Unsafe workers are everywhere in professional wrestling. From the big leagues in promotions like WWE, Ring Of Honor (ROH), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) – all the way down to the indy scene. However, it’s rare you see something as sick as this take place.
Recently, a video surfaced on social media that has the professional wrestling community in an uproar. During a recent RWA wrestling event in High Point, North Carolina, one veteran talent decided to viciously shoot on his younger opponent. Brad Anderson, working under the ring name “Zan Panzer,” was the veteran responsible for the disgusting assault. His opponent, young Jacob Ryan, was the victim.
Check out the video here:
Here is professional wrestler Jacob Ryan being assaulted in the ring by former “”Zan Panzer” Brad Anderson yesterday at RWA.
Ryan had no idea it was coming, and Anderson is MUCH bigger and was in there to hurt him.
This is not wrestling. This was assault on an unprepared victim. pic.twitter.com/pROnPzdSpm— Total Engagement with Matt Koon (@MattKoonTE) May 13, 2019
Matt Koon was in attendance for the show, and posted a lengthy description of the events that transpired:
True Story: At the show today, Brad Anderson (son of Gene) “Shot” on the kid he was wrestling, started beating him up for real, then was choking him out, and the other wrestlers had to intervene and insisted on Anderson leaving the premises. @mitchellpwtorch was there.
The kid wasn’t expecting it, nor should he have. This was apparently a “receipt” for an angle last month that involved Brad Anderson’s son. Every wrestler was outraged, and everyone in the audience was shocked. Again, not an angle. This dude tried to seriously hurt him. For real.
RWA Promoter Julian Strauss took to Facebook to issue a statement on the matter. It can be read below:
IMPORTANT: As many of you may know there was an incident that occurred during the RWA event tonight. I hate to even address it publicly but so many untrue rumors are going around. First, we apologize to the fans, to the talent and to Jacob Ryan for the situation. The first rule of the squared circle is to protect your opponent. Whether you like them or not. Whether there is heat or not.
Friend or foe, doesn’t matter in the ring. Sadly, an incident happened tonight that crossed that line. But, to shoot down these rumors, Jacob Ryan will be ok. No one is seriously hurt. No one from RWA approved this type of situation. What was supposed to be a realistic looking battle of generations went way too far and crossed many lines. It was unacceptable. It went too far and nothing like this will ever be allowed to happen again.
The person who did this should never be allowed back in a ring, anywhere, ever. This is just beyond sickening! We do not want to dwell on this matter. But wanted to let everyone know that we apologize, everyone is ok, and we will be addressing how to make the needed changes with security going forward. Thank you for 3 years of supporting RWA and we apologize for this incident.
