Wrestling fans in Yorkton may have noticed that the CWE didn't make its return to the City this month.
This is due to the Governments announcements of vaccine mandates.
Danny Warren with CWE said that the mandate created too big of a divide.
"It created way too big of a divide amongst our audiences across the board, which was not only going to affect the inability to gross the necessary revenue to produce a tour but was a PR nightmare ready to explode. We've pulled out of Saskatchewan for the time being and will return when it's safe for everyone to attend again," he said.
In terms of what safe would look like, Warren said everyone being able to attend without proof of medical status or discrimination.
"When the Saskatchewan Government deems that acceptable, we will be back in full force. Safe looks like an audience of unity without judgement or fear of someone beside you because they are or are not vaccinated. Pro wrestling thrives on bringing people together in unity for a night of entertainment where you can leave the real world at home and escape into ours. Safe will be when we can provide that safe space for people again."
"Technically, everyone can attend now, but one group of people has to provide a negative test at their own expense. If you are a family of 5 looking to come out and enjoy your night as a family, the cost in doing so is completely unrealistic when factoring in tickets and testing before taking into consideration food & drink and even merchandise for your children," he continued. "It is unreasonable to expect the majority to be able to jump through those financial hoops, and it is unrealistic for us as an organization to lose that large of a portion of our audience as a travelling company, especially at a time fuel prices are at a record high."
Warren said so far, the company has been successful in keeping its wrestlers and fans safe.
"We have operated over 40 live events since the pandemic began with a variety of rules & guidelines based on the province and region at the time and had zero cases linked to any of those events as doing so," he said. "We have proven we can operate safely before and after vaccines became available.
"Furthermore, not one wrestler on our travelling roster, vaccinated or not, has contracted COVID in near 20 months on the road, and we have been exposed to more elements and people than the average person," he noted. "Our roster is collectively a very young, healthy group of athletes who are very health, fitness, and nutrition-conscious. By no means does that mean they are bulletproof, but the data is very clear that they are statistically at a very low risk of contracting the virus and at even lower risk of having any form of severe symptoms. If an individual and realistically a member of our brotherhood or family make a personal choice and he can remain healthy and show up to work as such and not be a danger to the locker room or audience, there is no logical reason to deny them the opportunity to provide for their families."
The CWE was set to return to Yorkton last week, but there is no timetable on when the wrestling will slam into Yorkton again.
