By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Ring of Honor issued the following statement from ROH General Manager Greg Gilleland on Thursday regarding the company’s internal investigation into an incident involving a fan, Bully Ray, and The Allure trio of Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, and Mandy Leon.
Ring of Honor prides itself on providing a fun and entertaining environment for both our fans and wrestlers to experience professional wrestling at the highest level.
Fans are encouraged to cheer, boo, and chant during the show while wrestlers interact both positively and in rivalry, as that is the engagement that makes the ROH experience what it is. Wrestlers interacting with fans is core to the experience, however, under no circumstance should any of our athletes or staff confront or engage fans outside the bounds of this entertainment experience or outside the bounds of the area that hosts this experience. We hold all of our athletes and staff members to the highest standards and, because of the actions over the weekend, we fell short of meeting those standards.
We are still in the process of investigating this matter as well as reviewing and assessing internal security protocols to ensure a safe environment for all fans and athletes. All of our athletes and staff will also be trained and reminded of our policies and protocols for fan interaction and appropriate behavior in all situations.
To our amazing and wonderful fans, we apologize for the matter that transpired this past weekend as it does not reflect who we are as an organization or how we hope to engage with our fans. ROH fans are known worldwide for their passion, admiration, and appreciation for our athletes, and we share this same admiration and appreciation for our fans. We encourage all of our fans to continue attending our events and supporting our amazing athletes in a respectful manner as they have done in the past, and we promise to continue delivering what the fans deserve – the best wrestling and the best fan experience on the planet.
Powell’s POV: It was originally labeled as a 48-hour investigation and now it’s been extended. I’m not sure what would require additional time since Bully Ray, the fan, and the Allure trio have all shared their versions of the events publicly, but we’ll see how it plays out. It is worth noting that ROH previously launched an investigation into allegations made by Taeler Hendrix regarding Jay Lethal and I don’t recall there being any followup statement from ROH on that particular matter. For those who missed the story on Bully Ray and the fan, check out our previous report and another regarding Bully Ray’s statement.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and Glenn “Disco Inferno” Gilbertti, who discusses how being a good heel doesn’t stop outside the ring, a trait that big name wrestlers have in common, his male chauvinist persona, why he didn’t work for WWE after the WCW sale, and more.
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