Vince McMahon Views Current WWE Situation As ‘An Annoyance’

WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon has a rather unsurprising take on the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it’s had on his programming.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer (h/t WrestlingWorld.co), McMahon views the circumstances created by COVID-19 as “an annoyance.” Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio, “As it was explained to me Vince McMahon is not receptive to the outside world. He finds what is going on in the outside world as an annoyance because it is getting in the way of his vision, you know? He’s got a vision and all these people are freaking getting in the way of what he wants to do by not letting him run whatever.”

There are also sorts of once-urban legends out there about McMahon’s hatred of things related to sickness or illness, including his since-confirmed loathing of sneezing. The WWE boss is notorious for being a dedicated but demanding leader who spends most of his time in a pro wrestling bubble and doesn’t like when anything from the outside world gets in his way. That apparently even includes a global pandemic.

MORE FROM FORBESWWE Is Already Splitting Up Two Major ActsBy Blake Oestriecher

WWE has had to make a number of drastic changes to its programming due to COVID-19, including hosting fan-less shows at its Performance Center, altering its creating plans moving forward without high-profile stars like Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns. As a result, viewership both Raw and SmackDown has descended to all-time lows while there is widespread concern that some fans who’ve chosen not to watch WWE’s programming during this bizarre era will never come back. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE was very accommodating to superstars and employees who did not want to work given the circumstances, and though that’s been the public sentiment, there is a different tone backstage.

Meltzer also stated in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingWorld.co) that many within WWE are fearful about taking WWE up on its offer to not report to work because they believe it will ultimately put their jobs at risk: “I know of several people in the company who are not comfortable at all about working right now but were not about to take WWE up on the offer for job security.”

The offer Meltzer is referring to is one that will allow employees and/or superstars to stay at home during the pandemic. It’s also one that may explain why Zayn reportedly has major heat for choosing to take WWE up on that offer at a time when the company is hurting for star power and Zayn had been holding the Intercontinental Championship. It should come as no surprise then that WWE made the decision last week to strip Zayn of his title, a move that was reportedly designed to “send a message” to people within the company and one that is a surefire sign of McMahon’s stance regarding the COVID-19 pandemic: He views it as an obstacle and an inconvenience.

There is, however, no definitive timeline in regards to when WWE may be able to return to more of a normal schedule. For the past two-plus months, all WWE live events have been on hold, many of its major storylines have as well, and the company—even though it’s trying to move forward—seems to be stuck in a holding pattern that will be there until its biggest superstars return and its fan return to its shows, too.

The health and safety of WWE’s performers and employees, however, should ultimately supersede McMahon’s desire not to be supposedly inconvenienced.

At a time when WWE released a popular NXT star for speaking up about her concerns about WWE’s medical team, though, nothing should surprise us anymore when it comes to McMahon’s reported views on the current state of WWE. This is a bizarre and challenging time for billions across the world, and if having to change the direction of his programming for a few months is the worst thing that McMahon must deal with right now, he should consider himself very lucky.