WWE News: WWE Employees Reportedly Have Not Been Tested For Coronavirus

KEY POINTS

WWE has reportedly not conducted any coronavirus tests on employees that have continued working in Florida on the weekly TV shows
AEW and UFC have thoroughly tested employees working on recent events, with only one confirmed positive test between both companies
Vince McMahon's alleged mindset has made the situation more difficult as he has not been receptive to the "outside world"

WWE reportedly has not tested any employees for coronavirus despite continuing production in Florida and an on-air talent testing positive for the virus in April.

The report comes from Dave Meltzer, who spoke about WWE’s lack of testing during the latest edition of “Wrestling Observer Radio.” He said while WWE has offered leniency to anyone not comfortable with working during the pandemic, no testing has been implemented to ensure employees' health.

This is in contrast to AEW and UFC, both of which have conducted thorough testing on anyone working on their recent shows.

“[UFC is] doing 1,200 COVID tests in one week. … AEW is testing everyone. WWE has still yet to do, as far as I know, one test,” Meltzer said. “Which surprised me, because a lot of people were thinking that now that AEW is testing and UFC is testing, that WWE would follow suit.”

AEW executive Tony Khan confirmed the testing being done on the latest edition of AEW’s podcast, “AEW Unrestricted.” He said everyone working on the last round of tapings in Florida would be tested regularly and have identification on them confirming they’ve been cleared.

The UFC’s tests preceded UFC 249 on Saturday, which saw Tony Ferguson face Justin Gaethje for the UFC Interim Lightweight Championship after current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov pull out over coronavirus concerns. While most of the staff and fighters were cleared, Ronaldo Souza tested positive and was forced to pull out of his scheduled bout with Uriah Hall.

The on-air talent, whose name has been withheld, is the only confirmed test on a WWE employee since the start of the pandemic. The employee reportedly was exposed after WWE finished filming for Wrestlemania 36 on March 26 and was told to self-quarantine. The individual has since made a full recovery.

What has made the situation worse for WWE is McMahon’s reported mindset, viewing the pandemic as an "annoyance" that has interfered with his plans for the company.

“As it was explained to me, Vince McMahon is not receptive to the outside world,” Meltzer said. “He finds what’s going on in the outside world to be an annoyance because it is getting in the way of his vision. He’s got a vision, and all these people are getting in the way of what he wants to do.”