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Wrestling #MeToo #SpeakingOut


Keith Houchen

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46 minutes ago, BomberPat said:

What I do know at this point is that Equity are holding a meeting with several female wrestlers tonight, and have spoken to wrestlers they have a pre-existing relationship with in order to best facilitate that, and to ensure the right people are being represented. My understanding is that it will be the first of several meetings, and that Equity are taking all of this very seriously, and looking to further include wrestling in their existing Safe Space and anti-harassment policies. Equity reps at the meeting will include parliamentary liaisons, lawyers specialising in harassment and abuse in the entertainment industry, and long-standing Equity members with experience of tackling harassment in other entertainment fields. Bearing in mind that the first post in this thread was less than a week ago, I think that's a huge step forward in such a short space of time, in terms of having this taken seriously and tackled through the proper channels - a couple of years ago, I don't think this would have been possible at all. 

Elsewhere, the police are involved in multiple cases already, and Leanne-Marie and Sierra Loxton will be addressing people on Instagram Live to discuss what they're working on tomorrow. So there are wheels in motion in and outside of the wrestling business, and I'm confident we will start to hear more about what that means over the coming days and weeks. I think part of that will be a process of identifying who, in and outside of the business, will be best positioned to take on roles of authority, and spokesperson roles, in whatever solutions come out of this. 

It's early days, and it's frustrating when most of what we're seeing is promotions saying "don't worry, we've appointed the only woman we know to a position of authority" and empty gestures, but hopefully we will start to see that change very soon. 

I cannot hit my upvote button hard enough! This is absolutely fantastic news.

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9 minutes ago, Jacko said:

Anybody else feel jaded towards wrestling after the last week and can’t be bothered to even check the results of the show let alone watch it ?

My interest was already at an all time low, I think this all coming out on top of it is the final nail in the coffin. Wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of others in the same boat.

Edited by King Mal the Glorious
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9 minutes ago, Jacko said:

Anybody else feel jaded towards wrestling after the last week and can’t be bothered to even check the results of the show let alone watch it ?

I'm pissed off but hopeful. I've not just been a fan but a worker too, albeit a few years ago, and even then, I knew there were huge facets of the business that needed to update and change. #SpeakingOut has outed a ton of scumbags, but that's the point - wrestling itself as an environment enabled these abusers to get away with it, but now it seems we're on the cusp of that long-overdue change. They won't be able to get away with it any more. This can only be good for wrestling. Individuals with evil agendas will be flushed out. Tin-pot promotions will find it harder and harder to exist. The dead wood and archaic hangers-on will be whittled away and left behind. In terms of the shows still going on, at most, I'll be skipping matches of those accused, if those accused are even allowed on them or remain employed at all.

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25 minutes ago, CavemanLynn said:

I cannot hit my upvote button hard enough! This is absolutely fantastic news.

I agree.  None of what I said earlier stems from a lack of confidence or belief in those who’ve taken up the mantle, but from a need (from a business perspective, not as a fan) to have assurances as to what’s going on.

I maintain though, that shouldn’t be for @BomberPat to have to communicate - one of the easiest, quickest and most effective things this movement could do, is appoint an official, appropriate and qualified spokesperson - that’s take a huge amount of pressure off people’s shoulders and instil confidence in the fans enquiring whatever percentage of the fan base that represents - whilst it may be true that the majority of people who go to shows will be oblivious to recent events, I’d hazard a guess that those harassing talent for news, updates and gossip are the ones likely spending the most in the industry, so as wretched as they can be, it’s an important demographic to cater to.

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Been trying over the last few days to process all i've read on this thread. As an abuse sufferer (not in a wrestling context) my heart goes out to everyone who is speaking up. Wrestling, and the world needs to change.

All i caution is do this properly, please try not to judge the tread either way too harshly, the allogations are horrific but let the police handle it. Please dont go posting all over social media any opinions or target specific people as this can COMPLETELY destroy any case before it starts. Justice will be done to those who deserve it. Yes I am an optomist / naieve but so much damage can be caused, both to those who have suffered abuse and those who are genuinely innocent.

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8 minutes ago, John Matrix said:

one of the easiest, quickest and most effective things this movement could do, is appoint an official, appropriate and qualified spokesperson

It's just a hunch, but I think that something along those lines will be coming out of the meetings going on over the next couple of days. 

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That Roy Bevis video is something else. It's not doing the Knight family any good at all to be out there, basically pointing out that the women making accusations slept around (and are gay), that everyone is bitter and jealous, that he'd happily beat up accusers, and if people don't stop saying things, he'll blackmail them with the information he has on them.

Fucking hell.

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Just now, chokeout said:

"Upon discovering she was 16, it would appear that I continued with the conversation"

 

What a line.

Imagine OJ in court. "Upon discovering I had a knife in my hand, it would appear that I proceeded to violently butcher my wife. But let he who is without sin cast the first stone, your honour!"

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