Rey Mysterio and Dana Brooke To Miss WrestleMania Due To Coronavirus Quarantine

As if WrestleMania 36 needed any more drama attaching to it, news is doing the rounds that both Rey Mysterio and Dana Brooke have now been removed from the pre-taped, two-day empty Performance Center extravaganza as they will be self isolating due to Coronavirus fears.

Brooke was originally slated to be part of the Six Pack Challenge match for Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s Title, which has now been reduced to a Fatal Five Way bout.

Mysterio, meanwhile, was involved in the United States Title picture with Angel Garza, Humberto Carrillo and champion Andrade, but Andrade and Garza will now team up to challenge the Street Profits for the Raw Tag Team Titles at the Show of Shows.

Speaking during the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed both superstars have been pulled from the card as they are being quarantined.

While neither Brooke nor Mysterio have displayed symptoms of COVID-19, WWE are clearly taking no chances and are exercising as much caution as possible by sending them both home. However, it remains to be seen what further action will be taken, given that Mysterio wrestled Andrade last week on Raw, with Andrade then appearing on last night’s show, when usual protocol would dictate he too would have to self isolate, having been in contact with someone who potentially has the disease themselves.

WWE are yet to comment on the report, confirming the news one way or another. However, it must be a cause for concern that two superstars potentially have the virus, as it could mean more on the roster and members of the backstage and production crew have been infected.

‘Mania will be taped at multiple locations over a number of days in order to minimise the risks of COVID-19 spreading among the roster, with all superstars involved in the heavily altered show being made to stay at one hotel.

The event will be headlined by several high profile matches, including Brock Lesnar defending the WWE Title against Royal Rumble winner Drew McIntyre, Goldberg putting his Universal Title on the line against Roman Reigns, The Fiend facing off against John Cena, Edge taking on Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing bout, AJ Styles challenging The Undertaker to a ‘Boneyard Match’ (likely to be a Buried Alive match under a different name), Becky Lynch putting her Raw Women’s Title up for grabs against Shayna Baszler and, for the first time in WrestleMania history, an NXT Title will be on the line when Rhea Ripley defends the Women’s gold against Charlotte Flair.

Who knows what will happen next as the news around the year’s biggest show continues to develop and evolve at a ridiculous rate.