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WWE NXT referee Drake Wuertz (aka former Death Match performer Drake Younger) missed last night's NXT taping in order to attend a school board meeting for the Seminole County Public Schools, arguing to the Superintendent that, despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, he should refuse the masking of children in the schools, claiming that the dangers of wearing the masks "outweighs" the dangers of COVID-19 and that by not doing so, he was going against the wishes of God.
You can see Wuertz's full remarks below as he basically cuts almost a wrestling promo, claiming the Superintendent has allowed "these precious children to be victims of a tyrannical overreach" -
Wuertz also argued against the wearing of masks to protect the health of the teachers in the classroom stating that in Seminole County, "God's country, we put the needs of our children first", citing a biblical verse that states it would be better for an adult to die by drowning than potentially "lead a little one to stumble." He also argued that wearing masks in school assist predators who "wish to prey upon our children" and that by requiring children be masked, they have disrespected the wishes of the parents. Wuertz also claimed that teachers would not be able to identify their own students if the students were forced to be masked.
Wuertz missing the taping last night followed a similar instance last week where Wuertz, wearing his WWE NXT gear while backstage at the Capitol Wrestling Center, took part in a Zoom call for the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners, arguing against the local mask mandate being used to protect against COVID-19, citing an online conspiracy theory that "child sex traffickers love COVID masks."
Given that WWE has instituted a mask policy for those working for the company, Wuertz publicly arguing against masks while technically in the middle of his work day while wearing company clothing seemed to have turned the tide against him with some who had previously felt he had every right to his opinion, now feeling he lost that right when he was expressing it on company time.
Wuertz recently took to his Facebook page to defend his stance, writing, "My wife said some folks are apparently writing about our “Radical Views “. *Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery and we seek to eradicate it *Abortion is Murder and needs to be Abolished *Children in my community that are being forced by local government to wear masks for 8 hours a day against their parents wishes is abuse. We have a God-ordained duty to speak up for the ‘least of these’ and petition our magistrates to prevent harm upon children. If this is “Radical” then label me an extremist for Christ. Were not called to fit in with the world. Were called to serve God!…”We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29"
A number of WWE talents and staff have expressed concern for Wuertz's actions in recent weeks and a number have pointed to last night's speech as reason for the company to step in, with one source citing a "pattern of behavior that is becoming increasingly concerning."
Whether WWE opts to address remains to be seen.
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