Pro Wrestling Sheet’s Ryan Satin reported Wednesday that multiple people who were at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando tested positive for COVID-19 this week, including in-ring talent.
Sources told Satin that at least three people tested positive, and that more tests will be conducted by the WWE’s medical team before this week’s TV production.
When requested for comment, WWE sent this statement to Newsweek: “WWE will continue COVID-19 testing of its talent, production crew and employees in advance of TV productions for the foreseeable future.”
The news comes a week after the WWE confirmed a developmental talent tested positive for the coronavirus.
“A developmental talent, who was last on site at WWE’s training facility on Tuesday, June 9, has tested positive for COVID-19. Since that time, no other individuals that attended the facility have reported symptoms,” WWE said in a statement to the media at the time. “However, out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the health and safety of the company’s performers and staff, all talent, production crew and employees on site at the training and production facilities will be tested for COVID-19 immediately. Following the test results, WWE plans to proceed with its normal television production schedule.”
After reports of non-wrestling talent being in the crowd during the time the positive test was found, WWE confirmed to Newsweek in a statement that there were some audience in the crowd.
“Fans have not been in attendance at WWE events since March 13. Yesterday, a select number of friends and family were permitted to attend WWE’s TV production,” the statement continued. “These individuals were required to participate in medical screenings prior to entering the closed set at our training facility, and were kept apart from in-ring performers and production personnel. Attendance was below 20 percent capacity and social distancing guidelines were adhered to with at least six feet between parties, thus face masks were not required.”
The WWE pushed back its filming one day last week to test its personnel, but the promotion has stuck to a bulk production scheduled for its weekly shows. Tapings of Monday Night RAW, NXT, 205 Live and Friday Night SmackDown are being filmed in advance.
COVID-19 has not just struck the WWE. All Elite Wrestling (AEW), which operates from Jacksonville, recently made changes to Wednesday’s Dynamite card. QT Marshall and AEW World Champion Jon Moxley were pulled from the June 24 episode of Dynamite after recently being in contact with someone who has the coronavirus.
Florida’s Department of Health confirmed more than 5,500 cases of COVID-19, a new single-day record in the state.
