Welcome to the Grapevine! This section of Smark Henry is where we round up all the important founded and unfounded rumors floating around the pro wrestling scene that you may have missed over the past few days. Remember to take everything with a grain of salt!
WWE not providing COVID-19 vaccines to talent
A report claims that WWE talent were informed that they would not be receiving a COVID-19 vaccine from the company, and that getting vaccinated was their responsibility. This understandably caught talent by surprise, as they were expecting the company to provide a vaccine after asking them to continue doing shows and training. Some talent are frustrated by this, as there are apparently influential people who are COVID deniers. (Source: Fightful Select)
We say: Absolutely despicable. Let's add this to the running tally: WWE lets go of wrestlers during a pandemic, doesn't get them tested regularly for a long time, doesn't shut down shows in events of outbreaks, demands people risk their lives to come to work for their revenue, and doesn't even subsidize vaccines for their valuable workers. Yes, everyone in WWE will be able to afford the vaccine, but one would think that this is the least they could do for the people they request to put their bodies on the line. This pandemic is really bringing out the deeply buried worst in them.
No top stories locked for WrestleMania yet
With two and a half months left until WrestleMania, WWE reportedly has no big storylines penciled in for the event yet. Top title matches on either RAW or SmackDown have yet to be confirmed, not even rumored names such as Daniel Bryan and Shinsuke Nakamura. (Source: WON)
We say: That just means anything can happen at the Royal Rumble this Sunday—this also contributes to the event not having a clear and predictable winner. Not even winning the Royal Rumble guarantees you a main event spot at WrestleMania anymore, though.
Let us know what you think of today's news in the comments!
Photo from WWE
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