Friday night’s WWE SmackDown at Madison Square Garden was 100 percent sold. There were a number of sections not used for WWE events, including VIP suites and other areas that are usually blocked for production and behind the stage. It was said that there were were no walkup ticket sales and the signs for MSG were flashing the show was sold out.
WWE had a camera crew filming LA Knight when he arrived at Madison Square Garden.
Bobby Lashley, Rey Mysterio, Omos, Gallows and Anderson, The Street Profits and Cameron Grimes were all backstage, but not used on Friday night. It was said that Mysterio actually arrived unmasked to the venue and was taking tons of selfies with fans before the show.
Game Changer Wrestling Owner and promoter Brett Lauderdale was visiting backstage, as GCW is running a show at the Webster Theater in Hartford, CT on Saturday night.
WWE was selling NYC 3:16 shirts and a SmackDown x New York Knicks crossover t-shirt. The Knicks t-shirts was a hot seller with XL size said to be sold out almost immediately. During the show, WWE was pushing an “I Was There” SmackDown tour shirt for the fans.
The Bloodline Tribal Council segment ran longer than originally planned. The length led to a ripple effect where later segments had their time cut to fit the full two-hour broadcast.
The AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross match was originally scheduled to go longer than it actually did.
One WWE source said they believed the segment with Asuka and everyone else involved ran faster than originally envisioned and there may have been other segments with time cut as well.
Vince McMahon did not and any changes to the show. However, there were said to some minimal changes and the original plans for the show stayed intact with the exception of some time cuts.
There was a big sense of pride backstage among Executives over the company making history with the biggest live gate for an event at Madison Square Garden ever, which was said to be in part because this show was in all likely-hood is the final WWE event in MSG under the McMahon family ownership before the acquisition by Endeavor takes place in what is expected to be the fourth quarter of this year.
Triple H and Bruce Prichard were backstage at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
There were rave reviews backstage for Grayson Waller’s work in his segment and match with Edge.
Source: PWInsider