Velveteen Dream faced one of the most significant falls from grace in WWE history following allegations that sparked the #FireVelveteenDream hashtag whenever he appeared on television. After a prolonged absence, Dream made a return to the ring at an indie show, sparking further backlash. Despite the negative response, the promoter of the wrestling promotion has defended the decision to book Dream.
Velveteen Dream kicked off 2024 with an apology video addressing multiple scandals, expressing remorse and hinting at a potential return to the ring. As it turns out, Velveteen Dream recently made his in-ring appearance for the first time in years at Dynasty in New York.
Chris Envy, promoter of Dynasty, defended his decision to book \Velveteen Dream, during an interview with Bucklebomb Entertainment. Envy expressed admiration for Clark’s star power and charisma, comparing him to other wrestling legends like Shawn Michaels.
Envy described Clark as humble, soft-spoken, and incredibly nice, emphasizing that the person he met backstage was not reflective of the controversies surrounding him. Envy considered Clark a friend and praised his professionalism, noting that he was one of the last people to leave the event and displayed exemplary behavior throughout.
”Very rarely do I get starstruck. Shawn Michaels, I was starstruck when I met him backstage, and Velveteen Dream. Huge star. The charisma, the presence. Talking to Patrick Clark, he is not that person at all. He is so quiet, soft spoken, and humble.”
”He is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. We spent a couple hours together that day. He was so nice, one of the nicest people. We’re not friends, we exchange texts and posts, but I see him as a friend. He was so nice. He was one of the last people to leave. He was breaking down chairs. He said hello to everybody, he took pictures, class act all around.”
Rita Chatterton, who had accused Vince McMahon of rape in 1992, attended the event, sparking concern among fans. Chris Env, addressed the controversy surrounding Chatterton’s presence, explaining that she was supportive of Velveteen Dream despite her own history.
Envy emphasized that there was no discomfort between Chatterton and Dream, and Chatterton even encouraged Dream to reach out to her for support. Despite facing criticism for Chatterton’s attendance, Envy defended his decision, suggesting that fans would still attend if a controversial figure like Vince McMahon were on the show.
“We got a lot of flack because we also had Rita Chatterton on the same show. She was in the news for other things as well. She was super supportive of Velveteen. Super supportive. She was like, ‘He’s such a nice guy.’ They were shoulder to shoulder, there was nothing uncomfortable about the situation. She told me to give him her number and have him reach out to her because he needs people who are going to support him,” Envy said. “All these people that are coming at me, ‘you’re not family entertainment.’ It’s easy to say that, but if I had Vince McMahon on my next show, all those clowns would still be buying tickets.”
It is not known whether Velveteen Dream will end up getting more bookings in the independent circuit following his appearance at Dynasty. It remains to be seen what will become of Dream in the coming months.
Are you shocked by the wrestling promoter standing by their decision to book Velveteen Dream? Do you feel he deserves a second chance? Sound off in the comments section below!