More Details on Whether Talent are Forced to Work WWE Tapings

The second week of WWE's nonstop barrage of bad publicity kicked off this week when a comment was read at an Orange County Florida meeting earlier this week from a person claiming to be a WWE employee who said the company was forcing people to work despite an inability to maintain social distancing. WWE denied the claim, saying, "Employees know they can confidentially go to Human Resources, not the public. Notwithstanding the appropriate protocol, no one would be fired if they were uncomfortable with their surroundings. We've made accommodations for individuals upon request."

However, in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer casts doubt on WWE's denial, comparing AEW, where only 29% of the roster worked their tapings, to WWE, where all but a few names such as Roman Reigns and Kyle O'Reilly were allowed off the hook. Meltzer also writes that the massive round of layoffs (which preceded a massive stock dividend for investors and rosy first-quarter financial report) "sent a message" to anyone thinking about refusing to work. Meltzer specifically cites Lio Rush, who said he would not work during the pandemic and was fired in the round of layoffs. However, it seems pretty much anyone who has said anything negative about WWE recently was let go in that round. Meltzer further writes:

I can verify there were talents in the company who expressed concern, and others who recognize the risks and are concerned, but have said from a WWE standpoint they don't think there is any kind of a solution that is good, including shutting down because of so many issues with that decision economically. But across the board, nobody can come up with any kind of a logical reason to be using Jerry Lawler at this time, given his age, previous heart attack, family history of heart problems and not adhering to any social distancing with him. At one point, when Lawler, the Street Profits, Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips were all together at the announce set, it was clear the social distancing precautions were not going to change how they did that aspect of the television show. There have also been Instagram posts from backstage showing social distancing was not being adhered to.

The person making the comment did not use his full name and likely used an assumed name, John, for fear of reprisals, which given the complaints were public, almost surely would have happened.

The truth may come out eventually, or it may not, but either way, a lot of people have been paying attention to WWE's behavior during the pandemic. At the same time, longtime wrestling fans may be unsurprised by how cold-hearted WWE when it comes to business, putting their own profits above the well-being of their employees, it has surely been a revelation for the mainstream public which has seen more negative stories about WWE in the past two weeks than we've probably had since the Chris Benoit incident.

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