• WrestleCon Issues Statement After Rick Steiner Bullying Incident
Transgender IMPACT Wrestling star Gisele Shaw issued the following statement about WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner in regards to what happened at last night’s WrestleCon event:
“It saddens me to have to write this but I feel it must be shared.
I have been bullied all my life and have never stood up for myself because I’m scared that I would get beat up physically, mentally, or emotionally. The bullies in my life have always silenced me, but that ends today!
I was at an autograph signing event today at WrestleCon and while I was walking to my table, I hear someone yelling ‘you’re a man’, ‘you’re a dude’, ‘you’re a piece of trash’, ‘You are filth’, ‘get the f**k away from here’.
I kept my head down and kept walking as I did not want to acknowledge that hate. When I arrived at my table, I spoke to another IMPACT Wrestling talent who was at the signing with me and mentioned the incident. It didn’t sit well with me and I wanted to know who was saying that because it’s unacceptable, so I decided to take a walk in that area and I hear that same person saying the same derogatory comments.
I looked at the person and it was Rick Steiner saying those statements. I was shocked and could not believe that this was even happening. To have someone saying those comments who a lot of people look up to and consider their hero was quite shocking and disheartening. I was in disbelief so I asked him, ‘excuse me?!’ He kept repeating those hateful phrases and started yelling at me in a public setting. It was inexcusable and unacceptable!
Another disappointing part about this whole incident was that there were other wrestling legends who just sat there, turned their heads away, did not want to get involved, or stand up for what’s right because it involved ‘one of the boys’. Judging from that experience, it was more important for them to watch something wrong go down as supposed to standing up for someone who’s being bullied and doing what’s right.
I am not writing this because I want sympathy. I am writing this because I am done being bullied to silence. Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility and I am standing up for myself and for other people who go through the exact same situation on a daily basis.
I want everyone to know what kind of a deplorable person Rick Steiner is and that this cannot be tolerated. This keeps happening because people let it slide and do not take any action. If you do business with these type of people then I will not do business with you.
I want to thank all my IMPACT peers who were present during the incident and tried to diffuse the situation. Unfortunately a member of that same peer group was also verbally accosted by Rick Steiner being called a ‘fa**ot’ earlier in the day.
I am very fortunate to be working alongside such incredible people in a company that has no room for hate, bullying or judgment. We’re not just co-workers, but a family.”
WWF Legend & current AEW Superstar Chris Jericho saw this post and wrote the following:
“Hey! Don’t even worry about this. Rick Steiner has always been a bully and has gotten away with so much because he is a Steiner. Makes me laugh cause I fell for the same sh*t when he bullied me, Eddie, Chris, Oscar, Juvie etc at World War 3 1997!!
I got your back… and if Rick has an issue with this, I’d love to discuss with him anytime. It’s 2023 dude… grow the f**k up!”
WrestleCon issued the following statement about this incident:
“WrestleCon regrets the events that took place at yesterday’s convention and apologizes to Gisele Shaw.
We aim to promote a safe and inclusive environment for all LGBTQAI+ members of the wrestling community.
The issue has been addressed and we hope the remainder of the convention can be a positive experience for all.”
Steiner was later informed by WrestleCon staff that he is not allowed to enter or take part in the remainder of WrestleCon’s events.
New Video: Nidia’s Bare Buns Exposed:
• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (April 1, 2012) – WWE WrestleMania 28
On this day in Pro Wrestling history on April 1, 2012, World Wrestling Entertainment aired ‘WrestleMania 28’ LIVE on PPV from the Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The event’s tagline was “Once in a Lifetime”.
This WrestleMania featured Old School Wrestling Legends The Rock (WWF), The Undertaker (WWF), Triple H (WWF), Shawn Michaels (WWF), Booker T (WCW), Mark Henry (WWF), John Laurinaitis/Johnny Ace (NWA), Teddy Long (NWA/WCW/WWF), The Big Show (WCW/WWF), Kane (WWF) and Chris Jericho (WCW/WWF).
Here are the PPV results:
World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus defeated Daniel Bryan (c)
Kane defeated Randy Orton
Intercontinental Championship: Big Show defeated Cody Rhodes (c)
Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos defeated Beth Phoenix & Eve Torres
Hell in a Cell: The Undertaker defeated Triple H
GM of both Raw and SmackDown: Team Johnny defeated Team Teddy
WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) defeated Chris Jericho
The Rock defeated John Cena
