WWE should pay wrestlers extra for working WrestleMania 36 and other shows

Despite independent wrestling shows, the NBA, NHL, and professional soccer leagues around the world shutting down, WWE and AEW are still putting on shows. And since Vince McMahon was intent on having WrestleMania 36, the least he could do is offer hazard pay.

The outbreak of a novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of nearly 50,000 people, and the severity of this pandemic must be emphasized. However, WWE still airing its biggest show of the year, WrestleMania 36, this upcoming weekend.

Although no fans will be in attendance over the two-night affair that has already been taped at the Performance Center, wrestlers still put themselves and their families at risk by partaking in a show that had the whole roster in close quarters.

A rapidly transmissible disease with fatal outcomes across many demographics, the novel coronavirus is especially dangerous to the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those with pre-existing conditions. It’s why wrestling fans should applaud Roman Reigns for making the decision, for himself and his family, to pull out of WrestleMania despite being the company’s top star and having an important title match at the show. Because NOTHING is more important than health and safety.

WWE tried to take precautions, including requesting any potentially sick superstars self-quarantine, but nothing is safer than not having the show. Still, it feels like Vince wanted WrestleMania 36 to air as a business decision for both storyline purposes and to have additional, revenue-generating content in a time of low competition. Note that FOX Sports and WWE have signed a lucrative deal around WrestleMania, which FOX Sports will be selling as a $59.99 Pay Per View.

Many wrestling fans will appreciate the distraction and will find a way to be entertained during the show, and any credit for our entertainment as an audience goes to the wrestlers themselves. Not only do they regularly risk their bodies for our benefit as fans, but they are taking the additional risk of exposing themselves and their loved ones to a deadly virus.

Sportskeeda’s Tom Colohue recently discussed how superstars will be paid for their work at WrestleMania 36, and, if anything, it sounds like the lack of a live crowd will hurt anyone not-named Brock Lesnar’s payday.

But the discussion about payment we need to be having is the wrestlers being paid extra for their work. I understand that WWE won’t make as much money from live attendance, but it sounds like they stand to make more money off Network subscriptions and even Pay Per View buys. Plus, this deal with FOX Sports lines up Vince McMahon’s pockets. WWE and Vince are worth billions, so they can afford to pay their wrestlers fairly. Which, by the way, the non-unionized superstars of WWE are not paid fairly to begin with.

There need to be a lot of steps taken in order for wrestlers to be treated fairly financially, but, speaking in the short-term, it’s quite egregious that wrestlers are being asked to take on this additional risk of performing during a pandemic. Our entertainment is not, in fact, an essential service, no matter how important Vince thinks WWE is.

But if he does think WWE is this important and he wants to keep producing content/revenue, the least he could do is offer hazard pay and give the performers something extra.

And I emphasize that, yes, this is the least he could do. It’s something, though, and since he is so hell-bent on airing WrestleMania 36 and weekly Raw, SmackDown, and NXT programming, the least he could do is offer additional compensation. And beyond just WrestleMania 36. I’m talking hazard pay for every show he books these brave, talented wrestlers on. It’s only fair.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.