Bar Wrestling has reportedly shut down as a number of women have accused owner Joey Ryan of sexual assault and harassment.
SoCal Uncensored reported this evening that Bootleg Theater, which was the home base of Bar Wrestling, have ended their relationship with the company due to the allegations. Several people have also told the website that the promotion has ceased operations.
Additionally, the promotion’s video library is no longer available on the Highspots Network.
After initial accusations surfaced, Ryan posted a lengthy message on his Twitter account, apologizing for invading people’s personal space. After that message was posted, a number of womenposted on Twitter allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Ryan has since deactivated his Twitter account, as well as the Bar Wrestling account.
Ryan primarily works for Impact Wrestling, who have not commented on these specific allegations.
Bar Wrestling has not run any shows since March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It had been running shows in the Los Angeles area since 2017.
We’ve got a WrestleMania update with new matches, an updated card, details on the women’s aspect of the show with new bouts and stars from the past who are scheduled and who are not scheduled.
Also covered in the new issue:
Ticket sales for all the WWE shows that week, as well as how the secondary market is doing right now for the WWE & AEW major events.
More on both the Super Showdown and Elimination Chamber shows.
How the Coronavirus has affected some major shows that were scheduled. We look at the Stardom cancellations, the empty arena show on YouTube, another promotion with a worldwide audience doing an empty arena show, as well a how New Japan is handling the situation.
Complete coverage of NXT Takeover Portland, with business notes, update on Matt Riddle, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.
Update WWE talks regarding how WrestleMania will be broadcast this year, what AEW should be looking for, XFL ratings and analysis, NXT Japan update, Tito Ortiz training with WWE, Bill Goldberg’s dates, former WWE star tells story about Trump, new WWE documentary, Matt Hardy update, Injury updates, foreign ratings, return of John Cena, WWE bans former star from getting talent for their podcast and why, debut of former top star in Mexico, update on MSG, stock price update, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a look at all the NXT and WWE arena events held over the past week.
Complete coverage of the UFC show from Rio Rancho, NM this past week, with business notes.
Update on the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
A note on the biggest Wednesday night ratings movers.
Revolution Pro High Stakes headlined by Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr., and how Ospreay’s in-ring style has changed so much over the past year. We look at how pro wrestling handles weight classes as compared to real sports, why going back in time may provide a more updated view than what we have now about weight classes and pro wrestling.
2019 stats on WWE performers including who won this year’s Iron Man award, a well as wins and losses.
Our 2019 Awards ballot.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Ric and Charlotte Flair paid tribute to Reid Flair on what would have been his 32nd birthday. Ric wrote that he’ll be at Full Sail tonight for Charlotte’s match against Bianca Belair on NXT: “Happy Birthday Champ!! Not A Day Goes By That We Don’t All Think About You. Wendy And I Are Going To See The QUEEN Tear It Down At NXT With Bianca Blair Tonight!! Love You More Than Can Be Put In Words!”
The first trailer for Paramount Pictures and WWE Studios’ “Rumble” was released today. The animated film “is set in a world where monster wrestling is a global sport and monsters are superstar athletes.” It stars Will Arnett, Terry Crews, and Geraldine Viswanathan and features Becky Lynch and Roman Reigns voicing two of its characters.
Sasha Banks will be the in-studio guest on WWE’s The Bump next week.
WWE’s YouTube page added a video of the top ten breakups in WWE history.
Other Wrestling
EVOLVE 145 will stream live for free on Facebook at 6 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday. Gabe Sapolsky tweeted about the show being on the same day as AEW’s Revolution PPV: “Before anyone makes assumptions, this show will be ending around the time the other one starts. You can make it a double header. We want more eyeballs on this loaded & important show from NYC as we head to #EVOLVE in Boston area, Detroit, Chicago and then #WRESTLExpo in Tampa”
Kris Statlander, who is challenging Nyla Rose for the AEW Women’s Championship at Revolution, will miss tomorrow’s Bar Wrestling show due to the flu. Bar Wrestling tweeted: “Unfortunately Kris Statlander has come down with the flu and Adam Brooks work visa won’t be ready in time so both will be unavailable for tomorrow’s show. We are working on the card changes now. Thank you for your patience and support.”
DDT, along with sister promotions Ganabre and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, has canceled a number of dates through March 8 due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, DDT will be running empty arena shows on February 28, March 1, March 3 and March 7. Tokyo Joshi Pro will run an empty arena show on March 1 as well.
Following last week’s AEW Double or Nothing rally, The Young Bucks, Cody & Brandi Rhodes, and Hangman Page all showed up at Bar Wrestling’s show in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday night.
The event was headlined by fellow AEW wrestlers SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) facing the RockNES Monsters (Johnny Yuma & Kevin Martenson) & Eric Watts in a six-man tag match. The match led to an angle where Joey Ryan stopped Watts from hitting Sky with a chair, and Page, Cody & Brandi, and The Young Bucks all ended up making saves. Referee Rick Knox counted the pin for SCU after they hit the Best Meltzer Ever.
Page made a save for Ryan, with them teaming up and shaking hands after the storyline on Being the Elite where Page “murdered” Ryan.
SCU, Cody & Brandi, The Young Bucks, Page, and Ryan stayed in the ring after the main event, with Kazarian closing the show by leading the crowd in an “SCU” chant.