WrestleCon invites Rick Steiner back

Rick Steiner is returning to WrestleCon.

WrestleCon has announced that Rick Steiner will be attending their event as a guest on August 4th and 5th in Detroit.

Michael Bochicchio, owner of WrestleCon, issued a statement on Twitter about Steiner’s reinstatement.

“One of the positive things Rick did, and it was not publicized, is immediately apologize. He apologized to members of the Wrestlecon staff, he apologized to many of his fellow wrestlers, and offerred apologies to the members of Impact Wrestling staff that chose to hear from him at a private mediated event. Giselle chose not to attend Rick’s apology, which we 100% understood, supported, and still support to this day. She had no obligation to hear anything from Rick nor should she ever feel obligated to accept any apology from him then or now,” he wrote.

Bochicchio then stressed forgiveness and education over cancellation.

“Now that we are three months beyond this event, I feel that Rick learned a lot from his huge mistake. I know it’s easier to cancel people when they make mistakes than to forgive and help educate. However, sometimes I think it’s important that we give people a second chance. That being said, Rick will forever be on a zero-tolerance scale moving forward at any of our events. If we are proven wrong, that he has not learned from his mistakes, we will enforce a permanent ban. That is not to imply that everyone gets one free strike. We continue to strive to have an environment where everyone feels safe and included. If we are faced with issues that compromise that environment, we will take all necessary action,” he stated.

Back in April, WrestleCon removed and banned Steiner for his litany of hateful remarks against Gisele Shaw.

At the time, he was accused of saying to her: “You’re a man! You’re a dude! You’re a piece of trash! You are filth! Get the f–k away from here!” and using a gay slur to verbally attack another member of the Impact locker room.

“He kept repeating those hateful phrases and started yelling at me in a public setting. It was inexcusable and unacceptable!” Shaw wrote in a statement.