Credit - Oli Sandler www.olisandler.co.uk
British wrestling has been rocked in recent months by the Speaking Out Movement and associated allegations of sexual misconduct.
In response, i’m heartened to announce that a group of cross-party MPs have launched the first ever inquiry into British Professional Wrestling.
Yesterday I was delighted to be invited to meet with the group in Westminster, alongside Eve Champion Rhia O'Reilly. I therefore wanted to take this opportunity to say a few words about where we now stand as an industry and ask for your support in bringing about the changes that we all want to see.
What we witnessed and took part in during the speaking out movement was an outpouring of harrowing personal testimonies. We heard from both women and men at every level of Professional Wrestling describe how an utterly unacceptable toxic misogynistic culture was responsible for all manor of power abuses.
Each story was illustrative of the traditional way in which the industry has been managed and run. A system which has a strong and significant heritage but which has also been shown to no longer be fit for purpose in 2020.
The MPs will therefore seek to understand how the industry can be better governed and are consulting with wrestlers and promotions to seek out good practice examples to inform their work.
On a personal level, I had to fight my own battles against toxic misogyny and abuse when I first started out as a trainee. In many ways the character I currently play was developed in response to my own experiences of misogyny in wrestling.
I know I’ve chosen not to make a public statement on the Speaking Out Movement to date. Please be assured that this was simply a reflection of how personally devastated I was by the revelations, and a feeling that my responsibility at the time was to listen.
Whilst listening, I’ve also been taking action - working away behind the scenes alongside Progress Wrestling, Equity & MPs to make Wrestling a safe space for everyone, no matter what your gender or level of involvement.
I now invite wrestlers, trainees, coaches and promotions both in the UK and around the world to get behind our calls for change. I ask with passion and gratitude, to please play your part in manifesting the systemic changes the industry badly needs.
If you have been affected by poor practice, bullying or abuse within wrestling - please consider submitting evidence to the inquiry. Your voice deserves to be heard.
Contact: appgwrestling@gmail.com
Closing date for submissions is 27th November 2020
