Kevin Owens met w/Vince re: Covid concerns & wearing masks
Jul 13, 2020 18:06:27 GMT -5
via mobile
DSR, "Magic" Mark Hurr, and 6 more like this
Post by 3cheers4ramirez on Jul 13, 2020 18:06:27 GMT -5
The decision to not wrestle wasn't questioned by the WWE, according to Owens, which has allowed at-risk performers and anyone feeling uncomfortable to stay home during this time. Owens' position was especially understandable with the knowledge that Owens' wife's grandfather died due to COVID-19. Owens doesn't believe his decision will impact his future with the company. In this scenario, respect is actualized once again. Not by the other performers in the business, but those that are signing his checks, because of the way Owens has conducted himself throughout his career.
"I know people, for some reason, tend to assume that that's the kind of thing that would happen, and that's just the way people want to think about certain situations," Owens said. "I've been [in WWE] for five years. I have never once been afraid to tell the company that I couldn't go to a show or something like that because something was happening with my family. They're always extremely receptive.
"The company's never made me feel like my career or my spot or anything like that could be in jeopardy," Owens said. "It's the same here with this situation. I tell them how I feel, they respect how I feel. Even with the mask, that could be seen as something kind of small, right? But it wasn't. I brought them my concern, and it was immediately taken very seriously."
Owens put considerable thought into each step he made towards handling his career and his family during the pandemic. After putting out a self-produced video in which he asked people to embrace wearing a mask, or at the very least not shaming those who wear masks, the option about resuming his in-ring career came into play. Much of Owens' decision to return was a family effort, including many conversations with his wife.
"I wanted to make sure that she's comfortable with me being in the house after I've been around a bunch of people," Owens said. "Honestly, if it wasn't for my wife telling me, 'OK, the company is clearly making efforts, I think you should go to work, see how things are,' I wouldn't have gone back."
"I know people, for some reason, tend to assume that that's the kind of thing that would happen, and that's just the way people want to think about certain situations," Owens said. "I've been [in WWE] for five years. I have never once been afraid to tell the company that I couldn't go to a show or something like that because something was happening with my family. They're always extremely receptive.
"The company's never made me feel like my career or my spot or anything like that could be in jeopardy," Owens said. "It's the same here with this situation. I tell them how I feel, they respect how I feel. Even with the mask, that could be seen as something kind of small, right? But it wasn't. I brought them my concern, and it was immediately taken very seriously."
Owens put considerable thought into each step he made towards handling his career and his family during the pandemic. After putting out a self-produced video in which he asked people to embrace wearing a mask, or at the very least not shaming those who wear masks, the option about resuming his in-ring career came into play. Much of Owens' decision to return was a family effort, including many conversations with his wife.
"I wanted to make sure that she's comfortable with me being in the house after I've been around a bunch of people," Owens said. "Honestly, if it wasn't for my wife telling me, 'OK, the company is clearly making efforts, I think you should go to work, see how things are,' I wouldn't have gone back."
www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/29455093/for-wwe-star-kevin-owens-all-matter-respect?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true
No lollipops for WWE doing what they should've done months ago, but cool that Owens has made a difference.