More on WWE’s Current COVID-19 Testing Situation

Jun 26, 2020

As noted before, WWE held more COVID-19 testing earlier this week in response to last week’s announcement that a developmental talent had tested positive for COVID-19. This new round of testing revealed that more talent and staff have tested positive, including Renee Young (via an independent test), Kayla Braxton, and Adam Pearce.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that talent have not been informed by company officials of how many people were actually tested nor those who have tested positive. Several members of WWE’s roster reportedly contacted Fightful with one asking how many positive tests have been rumored because Fightful would “know better than them.”

Sapp also reported that WWE’s handling of the current situation is very different than how they handled the first positive test result three months ago. In the prior situation, the name of the individual infected, how it was likely contracted, and a health update was provided in an internal memo sent at the time.

Several wrestlers in WWE’s main roster locker room are reportedly upset over the company’s current handling of the situation. One of the wrestlers spoken to stated that they would prefer if WWE also did post-taping testing while another talent was concerned for Braxton due to her apparently contracting the coronavirus for a second time.

In regards to NXT, Sapp reported that multiple NXT talent were re-tested after “being exposed to somebody positive” but their tests came back negative. It was reported that there has been some concern within NXT over small gatherings taking place among talent following the rumors of high positive test results. Despite last week’s testing, there reportedly were still some at the WWE Performance Center who were not required to come in for testing prior to this week.

NXT and Performance Center talent reportedly were sent a message from the company on Thursday morning that stated:

“Per Vince, ALL Talent are needed for TV on Friday & Saturday. Please go to PC by 10:30 AM TODAY for drive-through COVID testing. if you took test yesterday, you don’t need to today. If you are in high level storyline, you will be off camera. Thanks. **IMPORTANT: after test, you will need to remain ISOLATED AND QUARANTINED until after the TV tapings.”

Sapp reported that many NXT and PC talent had missed that testing deadline and were waiting as late as 5PM ET for a new announcement for testing.

Those who were tested on Thursday have yet to get their results back as of the time of Sapp’s report. Some talent reportedly had decided to skip this week’s tapings following last week’s positive test announcement but were urged by WWE officials to still come in for tapings despite expressing that they were not comfortable doing so.

WWE was scheduled to tape tonight’s SmackDown and Monday’s Raw today at the Performance Center, but the Raw taping was canceled and pushed to tomorrow. Tomorrow, WWE was originally scheduled to tape another week of Raw and SmackDown, so it remains to be seen what will happen now that the Raw taping has been pushed back.

About half of tonight’s SmackDown will reportedly be centered around a tribute to the Undertaker due to WWE having to scrap originally booked segments because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Shotzi Blackheart, who has been in the crowd at WWE’s shows in recent weeks, said that people in the crowd are now wearing masks.

About half of tonight’s SmackDown will reportedly be centered around a tribute to the Undertaker due to WWE having to scrap originally booked segments because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Shotzi Blackheart, who has been in the crowd at WWE’s shows in recent weeks, said that people in the crowd are now wearing masks.