Steve Carrier on February 15, 2024
Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion has found itself embroiled in controversy following allegations of mishandling a stalking incident involving trainee Shawn Reed and fellow wrestler Raychell Rose.
The situation escalated to the point where Reed’s behavior towards Rose became a significant concern, prompting restrictions on his interactions with her. Despite these measures, Reed allegedly persisted in harassing Rose, leading to confrontations and even his arrest following a reported bar fight involving other talents over Rose’s safety.
ROW released Raychell Rose without providing an explanation, raising questions about the promotion’s handling of the situation. Rose herself spoke out, accusing Booker T of berating her and blaming her for the ordeal during a confrontation with the police.
“Booker screamed and cursed at me when he arrived on the scene while I was talking to police at the December incident that this was my fault and I’m the reason people got hurt and arrested.”
Rose’s statement shed light on the traumatic repercussions of the incident, detailing her ongoing struggles with personal safety and the emotional toll it has taken. She expressed hope that ROW would implement stricter measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, urging prospective trainees to consider their safety before joining the promotion.
“My safety has not been secure for years due to Shawn Reed and the lack of support I received from the people in charge at Reality of Wrestling which allowed Shawn’s actions to escalate the way they did unchecked. This issue being allowed to fester for so long has resulted in many hours of speaking in person to and on the phone with police officers, district attorneys, and lawyers because of this situation.
“I’ve spent and continue to spend a great deal of time in therapy sessions to process trauma related to this incident in hopes of one day fully overcoming the effects of it. That itself comes with a stigma, but it’s all a part of the healing process which I am learning to navigate and fully embrace.
“Overall I hope what comes out of this is Booker, along with the people placed in charge at his school, implement procedures and protections to ensure all threats are taken seriously in the future.
“Should they continue to not make students’ safety their priority, I hope that at the very least any women who train there or are looking for a place to train see this and are able to make an educated decision before they to put their safety into the hands of Reality of Wrestling.”
Amidst the controversy, Booker T’s response—or lack thereof—has drawn further scrutiny. When questioned about the situation during a YouTube Superchat on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T chose not to comment.
“You know I am not even going to comment on it anymore. You seen it in the news.”
Booker T’s refusal to address the allegations directly has left many wondering about the accountability and transparency within ROW. As the wrestling world watches and waits for meaningful action, the imperative for ROW to confront these challenges head-on and foster a culture of safety and respect has never been more urgent.
What are your thoughts on the allegations surrounding Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion? Let us know in the comments.
February 15, 2024 7:23 pm
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