emergence of Daniel Bryan’s Yes movement; the debut of The New Day; Sgt. Slaughter with General Adnan winning the WWF title; Alberto Del Rio winning the (WWE) World title; heck, NWA Champ Harley Race vs. WWWF Champ Superstar Billy Graham (title vs. title); and Terry Funk winning the NWA world title occurred in Miami.
When the new weekly TV program WWE Backstage on FS1 decided to take the show on the road for the first time, Miami housed that fun, history-making event, too.
WWE Backstage on FS1 broadcast on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from a massive FOX studio set-up resting comfortably at Lummus Park on South Beach during NFL Super Bowl Week in Miami.
With Tampa hosting WWE’s version of the Super Bowl, WrestleMania, in April, there’s s a chance WWE Backstage on FS1 will go on remote to Tampa during WrestleMania Week. We’ll see.
As for WWE Backstage on FS1 in Miami in January, FOX executive, producers, crew and staff seemed pleased with the effort and outcome in front of a live crowd for the first time.
Fans -- a few sporting masks, one wearing a king’s crown and others in WWE wear -- sat behind WWE Backstage host Renee Young, co-host Booker T and analyst Christian. They cheered. They booed. They laughed. They made a remark or two.
All in good fun.
Civil overall, the audience respected the process of this type of television programming.
The New Day part of history in Miami again.
Young, Booker T and Christian welcomed special guests The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods), comedian and impersonator Frank Caliendo and The Big Dog Roman Reigns.
The New Day (UpUpDownDown approved) also participated on other FOX Sports platforms and programming throughout the day, including Lock It In, a live daily sports wagering show on FS1.
Reigns (with the 49ers) and King Corbin (with the Chiefs) were FOX Sports Digital Correspondents at NFL Super Bowl Media Day at Marlins Park. That was the night before WWE Backstage on FS1.
On a set overlooking a giant Ferris Wheel near the Atlantic Ocean, Young steered the ship masterfully. A history maker herself, WWE Backstage is really in her wheel house.
My video interview below in the green room with Renee Young.
FOX executives did not even interview for a host. Once given the green light for the show, they penned Young in that spot.
My video interview backstage with Jacob Ullman, the Senior Vice President of Production and Talent Development, FOX Sports.
Young, in turn, wanted Booker T to join the team, and the five-time, five time, five-time champion (and two-time WWE Hall of Famer) did.
My video interview in the green room with Booker T.
Christian and Paige won over execs, and that made the formidable cast complete.
My video interview in the green room with Christian.
When injured, Samoa Joe participated, too, impressing everyone.
FS1 is a 24-hour FOX Sports cable channel. WWE Backstage is the first show of its kind, a pro wrestling talk show (real talk), to air weekly on a major American sports cable channel.
Young was destined for this type of opportunity.
She broke into the business, so to speak, working for The Score Television Network (TSN) in Canada, her homeland, in 2009 on the program Right After Wrestling, later renamed Aftermath, where she presented alongside former WWE talent Arda Ocal, former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas and current NXT broadcaster Mauro Ranallo.
Debuting in November, WWE Backstage on FS1 is a FOX Sports show with FOX Sports execs, crew and staff . WWE talent on the show is involved in weekly production meetings, of course, but WWE hierarchy is hands-off for the most part.
When CM Punk surprised almost everyone, arriving on WWE Backstage, that was through FOX, not WWE. FOX signed him, not WWE. He appears periodically.
So far, so good.
WWE and FOX formed a solid tag team since announcing WWE SmackDown’s move to free national TV via FOX. WWE Backstage is one of the fruits growing, ripened from that tree.
More Team WWE Backstage on FS1
Spandan Daftary, Senior Coordinating Producer, FOX Sports.
Brad Weimer, Coordinating Producer, WWE.
Ullman is responsible for high level show development. Daftary oversees production of the show, and Weimer is the lead producer of WWE Backstage.
Met more good, hard working people before and during the show.
Johnny Pruitt, stage manager, FOX Sports.
Andrew Fegyveresi, senior vice president, communications, FOX Sports.
Anne Pennington, PR, FOX Sports.
Michael Davis, digital, FOX Sports.
https://www.fox.com/wwe-backstage/
When to watch WWE Backstage on FS1
WWE Backstage on FS1 is 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT Tuesdays.
The weekly studio show is broadcast from FOX Sports studios in Westwood in Los Angeles.
WWE on FOX Social media
@WWEonFOX on Twitter and Instagram
Hashtag #WWEBackstage
WWE Backstage on FS1
In Miami Photos
More about FOX at NFL Super Bowl Week Miami
FOX -- your official home of Super Bowl LIV on FOX (local WSVN Ch.7) and WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX and WWE Backstage on FS1 -- created a really cool set-up at Lummus Park on South Beach in Miami.
Some good photo opps and experiences, if you’re an NFL fan, Ferris Wheel fan, Masked Singer fan, NFL on FOX pre-game and post-game show fan, Lego fan, Ed Reed (The U) fan and of course WWE fan.
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/28110975
My Pro Wrestling Talk on the Web and Social Media
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/
Twitter: @jimmyv3
YouTube: jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProWrestlingSouthFlorida/
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