Ring of Honor is taking certain precautions for its current set of television tapings regarding talent that worked at The Collective.
On Thursday, POST Wrestling learned through multiple sources that Ring of Honor is not expected to use any performers for its current set of television tapings that were part of the shows last weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that talent not being used for these tapings are being paid by Ring of Honor.
When we reached out to Ring of Honor for a statement regarding this decision, ROH COO Joe Koff provided POST Wrestling with the following response:
While Ring of Honor does not publicly discuss specific internal decisions, ROH is taking every measure to preserve the integrity of its rigorous health and safety protocol for the upcoming tapings.
So far, there have been three wrestlers that were part of last weekend’s Collective events that have revealed positive COVID-19 tests. On Thursday, Dan the Dad was the first to note that he received positive test results with AC Mack and Cabana Man Dan adding they have also received positive test results.
ROH performer Danhausen noted on Thursday that he had tested negative but was traveling back home out of an “abundance of caution”:
Hello, I was tested Tuesday morning and my results were negative, I was just given another test today and was also negative. As an abundance of precaution @ringofhonor is being extra safe and responsible and I am going home today. Thank you for having me & caring about our safety pic.twitter.com/Qfz5WaHDem
— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) October 15, 2020
There were twelve events held at the Marion County Fairgrounds last weekend with independent talent from all over the country participating in the various shows.
Ring of Honor has been very conservative with their approach to resuming shows while working with the Maryland State Athletic Commission, who instituted the following procedures for ROH to follow when running their empty arena television tapings:
*Two weeks prior to the event, talent and referees are required to undergo the first NMT (nasal mid-turbinate) molecular PCR swab test.
*Within three days of the event, talent and referees will be required to undergo a second NMT molecular PCR swab test. They must be immediately isolated/sequestered after undergoing the second test. Separate hotel accommodations and separate eating arrangements will be required for participants, who must remain isolated until arriving at the event to work.
*On the day of the event (or, in the case of wrestling activity spanning more than one day, on the last day of the individual engaging in competition or participation), talent and referees will be required to undergo a third NMT molecular PCR swab test. The third test is being required for contact tracing being conducted by, and being documented by, the commission. The commission considers contact tracing to be essential to reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
*All individuals entering the venue must have his or her temperature taken and recorded at the door via an infrared thermometer. No one will be permitted entry into the venue with a temperature reading of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
*Any individual other than the participants who is either working in the ring enclosure area or physically interacting with participants (i.e. an athletic trainer) must undergo the second and third NMT molecular PCR swab tests in the respective time frames. All such individuals other than the ring announcer will be required to wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth at all times.
*All other individuals present at the venue in any capacity will be required to wear a mask covering both the nose and mouth at all times and to maintain a social distance from each other of at least six feet at all times.
