Hopefully TNT either provide an out, if indeed TNT ARE holding them to the contract, or embarrass them (much like USA and FOX did to WWE) to make it clear that it isn't their choose.
I'm fairly certain TNT would hold them to their contract. Like, I would imagine if AEW chose not to tape as the pandemic was ramping up, and didn't have the ability to air shows at the height of this wave of the pandemic, I would think they would be understanding. But in the months/years to come, at some point I would imagine TNT isn't going to keep paying them tens of millions or whatever it is for absolutely nothing. The reality is, this pandemic is probably a longer term issue so going on hiatus in the short-term may be an option, but it's not a solution. Whether we like it or not, for many companies (not exclusive to AEW) to remain viable, they're going to have to continue functioning in some limited way throughout this pandemic, even if there are some risks associated with it.
I don't think anyone should feel "good" about enjoying a wrestling show that's taped during the pandemic, just like we shouldn't feel "good" about sports starting back up when they inevitably do. I enjoy it, it's been a necessary distraction for me, but I'm admittedly selfish in saying that. It's obviously not essential, just like much of the things we think are important. But I ask myself two things:
1. does this appreciably affect the pandemic itself? To that, the answer is no. When much/most of the country is on the verge of lifting some restrictions and will undoubtedly continue to do so if possible, whether or not AEW, WWE, or any pro sports leagues continues on without fans isn't going to make an appreciable difference on the widespread pandemic.
2. does it put the workers at risk? Undoubtedly, yes, but this is where there is a risk/benefit calculation. The wrestlers, just like employees of different companies all over the country, are left with the unfortunate reality that they are going to take some risk to continue to work, so that they can continue to get paid. This is where the individual worker is going to have to decide that the (likely small) risk to themselves is worth it, and they're going to have to act responsibly to protect others. This is not unique to wrestling. And that's me included. I'm a health care worker, for my typical job description, I didn't exactly sign up for a job that exposes me to a potentially deadly virus, but that's the reality I'm stuck with if I want to keep working this job. And I'm going to have to avoid my family/friends for the foreseeable future.
I don't feel bad for the billionaires- in reality, pandemic or not, the Khans and McMahons of the world can and should do more to help the population at large. They should probably be paying their wrestlers more, they certainly should be providing them with health insurance, etc. They could easily shut down and pay everyone and still live comfortably. But i also live in reality. No companies are going to do that, so I'm not going to hold wrestling to an imaginary standard that nobody is going to live up to, nor am I going to expect that AEW would potentially go out of business to make a moral statement in response to the pandemic (never mind that going out of business causes a bunch of people, besides just the wrestlers, to lose their jobs).
I don't blame anyone for not liking the empty arena shows, I don't blame anyone for being uncomfortable with what's to come, but a lot of the black and white thinking I see going on drives me crazy.
