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Ring of Honor was placed under the microscope in a Newsweek article that was released this afternoon, sparked by Ring of Honor dropping plans to sign Women of Honor Champion Kelly Klein to a new, exclusive contract, informing her that they would be letting her deal expire on 12/31.
In the article, Klein speaks out about her relationship with Ring of Honor ending as she is recovering from an October concussion, alleging that the company doesn’t have a concussion protocol, claims that were backed by Adam “Joey Mercury” Birch, who quit ROH over the duration of the same tour after getting into a verbal confrontation with ROH’s Greg Gilleland.
The Newsweek article states, “Six current and former Ring of Honor talent and employees, including Klein and Birch, tell Newsweek that the company does not have any standard policies in place for treating injuries, including concussions, that occur in the ring—nor does Ring of Honor employ dedicated medical staff to diagnose or treat wrestlers' injuries at its events. This means talent are often at risk of getting hurt and the onus falls on them to get help independently. Ring of Honor denies this is the case and says it has had a concussion policy in place since 2016.”
Birch has been attacking ROH on social media for several weeks with similar allegations.
The article also quoted one ROH wrestler (not named) that another talent was pulled from the ring after Birch advised ROH management that a talent was “exhibited noticeable changes in demeanor after suffering a concussion earlier this year.” That talent has not performed in the ring since last summer
In a statement to Newsweek, a Ring of Honor spokesperson stated: "Our concussion policy has been in place since 2016 and we have medical staff at all events. Further, many state athletic commissions have various medical requirements in place, policies to which we adhere at all times. For states where this requirement does not exist, we always have medical personnel on site, whether it be an EMT or other medical professional. Any performer who suffers an injury is attended to immediately. Suggestions that we do not adhere to these standards are completely, and provably, false."
Ring of Honor did not provide Newsweek with a copy of its concussion policy – Klein stated in the article that she met with ROH COO Joe Koff in Baltimore on 11/7 and was told the company has a concussion policy, but stated that she, as well, has not seen it.
The article also noted that Koff and Gilleland “often” leave ROH shows before they have ended and that there have been instances where talents get hurt after they have left.
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Mike: I cannot speak for whether that is the case or not – but it did happen years ago at a TV Taping in Pittsburgh with Steve Corino, which led to a massive Jim Cornette outburst and exit from ROH. It is not noted in the Newsweek article that there would be other ROH executives in the building if either Koff or Gilleland have left. Gary Juster would be the executive in charge of the live event as he deals with the venues and Hunter Johnston would be in charge of producing the show. There are other producers as well, one of which was Birch before he quit. If ROH does not have someone in a position to be in charge and to have decision-making ability in the case of an emergency when top level execs are not in the building, that HAS to be addressed immediately. In a situation where someone is hurt, no one involved can afford there to be a delay in determining how to handle the situation. While this is not related to ROH at all, we saw in the passing of lucha star Silver King in London earlier this year that delays in treatment and medical aid were ruled as potential contributing factors in his death. ROH and all promotions need to have a clear, known plan of attack when the unthinkable happens, because if and when it does, there’s no time to delay. ROH also needs to have a full-time, traveling medical professionals overseeing their talent. In 2019, there is absolutely no reason not to have a team of professionals.
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The article also dives into ROH’s medical policy, alleging that “the lack of documented policy makes it unclear to talent who is responsible for arranging medical care and costs” and that ROH allegedly did not offer to cover her medical care. Klein stated in the article she is only “able to afford costly neurologist appointments and rehabilitation because she benefits from her husband's private health insurance” – that would be former ROH wrestler and current AEW Producer Whitmer. Klein also stated she has never been advised as to whether she can invoice ROH for reimbursement of her medical costs.
A Ring of Honor spokesperson responded to Newsweek: "When an injury occurs during one of our events, Ring of Honor covers the costs of treatment for that event-related injury. At times, certain performers see a medical professional outside of the event, which they are entitled to do. When this occurs, the performer is reimbursed."
The article also cites allegations of talent safety, pointing the finger at Koff and Gilleland, alleging, according to seven sources that Gilleland is “often abrasive and difficult to communicate with.” Gilleland was blamed for ROH performer Maria Manic’s contract expiring in September, because he “forgot to exercise an option” in the deal. Manic took part in a WWE tryout and could have been signed before she ever actually wrestled for ROH, but in the end signed a new ROH deal.
The article was accompanied by a screenshot of a text exchange between Gilleland and Birch over the situation with Gilleland staying that Manic wasn’t going to be making the company a million dollars. He then followed up by saying none of the talents would and that its about the bigger picture. While it reads cruel, the reality is there isn’t one wrestler in ROH history who when they were with the company - in that moment -who could have drawn a million dollars for ROH.
The exchange was given to Newsweek by Birch, who has been posting other screenshots and internal correspondence on social media, including Joe Koff’s email to Klein informing her the company was cutting ties, noting that by sharing details of her situation with another person (obviously Birch), she had violated her ROH contract, and therefore, the company was not going to sign her to another. Koff’s letter also noted that ROH could have pursued a breach of contract that would have trapped her in a six-month no-compete situation, but they have chosen not to pursue the breach.
The article also cites two sources as claiming complaints about management have gone unanswered.
"I'm not really surprised," Klein told Newsweek. "I could see it was a strong possibility ... I am very disappointed and heartbroken. For me to ask for them to do better, they view that as denigrating the company, which is not the case. I love Ring of Honor and that's why I want Ring of Honor to do better." Klein also alleges that female wrestlers are not treated the same as male wrestlers by the company, specifically pointing out their compensation.
In a statement to Newsweek, a Ring of Honor spokesperson says it does not "comment on internal personnel matters, but we reserve the right to continue or terminate contracts according to their terms."
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