WWE Rumor Roundup - On-screen talent tests positive for coronavirus, Vince McMahon changes his mind, Jeff Hardy push - 11th April 2020

Welcome to another edition of the daily WWE Rumor Roundup where we try and bring you the biggest wwe news and rumors and other updates from the world of sports-entertainment.

We really thought that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic would give the rumor mills a much-needed break.

That has hardly been the case as we have many big stories to talk about today.

The biggest story of the day is about WWE reporting its first positive COVID-19 case and there are many backstage details about it that the fans need to know.

How will that affect the upcoming shows? WWE has laid out an ambitious plan to tackle the existing circumstance and deliver content for the next few weeks.

There is also an update about WWE's plans to push a popular veteran in order to stop him from joining AEW.

A megastar has also been tipped to return for next year's WrestleMania and the Superstar in question is expected to get a big push.

We also have an update about Rhea Ripley's status in the company after reports of her not being able to appear on TV began to do the rounds.

We've got a lot to get into in today's lineup so here is the latest edition of the WWE Rumor Roundup:

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#5 WWE 'on-screen' talent tests positive for COVID-19

As confirmed by the WWE in the company's official statement sent to Pro Wrestling Sheet, an on-screen WWE talent who is not a part of the in-ring roster tested positive for COVID-19.

The WWE employee got infected during a dinner with a friend who works in the healthcare industry. The company stated that the infected employee, whose name has been redacted, didn't come in contact with anyone in the WWE.

“A WWE employee has tested positive for COVID-19. We believe this matter is low risk to WWE talent and staff, as the individual and a roommate became symptomatic in the days following exposure to two people working in acute health care on the evening of March 26, after WWE’s TV production on a closed set was already complete. The employee had no contact with anyone from WWE since being exposed to those two individuals, is doing well, and made a complete recovery.”

In a positive update, WWE confirmed that the person went into quarantine immediately after testing positive and is now fully recovered.

The report was first revealed by Fightful via a memo that was issued to the Superstars.

It was reported on Fightful Select that Vince McMahon was informed about the positive case a week before he made the decision to continue to air all the upcoming shows live.

The situation was deemed low-risk and the employee has recovered and feels much better now.

The person was termed as an on-screen talent but we still have no details on whether the person in question was either an announcer, interviewer or referee as the identity has been kept under wraps.

Visit WWE Raw Results for results of Monday WWE RAW

#4 Vince McMahon changes his mind about upcoming tapings

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Vince McMahon wants the show to go on and he is doing everything in his power to provide fans with sports entertainment content.

As reported on the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio, the original plan was for WWE to film five weeks' worth of content for SmackDown, RAW and NXT in the coming few days.

However, Vince McMahon made the call to go live and tape shows every week.

It was revealed that McMahon fears that pre-taped content could be perceived as a breach of contract by the TV networks who have paid big bucks for live TV.

Whether it is the right decision or not is anyone's guess, but the WWE boss doesn't want to mess with the TV deals and incur losses on that front.

Meltzer revealed the following:

Basically, it was today and tomorrow they were supposed to tape five weeks of SmackDown. Sunday and Monday, they were supposed to tape five weeks of RAW, and then Tuesday, everybody goes home. So that was the plan as of yesterday. Now, I should be saying, it was very specifically said to me that is the plan until and unless Vince changes his mind.

But it was very much up in the air. And from what I understand, you know, Vince always had the idea of going live in his mind. But when everyone went there, they did not know that. In fact, they taped a show in the afternoon and after the show was taped, then, you know, Vince changed his mind and was like, “We’re gonna do SmackDown Live tonight or as close to live as possible,” I guess is the term. I guess it was basically live, maybe, you know, whatever “close enough” is for the contract to be live.

#3 WWE's big plan for Jeff Hardy

2019 was a tough year for Jeff Hardy.

The Charismatic Enigma injured his knee that required him to be sidelined for almost a year. Hardy relapsed during his time off from the WWE and got embroiled in various legal troubles owing to his issues with alcohol and substance abuse.

Hardy, however, got his life back on track after he entered an inp-atient rehab for the first time in his life. The WWE veteran legitimately put in the effort to undo his wrongs.

As reported by WrestlingNews.co's Paul Davis, WWE is planning a big push for Jeff Hardy. Vince McMahon is reportedly impressed with Hardy's will to stay clean and he wants to give the former WWE Champion a good reason to re-sign with the company.

The WWE management hopes that by treating Hardy well and offering him big-money contracts, they would be able to ward off interest from AEW.

Matt Hardy declined the opportunity to sign a contract extension with WWE due to creative differences before ending in AEW.

WWE hopes to keep hold of Jeff Hardy and they intend on doing that by giving him a healthy push.

The reported stated the following:

"I am told that this is the start of a big push for Hardy, who has almost a year left with the company due to time added on his contract because of his injury time off. Vince McMahon is said to be impressed with Hardy’s determination to get clean. Hardy went into inpatient rehab for the first time in his life in late 2019 after relapsing.

McMahon also wants to show Hardy that he will be treated well and that WWE is the better option for him. Hardy will likely get big money contract offers to stay away from All Elite Wrestling."

#2 Rhea Ripley status update

Reports were going around this week about Rhea Ripley being forced to leave the United States after her work visa expired.

The NXT Superstar put a stop to the circulating reports on Instagram by revealing that she is still in the country. However, there has still been no clarity with regards to the status of her visa and whether she would be able to wrestle going forward.

Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue, Korey Gunz and Rick Ucchino she some light on the Rhea Ripley story on the latest edition of the Dropkick DiSKussions podcast.

Tom revealed that Ripley is still in the country and will continue to work her NXT dates.

He also revealed that Ripley was bombarded with text messages after the report about her visa got out. The former NXT Women's Champion was surprised by people offering her help as she just didn't know what they were talking about.

Tom revealed:

I don't know if there is anything preventing Rhea Ripley from travelling back to Australia to get her visa renewed. There is nothing preventing Rhea Ripley from travelling home and taking a break as so many others have done. She is still in the US. She is still working in the US. She is still entitled to work in the US to my knowledge and to the knowledge of several other wrestling journalists I have spoken to. She seems very very surprised by the news that she hasn't got a work visa anymore to the point where from what I've been told she literally got texts asking if she needed any help and had no idea what they were going on about.

#1 Ronda Rousey could be back in time for WrestleMania 37

Ronda Rousey is trending these days following her scathing comments against the fans and she has also reportedly attracted backstage heat for her statement. There is also speculation that it is all a work to set the stage for Rowdy's impending return.

Dave Meltzer revealed on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio that we may not see Rousey back anytime soon.

Meltzer, however, did speculate that WWE could get the former RAW Women's Champion back to build up a match for WrestleMania 37 in 2021.

WrestleMania 37 will take place at the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles and WWE wants to draw large numbers, for which, they would need the assistance of a mainstream star such as Rousey.

"I expect her at next year's WrestleMania because it's Los Angeles. The idea is to draw this giant crowd and it's her home market and she will be heavily pushed as one of the faces of the show. I don't expect her back, I mean I haven't heard, but I don't expect her back anytime soon. I would not think that she would be back until the build for next year's WrestleMania. That's my gut on it, but no one's told me that but people there have told me that she will be back at one point for at least another match. WrestleMania does make the most sense for that.