Controversy has led to the end of pro wrestling at the Berwyn Eagles Hall. Now the wrestler at the center of that controversy has issued a statement giving his side of the story.
Matthew “Krule” Waters had a confrontation with a fan at a Ruthless Pro event at the Eagles Hall in March. Various reports after the fact claimed that Krule had been stabbed by the fan, and as a result the operators of the building declared they would not be hosting any wrestling events going forward.
The last events at the building were an AAW event last Friday and then an independent lucha show on Sunday. On Monday, Krule released a statement on social media.
Krule described the altercation with the fan, with whom he had had “several incidents” throughout the night. “In this moment, l reacted and threw a punch,” the statement reads. “During that incident, I sustained an injury to my side that once I had returned to the locker room was discovered by staff at Berwyn. I do not know how this injury occurred, only that it occurred during the incident. Staff and wrestlers helped bandage me and tend to the wound. I left and was taken to take a shower and driven to the airport, as I had an early flight the next morning for another booking.”
Krule says he spent the night at the airport and woke up to calls from distressed family members. “To be absolutely clear, I never wanted nor asked that this story be represented as fact nor made public,” he writes. “I was contacted by law enforcement, and I fully cooperated with that process. I was asked if I wanted to pursue an investigation. I declined. I told the detective I did not believe I was stabbed, but I had probably fallen on something during the altercation.”
Krule then said he regretted punching the fan. “I have been angry, remorseful, and every emotion in-between,” he writes. “However, it finally hit me like a brick wall, I was in the wrong. … I could have been a professional and I failed. Thus, I accept full responsibility for everything that occurred. I failed as professional. I have always taken pride in being professional and being a team player with every person I have worked for in my career. I failed and made a bad decision.”
Krule ended his statement with an apology. “To the wrestlers, fans, and promotions that have been affected by the aftermath of the situation and my bad decision, no words can change what has been done but I do apologize,” he writes. “I have spent more time over these last few weeks hurting emotionally because I hurt each and every one of you. I am sorry. Majority of you don’t know me, the person, only as what I portray as a character, but this incident is not a reflection of who I am. I care about professional wrestling more than I’ve shown through this situation. I will reflect that going forward.”
