#SpeakingOut Fall Out

It was shocking week of admission in the world of wrestling that left wrestlers and fans disgusted and soul searching at same time. It started accusations of wrestler David Starr, who wrestles mostly in UK and Europe scene, sexual assaulting and raping women. Starr admitted his wrongdoings, but made it much worse calling it "grey rape" before deleting his Twitter account. It kickstarted movement known as #SpeakingOut focusing on all forms physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse as well soliciting underage people in the wrestling industry. The accusations came from men and women even from within the industry who were brave enough to tell their stories and sharing screenshots of the interaction.The flood gates opened with UK wrestling scene gutted with accusations featuring wrestlers such as Jimmy Havoc (from AEW), Jordan Devlin, El Ligero, Joe Coffey (three from NXT UK), Marty Scurill (from Ring of Honor), and Mikey Whiplash to name a few. Of many names accused includes Jim Cornette and his ex-wife, former UFC fighter and current WWE wrestler Matt Riddle (which I will get to later), Velveteen Dream, Joey Ryan, Michael Elgin, and Mike Quackenbush. Former UK woman wrestler Pollyanna accused Will Osprey and Bea Priestly of getting her blackballed from a company after she came out she was raped by Will's friend which the company admitted few days later. Joey Ryan so far been accused by over 17 women (and more coming) about his sexual behavior towards women backstage. Not even Texas indies are immune to abuse allegations. Uproxx editor and writer Brandon Stroud is another been outed. He was ring announcer for indy fed in Austin til he parted ways with them in 2015. I've heard rumors afterwards he got fired from the fed and blackballed from Texas because he was caught taking nude photos of women wrestlers. It was confirmed but instead he stole nude photos from female wrestlers phone as well being manipulative. Woman wrestler Allie Kat chimed in about Stroud being a creep making unwanted advances towards her and wanting her nude for a movie. (Brandon if you are reading this fuck you and hope your wife divorces you! It's the only nice comment you will get out of me!) I'm sure nothing will be done at Uproxx because he's the lead guy on the site. The one that upsets me was Dirty Andy Dalton (NOT the NFL QB; different person with same name) who wrestles around DFW area as well various parts of the state. Screenshots of his sexual messages to a minor popped up and he admitted to it. That was just the beginning as more accusations and stories popped up that were way much worse. Jack Jameson who I wrote about last year and had unfriendly exchange with me few months ago got outed. He proceeds to lower himself pulling the late Hana card claiming he's getting cyberbullied over the accusations. He pretty much didn't get the message at all. For wrestlers that been accused (some with screenshots) they either admitted to it, denied it, and/or shut down all forms of their social media.

Face of a fan who wants get in the business to be creepy

Karma bites him in the ass. Oh yes that's his shoot name

The aftermath led companies have to zero tolerance on all forms of sexual harassment behaviors and refusing book the wrestlers that's been accused of the allegations. In the UK The West Yorkshire police been in contact on investigating the claims. WWE is investigating on all claims as well. They also fired Jack Gallagher after his name surfaced along with Travis Banks and El Ligero. Reportedly Jack admitted to the claims and rumors the claims are much worse than announced. Velveteen Dream days are rumored to be over. Matt Riddle got a lawyer involved claiming a stalker been going after him that he changed his number twice. He also let WWE management know of this before he signed. AEW issue statements on Jimmy Havoc and Sammy Guevara with Havoc going mental and drug rehab while evaluating his status. Guevara, who made a rape joke at WWE woman wrestler Sasha Banks 4 years ago, apologized for it and is suspended without pay while taking sensitivity training. Impact Wrestling terminated the contracts of Joey Ryan and Dave Crist and more likely done with Michael Elgin. Speaking of Joey he closed down his fed, Bar Wrestling, and his YouTube page. Few companies shutting down from physical and sexual abuse claims and allegations are Progress and Chikara. Mike Quackenbush gave a tearful video speech only to be mocked by fans who thinks he isn't genuine in his apology with WWE masked wrestler Lince Dorado throwing in shots. Jim Cornette denied the claims. Marty Scurill put out a statement saying it was consensual. Paige (of WWE) denied her family abused trainees. Many have been blackballed due the allegations.

Lince Dorado doesn't buy any of Mike Quackenbush apology

While this left fans stunned also blindsided were the wrestlers and promoters. Despite the locker room being "men club" many didn't knew the extent of abuse allegations. All immediately cut ties business wise. I read one promoter having spend Father's Day wiping out existence of the wrestler's involvement with the fed instead spending time with his family. It was heartbreaking for him as well most of promoters and wrestlers feeling their trust betrayed by fellow accused and admitted workers. There's most likely a chance there wouldn't be any intergender matches for potential fear of sexual harassment. There's been great deal of support for #speakingout from the wrestlers and the fans.

As much fans and wrestlers appreciate the women speaking out I also hope they are truthful. There's been few false accusations made and debunked. Those false accusations have damaging effects hurting the person on receiving end from job security and to livelyhood. It also hurt the credibility of the ones who are truthful in their claims. WWE NXT UK wrestler Trent Seven is one of them. A woman claimed he was trying hook up with she and her friends despite being underage. Then another woman who was part of her group said they weren't underage and give her side of the story. The stories have so many holes that fans dismissed it and thought the women tried to get Trent drunk so he can sleep with them. Apparently they are dealing with Trent's legal team based from a tweet from one of the accusers. Texas indy wrestler Brysin Scott was falsely accused in retaliation because he and his wife, Simply Luscious, been sharing the accusation stories as well outing wrestlers hooking up with minors. It was quickly debunked. Few years ago T.J. Perkins was victim of lies. A person started a rumor he hooked up with underage girl along story of his sex life that went viral. It end up hurting him as his standing never got higher with WWE and few indy feds would pull his bookings. Former NXT wrestler Zeda Zhang admit being part of it and apologized. Few years too late. Irony the guy who started it got busted sexting minors. Wish T.J. would have sued for libel and slander. Welcome to wrestling industry where its a dog eat dog world full of backstabbing, jealousy, and do anything get above.

Zeda Zhang Apologizes to TJ Perkins

Not only women wrestlers were brave enough to tell their stories, but men as well. T.J. Perkins admitted being taken advantage off by women when he started training at 15. Keith Lee shared his story on getting date raped. There are wrestlers helping out like Laynie Luck, Allie Kat, Machiko, Brysin Scott, and Simply Lucious sharing allegation stories from those who remained anonymous. Hopefully it will and need spark a changed in the wrestling industry forcing the crumbling of the old guard of being "men club" locker room. It's a start consider how much former owner of Ring of Honor Rob Feinstein was protected after he was busted on Perverted Justice trying solicit sex with a 13 year old in 2004. His "lol ill pretend u said 18" will always live on through internet wrestling scene. It cause me to stop following east indy wrestling scene for a long while. I believe they are scratching the surface.