It was another eventful day on Tuesday, June 23, as far as #SpeakingOut news. Here are four prominent news items.
- Saraya Knight, the mother of WWE star Paige, abruptly quit the business, and her social media feeds, over allegations that she mistreated people in and out of the ring. Former trainees in particular are the target of her missive:
So for the last 3 days I have sat wondering what exactly is needed to satisfy this bloodthirsty hunt, my life, you want me to die? You think by pushing buttons I am going to lie there and just take it. Firstly, I refute any statements regarding kissing a minor, thats fucking sick and if norfolk police wants to come and chat to me about it, i fucking welcome it.
Where was the parents during this apparent act! 10 years old at a show alone? I dont think so! I hope you have good lawyers. I will welcome ANY police enquiry into this matter. I absolutely deny this!!!!!
Yasmin we were talking up to April this year, why didn’t you say, you came to my gym just before lockdown during training, cuddled me, you and Alice came in, in front of 30 people!! I dont get it!
Ayesha, we didn’t get on, we fought hard, you gave as good as you got, you didn’t back down, we argued like equals. As far as I am concerned, you are entitled to whatever opinion you have of me, you were no shrinking violet. Alice, I am shocked, I have always loved you. This has hurt bad. In fact everyone that has written something, no matter whether true or false, right or wrong has had plenty of time to approach me. Why wait all this time?
I will be stepping away with immediate effect, i will be deleting all social media, you can attack me via sweetsaraya @hotmail.com, I will be happy to forward everyones point of view to my solicitor, im sure as you can see the business will be in great hands. And for every ying there is a yang, i know that this now is going to crescendo, but its ok, there are 2 sides to every story remember that.
Thank you for 30 years, i am done, i cannot believe that I am being attacked in this fucking insane way, i am walking away because I am heartbroken not because I’m being forced to. I cannot stomach even being around wrestling.
I have got fuck all to hide, i have done fuck all to warrant this, i train hard!! I have trained everywhere, made more of my money in training than wrestling, i am such a bad teacher! You girls can fucking go thats no coincide! I cannot accept this. And I won’t. I am seeking legal advice. Any allegations now please forward to norfolk police!!!!
Saraya Knight
- David Lagana, who left his position of vice-president with the NWA, over allegations made by wrestler Liz Savage, posted a response:
The #speakingout movement has brought to light a number of new allegations of sexual assault against people in the wrestling industry, including me. These allegations of sexual assault should be taken seriously and be investigated. Every accuser has a right to be heard, but every person accused of such serious wrongdoing deserves the right to defend themselves.
Last week, Liz Savage accused me via Twitter posts of sexually assaulting her a decade ago. Liz and I were friends for a total of about five to seven years before and after the alleged assault. We first met at a wrestling show sometime between 2006 and 2008 when she was introduced to me as an independent wrestler.
I take Liz’s allegations seriously. The first time I became aware of her allegations was last week when she made them public. I take them so seriously that I voluntarily stepped down from my position as Vice President of Lightning One Inc. and its company, the National Wrestling Alliance, after learning of her allegations. I did so because they pre-date this position and I didn’t want to involve the men and women of the National Wrestling Alliance during this time.
I valued my friendship with Liz. I’m sorry that she feels that I somehow wronged her. However, the incident she described did not happen.
Liz is correct that she lived with me and my female roommate from mid-August 2010 until October 1, 2010. Liz is also correct that she shared a bed with me while she lived with me. She is again correct that nothing about our relationship was romantic or sexual. Often, as we went to bed, we would cuddle and spoon in a nonsexual way. (We also did so the few times we shared a bed prior to her living me with in 2010.)
As Liz correctly said, I never made a nonconsensual move on her during waking hours. However, her claim that I made a nonconsensual move on her while we shared a bed is false. I did not touch her in the way she claimed. I never touched her like that, and I never would have.
But Liz’s allegation of sexual assault is not the only portion of her Twitter posts where I feel compelled to correct the record.
In early August of 2010, Liz informed me that a friend of hers invited her out to Los Angeles to attend a show that I was not affiliated with. Ultimately, she stayed with me and my roommate starting in mid-August. Liz suggests that I did nothing to help her upon her arrival. But, as a friend, I offered her all the help I could. This includes taking her to an NWA Hollywood event on August 25th where I introduced her to those in charge. I was an unpaid producer at the time with the NWA, so I had no hiring or firing authority.
Liz also left out the fact of her relationship with my female roommate. While the roommate did not initially know Liz was coming, once Liz arrived, she treated Liz like a sister. She gave Liz food and clothing, and drove her to job interviews. They remained friends for years after Liz moved out. But, despite their relationship, the first time my then-roommate found out about these allegations was last week.
Liz claims that I kicked her out of my apartment because of the alleged incident. Actually, in an email I sent to her on September 24th, 2010, I informed her that my landlord stated that, per my lease, any guest staying longer than two weeks consecutively would need to be added to the lease. The landlord said they were willing to look the other way for the seven weeks Liz was with me and my roommate, but would not do so after October 1st. I offered her some of my frequent flyer miles if she wanted a flight home.
After Liz moved out of my apartment, she and I remained in contact over social media and email for a few years, even endorsing me on LinkedIn in 2013. During that time, she would occasionally email me about opportunities in the wrestling industry that I did what I could to help with.
The #speakingout movement is creating change in our industry. I wish Liz all the best in her career inside the ring and out. But I adamantly deny her allegations against me and could not let them go without providing these details about our friendship.
Byron Wilcott, who wrestled under the nickname Big Daddy Yum Yum, and had been pushed by the NWA a few years ago, has been accused of sexual misconduct. A Shreveport, Louisiana, station detailed much of the accusations.
- The issue between Kyle Boone and Kongo Kong has had both sides respond. Boone, one his Twitter feed on June 20, alleged that Kong (Steve Wilson) bullied him in and out of the ring. Boone’s tweet:
This is NOT “paying your dues”
This is NOT ok
This is Assault, period#speakingout#mystorypic.twitter.com/VPPe4fBK0A— TheKyleBoone (@TheKyleBoone) June 20, 2020
In a tweet on June 23, Kongo Kong admitted everything and apologized:
@TheKyleBoone We live in a different society than when I started in this business and back then, it wasn’t uncommon to rib rookies. I certainly didn’t intend for it to hurt you at all, let alone as bad as it did. I sincerely apologize for hurting you so bad. Our relationship since then and up until now gave no indication that there was any animosity between us as it was all hugs and smiles, that I knew of. We’ve even worked together since then, at my request and you were taken care of during said matches. If I had any clue that you felt like that, then I definitely would have squashed it then. As I told all of you young ones I only pick on people I like and see something in. Again, never my intention to hurt or scar you by any means and I sincerely apologize. I hope we can hash this out between us like adults.
- While on the subject of apologies, Sammy Guevera posted a video apology for his hurtful words four years ago towards Sasha Banks:
