MLW has already had their initial tapings for “The Restart” and besides the new names that have shown up, one of the big talks from the tapings was the precautions taken for COVID-19. One of the company’s top talents has also put the precautions over, saying MLW did “a good job.”
Reed is the company’s Middleweight Champion and one of their breakout performers. Given his importance to the company, he’d want to remain safe but he put over the protocol and putting the safety of the performers and their family over anything else. Speaking with Andrew Thompson of POST Wrestling, Reed was candid about their protocols.
“When we were down there, everybody had to [test negative] before they pulled up and then as we were leaving, everybody had to test negative before they went back home. So, everybody was negative while we were there. So, that foremost I feel is — because some shows, they don’t make you test so [you’ll] be like, ‘Uhh, I don’t know about bro I’m wrestling.’ But I mean, I do I feel like I respect the shows that make you test because this virus sh*t ain’t no joke. It’s a serious thing and people gotta go back home to their families and when motherf*ckers are catching the virus, they’re going home to their families where they got kids, girlfriend, mom. They’re risking other people’s life, not just their own and the people they work with. But they definitely did a good job of protocol, with making us wear masks. We couldn’t really leave the hotel. That was kind of one of the rules like, ‘Alright, y’all can kick it but y’all can’t go nowhere. We’re making sure y’all stay safe.’”
Reed also talked about how independent wrestling has handled the pandemic. Reed is a regular for GCW, the company that was one of the primary forces behind the giant independent wrestling festival The Collective, a show where several performers tested positive for COVID-19 in the days following the show. While he feels that there has been a decent job so far, he does believe promotions could improve.
“When I came back, they already had fans back. But, they did a really good job. Every show I’ve been at has made everybody spread out, wear masks. Before you come in, I mean a lot of the shows were taking wrestlers’ temperatures at least but I do feel like, as far as doing better on it and I feel like now, people are because of that whole scare that happened at The Collective. Just make sure motherf*ckers got a negative test before they wrestle. It’s really not that hard. If you’re gonna book somebody, book them a month in advance. When you book ‘em, ‘Hey, I need a COVID test. I need you to test negative for me before everybody wrestles’ and that’s pretty much the biggest step you gotta do pretty much to keep everybody safe, as far as the wrestlers go and making sure the fans — I feel like they’ve been doing a decent job with the fans. Making sure they’re wearing their masks, making sure, ‘Hey, who [did you come] with? Make sure you sit with them. Everybody else, they gotta be six feet away from you.’ I mean, other than that — and it is scary because right now, I’m just wrestling right now. I don’t work a job, I’m wrestling. So, if they’re not taking these precautions seriously, some sh*t happens, I’m f*cking losing out on my money, paying my family and stuff so it’s a big deal. I feel like they’re doing a good job but you know…”
Throughout the interview, Reed also discusses his relationship with The Rascalz, a group he is a former member of on the independent scene, returning to MLW after the shutdown, and his program with Brian Pillman. You can watch the interview below.
h/t to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
Check out our official store at PRO WRESTLING TEES, show us your support and buy a shirt. You can visit our store by clicking here.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter @BodySlamNet and on Instagram @BodySlamDotNet
Also check us out on Facebook and give us a like and share by clicking HERE.
