Coronavirus: Is it time to cancel wrestling shows?

[RedRooster]

The US now officially has more (confirmed) cases of coronavirus than China, despite having less than half its population and despite having absolutely failed when it comes to testing for the illness. 

Yet despite this, wrestling has continued on. Even 205 Live is still running, for Christ's sake - a show that only has marginally more viewers at home than wrestling shows do in arenas right now. 

Initially I quite liked having live wrestling during this pandemic, in spite of the empty arena it was a slice of normality during an abnormal time. 

Now though, I just feel uncomfortable about it. It's clear this highly-contagious virus can land anyone of any age in intensive care, and perhaps even kill them. Why expose wrestlers to this kind of risk?

Personally, I think all wrestling, including Wrestlemania should be postponed until this is over. Sadly, I don't think there's any chance of this happening until we either see a big outbreak within a company. But clearly, it shouldn't come to that.

Where do you stand on this? Should wrestling stop operating for now?  

Edited March 27, 2020 by RedRooster

[Loki]

Yes.

You cannot, clearly, enforce rules on distancing and cleanliness at a wrestling show.  Plus you have people travelling in from all different parts of the country, and then back.

Particularly for WWE, their guys all have downside guarantees.  Pay them to sit at home for a few months.  Time for Vince to put his big boy pants on and do the right thing.

[WyattSheepMask]

WWE have now apparently taped everything through to and including April 8ths NXT, so that would include: this week’s Smackdown, 205 Live, go home RAW, next week’s NXT, go home Smackdown, another 205 Live, both nights of Wrestlemania, post-Mania RAW and April 8ths NXT

so it looks like WWE are indeed ceasing operation until the ‘Stay at Home’ order in Orlando expires in 2 weeks.

The problem that they’re faced with is that we still don’t know how much longer this will last, but it is in the interest of safety for everyone that they do stop.

WWE have an extensive archive that they can delve into in the meantime and put on TV, which is in their favour as networks need to fill their schedules so will probably whatever content is offered them. 

AEW haven’t got that luxury though, but could get around it by having a week’s TV be focused on one act. Have one week be the matches of Kenny Omega, next week could be a Cody Special, maybe even start showing AEW Dark on TV, they’ve got 3 months worth of episodes just of that

[CavemanLynn]

Get everyone in airbrush-designed full-body lucha suits and facemasks, so for 12 weeks, wrestling looks like it's been overrun by palette-swaps.

But seriously, to echo a lot of people's thoughts, and my own, over the past week or so, with no crowd shows to commit to, the on-screen promotions should be filling air time with pre-recorded content, highlight reels, and promo work. Indies should be knocking things on the head for now.

[Your Fight Site]

Is a reason for WWE’s belligerent continuing on though not be because their TV contracts stipulate a certain number of hours of unique programming per week? And therefore hefty penalties/lawsuits if they don’t?

I get that people’s health must come first, but we’re talking about Vince here…

[WyattSheepMask]

1 hour ago, Your Fight Site said:

Is a reason for WWE’s belligerent continuing on though not be because their TV contracts stipulate a certain number of hours of unique programming per week? And therefore hefty penalties/lawsuits if they don’t?

I get that people’s health must come first, but we’re talking about Vince here…

It probably would be under normal circumstances, but that’s not what we have here and I doubt they’d be able to take it to court as it pertains to orders from the US government and global health authorities.

It is probably more just pigheadedness from Vince carrying on as long as he is able to do so until he is forced to shut down

Edited March 27, 2020 by WyattSheepMask

[Factotum]

Yes. WWE especially with its large back catalogue, really doesn't need to be putting shows on. It falls into Vince's bullshit 'we keep going telling stories dammnit' philosophy, which virus' don't give two shits about. He would still be going to the pub over here.

[Brock Goldberg]

It needs to stop.

Both WWE and AEW can provide content without taking so many unnecessary risks to the health of it's workers.

[UK Kat Von D]

WWE are keeping all talent in total isolation between matches, so in theory they’ll be able to wrestle each other in quarantine. If the people producing the show are total separate from the rest of society there ain’t w problem other than the shows being fucking awful to watch.

WWE have a vast library to work from and a video editing team. Smackdown needs to be replaced with random Network specials or classic episodes. Raw should be cut to two hours and have each episode build to a Mania match. Talking head spots filmed from home mixed with archive footage. A two hour career retrospective on Styles and Undertaker would be better than the shit they are putting out. That way Mania can be postponed for at least three months, and the matches that are on will seem important as fuck.

[Daaaaaad!]

41 minutes ago, WyattSheepMask said:

Vince carrying on as long as he is able to do so until he is forced to shit down

Take it to the shitting thread.

[The King of Old School]

15 minutes ago, UK Kat Von D said:

WWE are keeping all talent in total isolation between matches, so in theory they’ll be able to wrestle each other in quarantine. If the people producing the show are total separate from the rest of society there ain’t w problem other than the shows being fucking awful to watch.

WWE have a vast library to work from and a video editing team. Smackdown needs to be replaced with random Network specials or classic episodes. Raw should be cut to two hours and have each episode build to a Mania match. Talking head spots filmed from home mixed with archive footage. A two hour career retrospective on Styles and Undertaker would be better than the shit they are putting out. That way Mania can be postponed for at least three months, and the matches that are on will seem important as fuck.

Completely agree.

Plus, imagine the excitement in 5/10 years time when they release a network special "The Wrestlemania that never happened" with all the footage they shot at the PC.

[WyattSheepMask]

7 minutes ago, The King of Old School said:

Completely agree.

Plus, imagine the excitement in 5/10 years time when they release a network special "The Wrestlemania that never happened" with all the footage they shot at the PC.

Nevermind 5/10 years, that’s next years WWE:24 sorted

[KingofSports]

Anyone who hasn't got the message by now, actually deserves anything and everything that comes their way. Harsh but true.

[David]

Once this is all over Vince, Dana White and Donald Trump will be the last ones left standing. 

[Jazzy G]

And TNA.