WWE Smackdown - My Overview

    Earlier these past few weeks, I mentioned going to WWE Smackdown in Lincoln, NE, with my good friend, Jeff. We went on April 14th, 2023, and that’s when the show was. The show started at 6:45 pm CST. This was our first time going to a live event of this sort. Let me tell you; it was spectacular! 

    I left work around 2:00 pm that day to head home and prepare for the show. When I arrived home, I showered, fed, watered the cat, and changed my clothes into something nicer. I left my house around 3:30 pm to head to Iowa to pick up my friend, Jeff. I live in Omaha, NE, and he lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It was about a 20 min drive. Once I picked him up from where he lives, I drove us to Lincoln. On the way there, we stopped at McDonald’s to grab a bite to eat and drink before the show.  

    When we got to Lincoln, I had a horrible time finding parking for this event. I was following a line of cars, and it was leading us nowhere. So, being the “daredevil” I am, I broke off from the group and luckily found a garage with first-floor parking for only $5.00. Excellent deal! Once we parked, we only walked about three blocks until we arrived at Pinnacle Bank Arena.  

    

    Once we found the entrance line, it was a smooth experience. We had our tickets saved to our phones, so all we had to do was have the employee scan the ticket. There was a massive line for shirts and merchandise; we waited until the end to pick up a shirt. Finding our seats was accessible; plenty of signage indicated where to go. I thought it would be worse! But overall, that was easy. 

    I got myself a beer for $14.00, which is ridiculous, but it was fun and worth it. At 6:45, they started the show. They played one match before Smackdown went live, which was cool to see a match before it was live. Once the show began at 7 pm, all the lights went off, and there were loud fireworks, sparks, and works. It was awesome, loud, and smokey, and everyone was having a great time. 

    During the event, time went by so quickly. I hardly took any photos because my friend and I were in the moment and enjoying the moment. Whenever there was a commercial break, the stadium would go dark, and you could see the ads being played on a giant monitor. It was insane seeing what they did during the breaks. They cleaned, changed the mat, and set up for the next event; it was an excellent experience. I’m glad I could share it with my best friend, Jeff. One thing I almost forgot! You don’t hear the announcers at all! It’s super quiet in the stadium until the people “get into it,” and we start cheering and booing. But it was weird not hearing the announcers as you do on TV! 

    I’m glad I got to share this memory with my best friend; we got to see a WWE event live, which we’ve always wanted to do. We bought some shirts; I purchased a mask. We want to attend another event when they are in town again. We wouldn’t mind seeing Smackdown or RAW, but I would like to see a RAW show!