PROGRESS Wrestling has issued an update regarding wrestlers associated with the company who have been accused of sexual misconduct over the past day. Here is the full statement below.
Talent Suspensions And Departures
Further to our statement made earlier today, here is an update regarding specific allegations and current roster members:
David Starr – will no longer be working for PROGRESS
Marc ‘Paz’ Parry – will no longer be working for PROGRESS
Travis Banks – will be suspended indefinitely
Jordan Devlin – will be suspended indefinitely // the tag titles have been vacated
Scotty Davis – will be suspended indefinitely // the tag titles have been vacated
We take these allegations extremely seriously. Those under suspension will have their situation reviewed periodically between now, and events starting again.
We continue to monitor and listen to the Speaking Out movement so that we can take appropriate action where necessary.
The following was a statement made by PROGRESS after the allegations began to go viral across social media, wrestling sites, etc.
“Statement regarding abuse allegations in British Wrestling
Hi, this is Jon.
The last couple of days feel like a watershed moment for the British wrestling scene.
The victims’ stories being bravely told, about abuse that they have suffered within the wrestling business, are heartbreaking and eye-opening.
We stand with you, and we hear you. Please keep speaking out.
This is not the time to be filling timelines with stories that distract from the issues being highlighted. Please leave the space so that victims can be heard.
It will take time, but as a wrestling community we can clean this scene up and make it better, and safer.
We are taking steps, immediately, to work out how we can make our work environment safer for talent and fans.
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From a personal perspective –
Whether victim, friend, casual acquaintance or colleague – no-one should feel guilty for not seeing the signs of abuse. The nature of the abuser is that they are adept at hiding in plain sight.
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As a company we have consistently removed obscene and abusive fans, with the aid of our production crew. We have a ‘banned’ list which gets circulated to all the venues in which we work, so that even if someone on that ‘banned’ list gets a ticket indirectly, security won’t let them in at the door.
We’ve been in business for 8 years now. As is to be expected over the course of that time, there have been incidents between fans, and very occasionally between wrestlers and fans. Where possible, action has been taken. Where appropriate and where a criminal offense may have been committed, we have advised people to take the matter to the police.
PROGRESS doesn’t have anyone under contract. Everyone who works for the company is freelance; what this means in practice is that when they’re on the clock for us, we are ultimately responsible for what they do; once they’ve left the building, they’re an adult and responsible for their own behavior.
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Regarding specific allegations and current roster members:
David Starr – will no longer be working for PROGRESS
Marc ‘Paz’ Parry – will no longer be working for PROGRESS
There are allegations regarding other current, active, in-ring talent; we’ll continue to look into this and will take appropriate action when more information is available.
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Thank you for reading. As of this month we are taking steps to diversify our core team, and wider circle of those with whom we consult, and we will learn from this watershed moment.
