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The world seemingly went into lockdown back in March as a way to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading as quickly as it would have if people remained in close proximity to one another. Social Distancing is a new concept that the world has had to become accustomed to and WWE has since been able to continue to present its product by putting its own safety procedures in place.
Despite this, there have been a number of positive tests throughout the company's employees ranging from production to staff and even talent.
Over the course of the past three months, a number of stars have made the choice to remain at home and look after their families as well, in order to ensure that they don't take the coronavirus back home.
It's a dangerous time right now and every WWE star is currently doing what they feel is best for themselves in the current climate. Let's take a look.
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#6. Refused to return: Roman Reigns
It's hard to argue with Roman Reigns' decision to back out of his Universal Championship match at WWE's biggest show of the year because of his medical history. Reigns only recently beat leukemia for the second time and the earliest figures from the virus stated that it was much worse for people who had underlying health conditions.
Reigns also revealed that his wife had recently given birth to their second set of twins, which meant that The Big Dog had five children to look after which included two newborns.
The company was able to fill his spot with Braun Strowman and change storylines to still make sense. At present, it is unknown when Reigns will make his return to WWE, but the company seems to be allowing him to take the time he needs and to return when he feels safe.
#5. Tested Positive: Adam Pearce
Many WWE fans will not be aware that they know who Adam Pearce is, but the WWE producer has appeared in a number of backstage segments over the years and has shown that he is a safe set of hands in front of the camera.
Before becoming a producer for WWE back in 2013, Pearce was a trainer at the Performance Center and an active professional wrestler with a storied career all over the world. Pearce is currently in the NWA Hall of Fame and is a former NWA World Champion.
Pearce has obviously been working for WWE throughout the lockdown since the company was able to be categorized as "essential". The WWE producer announced earlier today on his Twitter page that he has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
To make matters a little bit worst for the former wrestler, it was Pearce's 41st Birthday yesterday which means that he would have received the result on his birthday, something that the WWE Producer made light of in his Twitter reveal.
#4. Refused to return: Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn was part of WWE programming following the lockdown and even wrestled as part of WrestleMania, which was moved to the Performance Center at the beginning of April. It was after the Biggest Party of the Summer that Zayn went off to have dental surgery and made the decision to remain at home rather than return.
At the time, Zayn was the Intercontinental Champion and was contractually obliged to return and defend his title. Zayn still refused to return to the company, so WWE had no choice but to strip him of the title and announce a tournament to crown a new champion.
Zayn wasn't happy about this ruling, and even commented on Twitter about how the winner wouldn't be seen as the real Intercontinental Champion. The tournament has since concluded and seen AJ Styles crowned as the new champ.
Given the recent issues WWE has had with COVID-19 at the Performance Center, it's unlikely that the former champion will be looking to make his WWE return anytime soon.
#3. Tested Positive: Kayla Braxton
Kayla Braxton is often seen with a microphone in her hand backstage looking for a scoop like many of the company's backstage interviewers. Earlier today the star's focus was on something completely different when she decided to take a break from social media after revealing her second positive test.
Braxton took to Twitter to reveal that she was the WWE star who tested positive back in March and that after having the virus, she believed that she was immune - or, in her words, "invincible." Obviously, this wasn't the case and she has since tested positive for the virus once again, which is why she warned the WWE Universe about the risks.
Braxton followed this up with another Tweet where she talked about how emotionally draining the past few weeks have been for her and that she had decided to take a break from Twitter.
Braxton was the third WWE star to reveal that they had tested positive and there is expected to be many more that follow since there were sources claiming that the positive tests were in the "two dozens" yesterday.
#1. Refused to return: Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens worked throughout the lockdown and wrestled a number of times at WWE's Performance Center before it was revealed last week that someone within the Performance Center had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Owens opted to go to management and state that he was heading home, something that he recently revealed on an episode of The Bump.
“I mean I’m great, I’ve always been great, due to the circumstances that happened over the last week..the positive coronavirus test that happened in the company I thought it was wiser for me to stay with my family that day. I told the people in charge of my decision and they [WWE] didn’t even flinch. They were like, ‘Okay.’ That’s it.”
“You know there’s no push-back I mean I don’t think there would be push back on anybody, but also they know once I make my mind up that’s the way it’s gonna be. They were respectful of my decision. I’m glad that I took it and I figured it was the best thing for my family.”
Owens is expected to make his WWE return ahead of the next set of tapings but the recent positive cases could force him to stay at home longer.
#1. Tested Positive: Renee Young
Renee Young was the first WWE star to share on Twitter that she had tested positive for the virus. Young shared the news after her husband Jon Moxley was replaced on last night's episode of AEW Dynamite because he informed the company that he had been exposed to the virus.
Young was reported to have been ill for a while but when she was first tested it came back negative, ahead of her positive result this week.
It's been a rough week for the former RAW commentator since it was announced yesterday that FS1's WWE Backstage had been canceled due to low ratings since it began back in the fall of 2019.
Young commented on this in her reveal on Twitter where she pointed out that the show had been canceled and now she had caught COVID. Young is reported to be recovering well after announcing that she has the virus. Her husband and former WWE star Jon Moxley reportedly tested negative for the virus after being in contact with Young.
