The pro wrestling world has been shaken by COVID-19. People are expecting another spike in Orlando due to businesses opening up again,including Universal Orlando, and there is evidence that is already happening. According to sources, at least three people who had been inside theWWEPerformance Center in Orlando tested positive for the virus.
Unfortunately, the pro wrestling ring was already a high-infectivity place. Most matches happen in enclosed buildings surrounded by screaming fans (prior to the coronavirus pandemic, anyway) who sit elbow to elbow in the stands. Wrestlers are in close contact for the entirety of the match, exposed to each others' sweat and sometimes other bodily fluids. Even with regular disinfection and other precautions, it’s simply not feasible to completely protectWWEstaff from infection and still hold matches.
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Precautions taken so far to protect wrestling fans from becoming infected include holding matches without an audience, which definitely limits spread to fans who now watch from behind their home screens, but it doesn’t protect the wrestlers or their crew. Wrestling with a mask on simply isn’t practical, as athletes need unrestricted air flow during matches and masks are likely to fall or be torn off. Gloves would during a match be ubiquitous, as wrestlers rarely ever make contact with just their hands.
The WWE has taken other steps to keep its standing in the sporting world in spite of setbacks. For example, they have made some programson the WWE Network streaming service available for free.
It’s unclear whether other wrestling developments, such asThe Undertaker announcing his retirement, are directly related to pandemic conditions, but undoubtedly the pressure is getting to some wrestlers.
