Former Ring of Honor wrestler Kelly Klein filed a discrimination lawsuit against Ring of Honor and Sinclair Broadcasting, first reported by Heel by Nature.
In the suit filed this past Wednesday, the 35-year-old Klein is claiming discrimination and harassment, an unsafe work environment, breach of implied contract, unpaid royalties, violations of both state and Federal equal pay acts, and abusive discharge.
Klein alleges that ROH and Sinclair terminated her contract on December 31, 2019, “because of her complaints regarding the disparate pay for WHO female wrestlers, the lack of safety and medical protocols after Plaintiff suffered the concussion in October of 2019, and the sexual harassment at ROH.”
Listed in the suit was ROH general manager Greg Gilliand; Chief Operating Officer Joe Koff; booker, producer and trainer Hunter Johnson; and Jay Lethal (Jamar Shipman).
She is seeking $75,000.
In the suit, she details several specific incidents dating back to September 2016 where she didn’t receive proper treatment after matches in which she was injured, claiming medical personnel weren’t available. She also detailed a 2017 incident with Shipman leering at her while in a hot tub and asking about if she was staying alone in the hotel. When she brought these issues up, she said she learned in July 2018 that they were never brought up with Sinclair human resources and no investigation was done.
After four years with the company, ROH announced in November 2019 that they were not re-signing the former three-time Women’s champion which upset her and then-husband B.J. Whitmer with how it was handled. At the time, she said she was recovering from post-concussion syndrome. She hasn’t wrestled since a October 2019 title defense for ROH.
We’re looking for reports from last night’s WWE Raw show in Salisbury, MD, as well as from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn tonight with Main Event results, dark match results and anything else not on the live show to [email protected].
We’re also looking for your thoughts on Saturday’s AEW Revolution PPV, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.
An update on the WrestleMania card after Super Showdown with 11 currently decided upon matches and five or six others in discussion is covered in the current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The lead story updates how the coronavirus has affected Japanese pro wrestling as well as Japanese culture. We talk about sports and entertainment cancellations, the shows new Japan Pro Wrestling has canceled, the prospects for this year’s New Japan Cup, an update on Stardom,DDT,Dragon Gate, All Japan, NOAH and other Japanese companies on what shows are on and off. We look at if New Japan can still save the New Japan Cup, history of New Japan Cup winners vs. G-1 winners taking the IWGP title, an a breakdown of the original tournament plans.
The new issue also covers:
Plans and background of the coming WrestleMania, as well as Super Showdown coverage with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
A feature on Manabu Nakanishi’s career and coverage of his retirement show this past week. We look at the difference between Nakanishi and Jushin Liger, Nakanishi’s amateur wrestling days, Nakanishi’s shoot fighting days, Nakanishi in WCW, the Nakanishi heyday and the past decade. We note the major surgery that nearly ended his career ad slowed him down, and some of the all-time greats comment on Nakanishi.
The major matches in the New Japan ring over the past week.
WWE television deals, WWE Network price change, XFL ratings, Samoa Joe suspension, New WWE international signing, WWE injury updates, Canadian TV ratings, Ric Flair’s 71st birthday, how much Raw has fallen in four yeas, Edge’s return,NXT Takeover notes, Evolve news for WrestleMania week with WWE talent, Australia tour, stock value, most-watched shows on the WWE Network as well as a look at every WWE arena event over the past week with business notes and highlights.
A preview of the AEW PPV and full coverage of the UFC show in Auckland, New Zealand.
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].
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, UFC, AEW and the latest pro wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio tonight. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]
The 2019 Wrestling Observer Awards issue will be out Thursday. That makes this a good week to start a subscription. You can also subscribe to the print edition with details above.
Regarding reports on Matt Riddle and Bianca Belair being on the show. PWInsider reported that both are at the Barclays Center. That’s true, they are both there, but neither are scheduled for the show. Riddle is there for unrelated business while Belair is there to see her husband, Montez Ford, go for the tag team titles.
YouTube TV announced that Google has agreed to a temporary extension with Sinclair to keep the 21 Fox Sports Net RSN’s on the service while they negotiate a new deal. ROH airs on those stations.
In the current Observer we noted that Wednesday’s Dynamite in Denver could be the least attended AEW show to date, but tickets moved over the weekend and they have surpassed the attendance for the Huntsville show which is the lowest to date. It’s also possible they will set their all-time record in Newark, NJ in three weeks. That show is not sold out, but they just announced a version of War Games called Blood & Guts as the main event on that show.
Matt Hardy’s first appearance after his WWE contract has expired will be at The Big Event convention in Queens, NY on Saturday.
WWE
Brock Lesnar, Beth Phoenix and Paul Heyman are all scheduled for tonight’s show which also includes Seth Rollins & Murphy vs. The Street Profits for the tag team titles, Aleister Black vs. A.J. Styles, Rey Mysterio & Humberto Carrillo vs. Andrade & Angel Garza, and Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane.
Baszler was to face Asuka tonight, but Asuka suffered a wrist injury over the weekend. Asuka is expected to be able to work Sunday’s Elimination Chamber show.
Ion Cutelaba is filing an appeal with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations to get his stoppage loss on Saturday to Magomed Ankalaev overturned. It was one of the worst stoppages in recent memory.
AEW
The response to our poll on Revolution which still has two days left, will end up being among the largest in the history of the web site.
MISCELLANEOUS
One of the biggest amateur wrestling events of the year, the annual Beat the Streets show in New York takes place 5/28 at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden.
Real Canadian Wrestling on 3/13 in Vegreville, Alberta at the Royal Canadian Legion. They also run 3/27 in Ponoka, Alberta at the Legion 66. Plus 3/7 in Edmonton at the Norwood Legion with a Gold Rush Rumble. They also run 3/21 in Edmonton .at the Norwood Legion. with Rosemary from Impact.
MPW on 3/7 in Edmonton at the Alberta Avenue Community Centre.
RevPro from yesterday in London at the Cockpit: Kenneth Halfpenny & Shaun Jackson d Brandan White & JJ Gale 15:00, Dan Moloney b Clark Connors, Hikuleo & El Phantasmo b Carlos Romo & Chief Deputy Dunne, LJ Cleary & Darren Kearny & Nathan Martin b Michael Oku & Ricky Knight Jr. & Robbie X, Rampage Brown & Great O’Kharn b Shota Umino & Kyle Fletcher, David Starr b Sean Kustom, Gisele Shaw & Aleah James b Zoe Lucas & Zan Phoenix, Eddie Kingston b Mad Kurt.
Defy on 3/29 has an all age Sunday show at Washington Hall in Seattle at 5 p.m. headlined by MVP, Brian Pillman Jr.,Schaff, Josef Samael and Jacob Fatu. Great Sasuke will appear on the 4/17 show at Washington Hall.
Invicta runs Friday night from Memorial Hall in Kansas City with Phoenix Series with a one-night eight woman bantamweight tournament. The participants are:
Julia Ottolino (1-0)
Kerry Kenneson (3-2)
Claire Guthrie (1-0)
Serena DeJesus (1-1)
Brittney Victoria (3-1)
Taylor Guardado (0-0)
Taneisha Tennant (2-0)
Hope Chase (2-1)
There will also be a bantamweight championship fight with Lisa Verzosa (5-0) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (8-3-1) fighting for the vacant title. The show airs on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Stephan Bonnar and Tom Lawlor will headline for Paradigm Pro Wrestling on 3/27 in Sellersburg, IN at American Legion Post 204. They will be part of an eight-man pro wrestling tournament.
Glory Pro Wrestling from yesterday in Collinsville, IL: Storm Grayson b Davey Bang, Kylie Rae b Blair Onyx, Dan Adams & Allie Kat b Danhausen & Eleyna Black, Jake Lander b Ethan Price, Idris Abraham & Joe Coleman won four-way over Logan & Sterling Riegel, Camaro Jackson & Kenny Alfonso and Matt Knicks & Chris Castro to keep the tag titles, Hyan b Seishin, Kevin Lee Davidson b Nick Gage in a falls count anywhere match, Mike Outlaw won three-way over Paco Gonzalez and Suge D, Jake Something won four-way over Barackus, Clayton Gainz and Steve Manders, Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett b Timmy Lou Retton & White Mike, Kody Lane b Hakim Zane DQ, A.J. Gray b Chris Dickinson to keep the Glory championship (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
Revolution Wrestling Federation on 3/22 at the Harrisburg, PA Midtown Arts Center in the Capitol Room.
Angel de Oro & Mistico & Niebla Roja vs. Euforia & Gran Guerrero & El Terrible
Cavernario & Diamante Azul & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Ciber the Main Man & The Chris & Valiente
IMPACT ON PURSUIT AT 10 P.M. EASTERN TONIGHT
Saturday we’re looking for reports from WWE in Lima, Peru, ROH in Atlanta and NXT in Tampa to [email protected]
COMBATE AMERICAS AT MIDNIGHT EASTERN TONIGHT ON UNIVISION, UNIVISION DEPORTES AND DAZN FROM LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA
Erick Sanchez (155.3) vs. Jose Luis Verdugo (155.3)
Andres Quintana (144.8) vs.; Bruno Cannetti (144.9) to determine Combate Americas featherweight champion
Gustavo Lopez (135.0) vs. Joey Ruque (134.2) for bantamweight title
NEW JAPAN BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
Alex Coughlin vs. Jonathan Gresham
Robbie Eagles vs. Clark Connors
Shota Umino vs Bushi
Ren Narita & Karl Fredericks vs. Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
Jushin Liger & Amazing Red vs. Yoh & Rocky Romero
Caristico vs. Soberano Jr.
TJP vs. El Phantasmo
Dragon Lee vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
Will Ospreay vs. Sho
ROH FROM CENTER STAGE IN ATLANTA AT 6 P.M. EASTERN SATURDAY NIGHT ON HONOR CLUB (BROADCAST STARTS AT 8 P.M.)
Brian Johnson vs. Austin Gunn in Top Prospect tournament
Haitian Sensation vs Ken Dixon in Top Prospect tournament
Angelina Love vs Sumie Sakai
Chase Owens vs. LSG vs. PJ Black for a TV title shot the next night
Rhett Titus vs. Shaheem Ali
Beer City Bruiser vs. Vinny Marseglia
Silas Young & Okumura & Felino vs. Cheeseburger & Eli Isom & Ryan Nova
Marty Scurll vs. Bandido
PCO & Brody King vs. Mark Haskins & Tracy Williams
Mark & Jay Briscoe & Shane Taylor & Matt Taven vs. Jay Lethal & Jeff Cobb & Rush & Kenny King
BELLATOR FROM BRIDGEPORT, CT WEBSTER ARENA SATURDAY NIGHT AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON PARAMOUNT TV AND DAZN
Tyrell Fortune (247) vs. Rudy Schaffroth (243)
David Rickels (175) vs. Yaroslov Amosov (175)
Alejandra Lara (134) vs. Taylor Turner (136)
Vitaly Minakov (262) vs.; Javy Ayala (265)
Matt Mitrione (258) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (264)
MLW AT 9 P.M. EASTERN SATURDAY NIGHT ON BEINSPORTS
L.A. Park vs. Jimmy Havoc street fight
MJF vs. Teddy Hart for middleweight title
Sunday has New Japan in Long Beach and the Walter Pyramid with the semifinals and finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, WWE in Panama City, Panama and ROH in Nashville.
ROH FROM THE NASHVILLE FAIRGROUNDS AT 8 P.M. EASTERN ON HONOR CLUB
Rush vs. Vinny Marseglia
Shane Taylor vs. Owens/LSG.Black winner for TV title
Matt Taven vs. Jay Lethal vs. Jeff Cobb vs. Kenny King in an elimination match – whoever beats Taven gets an ROH title shot, if Taven wins, whoever he beats last can never challenge for the titles
Mark & Jay Briscoe vs. Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson for ROH tag title
PCO & Brody King & Marty Scurll vs. Bandido & Mark Haskins & Tracy Williams for trios titles
NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING SATURDAY NIGHT AT 9 P.M. EASTERN ON AXS TV
Juice Robinson & Toa Henare vs. Jon Moxley & Shota Umino
KENTA & Yoshi-Hashi & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale
Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.
Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White in G-1 finals
F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: Sasha Banks returns to WWE Joseph Currier looks at the return of Sasha Banks and what it means for the women’s division. Plus, Bryan Rose’s Japan notes, and Vinny’s TV reviews.
The return of Banks gives Lynch the opponent she’s needed since WrestleMania. After winning the biggest women’s match in company history, Lynch was put in an impossible position by WWE. She had to maintain her momentum without having any credible opponents to face. Lacey Evans was a poor choice for her first challenger.
One of WWE’s most important goals should have been elevating Lynch and the women’s division further. It was always known that Rousey wouldn’t be with WWE forever. It’s great that Rousey was able to have main event-level matches with the company. It’s great that the Rousey/Lynch/Charlotte Flair rivalry was so deserving of its top spot going into WrestleMania.
But a year of progress doesn’t mean that much if you don’t continue to build upon it. Instead of Lynch facing someone who was near her level, her opponent was a wrestler who wasn’t even in a star in NXT.
The birth of the Wednesday Night War is the top story in the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We discuss how the NXT to USA deal came about, when NXT wrestlers were told, how this impacts the WWE/Fox relationship, and what this means for the NXT brand, going forward.
We have details on the finances of the NXT to USA deal, and we break down the head-to-head aspect of NXT vs. AEW. We also have comments from a major television executive who gives his perspective on the deal, as well as the potential for audience burnout.
A story on the latest AEW TV taping sellouts is also featured in the new issue. We also have notes on the secondary ticket market demand for all of the AEW shows.
An obituary for Eddie Marlin is also in the new issue, with a ton of details on his life.
Also in this issue, Ryan Frederick covers this past weekend’s UFC show, and we have detailed TV ratings and business notes on the show.
We also wrap up our G1 coverage with a detailed breakdown of each individual’s star ratings for the tournament.
We have full coverage of all the WWE television shows from the past week.
As always, we have in-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows,the key demos for the WWE shows and what can be learned from them.
We also have the 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.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
So in short form, Jon Moxley has MRSA staph in his left elbow and his doctor believes he will have to be out of action for four weeks. Kenny Omega faces Pac in Chicago at All Out. Originally, Omega vs. Pac was a planned direction months ago so they are going to end up doing it here. Moxley vs. Omega will take place at some point, perhaps the next PPV although they also could put it on the first TV show. Right now there is no confirmation whether Pac will be in for any other dates besides this one, but they’ve been in talks to bring him in for some time. Moxley picked up the infection while in the G-1 tournament and was working for NEW this weekend with the problem.
Also, from those close to the situation, Dragon Gate has no issue with Pac working AEW. And Pac is expected to return there.
The long talked about Sinclair Broadcasting purchase of the Fox Regional Sports Networks was announced today by Sinclair. This should get ROH exposure in some new markets.
Regarding ticket sales, AEW did not sellout in Pittsburgh or Charleston, WV today. I don’t have any figures on how the shows did It appears from seating charts both shows did well.
There are still a few tickets left for my show a week from Saturday morning in Chicago. I will be doing the show with Jim Valley as the host/moderator.
WWE
Ballers, the HBO show starring Dwayne Johnson, has announced its final season will start Sunday at 10:30 p.m. It will be an eight episode season on Sunday nights.
UFC
Marc Diakiese vs. Lando Vannata has been added to the 9/28 show in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mark O Madsen, who debuts on the Copenhagen show, is 8-0 in MMA, but also captured the silver medal at 165 in the 2016 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling for Denmark. He’s 34 and the first time he won a medal at the world championships was in 2005.
MISCELLANEOUS
Riho vs. Hikaru Shida will be on All Out, with the winner of that match facing the winner of the Casino Battle Royale that takes place also in Chicago to crown a first champion. That first title match takes place on he 10/2 show in Washington, DC.
Yuka Sakazaki of AEW was announced for the New Taiwan Wresting show on 9/14.
I Believe in Wrestling on 9/6 in Orlando at the Team Vision Dojo is headlined by Chasyn Rance vs.Deon James for Florida title
NFC announced a free NFC Fight Night t-shirt to anyone who buys a cageside seat for the 10/12 show at the Pink Pony in Atlanta. Must be 18-or-older to attend.
Warrior Wrestling, Zelo Pro and Impact have a joint show on 10/19 in Merrionette Park, IL at 115 Bourbon Street, the building AAW frequently runs. That will be the Saturday night before Bound for Glory in Chicago.
Wildkat Wrestling on 11/3 in Kenner, LA was the 4,600-seat Ponctchatrain Center. Among those announced for the show are Booker T, Stevie Ray, Rob Van Dam, MVP, Psicosis, Honky Tonk Man, Stevie Richards, Luke Hawx, Bestia 666 and more.
