Indie Promotion Under Fire After Using Drew Gulak’s Harassment Allegations as Storyline

Drew Gulak’s departure from WWE following accusations by Ronda Rousey of inappropriate conduct led to considerable discussion among wrestling fans. Rousey alleged that Gulak had grabbed the string of her sweatpants without permission. Subsequently, Gulak was released by WWE, and now an indie promotion is under fire for using his harassment allegations as part of a storyline.

During an interview on NewsNation, Ronda Rousey explicitly implicated Drew Gulak, recounting the incident where she confronted him for his actions. She described the encounter.

“Drew Gulak. Drew Gulak, that’s who it was. I confronted him later and I was like, ‘If I ever hear about you putting your hands on any other woman like this or doing anything like this to me ever again, we’re going to have a problem.’ He was like, ‘No, no, no. I’m glad you said something to me.’ He really backpedaled, but it put a sour taste in my mouth about the culture there and what’s considered acceptable on how to touch and treat the women in the hallways, and anywhere.”

While initially reported as part of WWE’s recent NXT talent cuts, Triple H clarified that Drew Gulak’s departure is not a “release.” Instead, it’s a case of his contract simply not being renewed, resulting in his exit from the company. Gulak has since gone back to the independent circuit as well.

At Beyond Wrestling’s recent event, Drew Gulak and Masha Slamovich were part of a controversial in-ring segment. Gulak asked Slamovich if she had ever felt unsafe or uncomfortable around him in the locker room. When she responded that she hadn’t, Gulak told her that she should have felt that way and then suddenly attacked her.

”Anytime we’ve been in Beyond Wrestling, did I ever make you feel uncomfortable? At any time, did you feel like I was a danger in the locker room? Well, you should have.”

This segment drew attention because it appeared to reference real-life accusations against Gulak, with some fans and critics viewing it as an inappropriate way to address serious issues within a storyline as they all took to social media and blasted the promotion as well as the owner.

”Drew Gulak doing the most annoying “I can’t be a sex pest” indie work shoot storyline? Thank god he is gone from my Federation and my NQCC.“

“I don’t know what’s worse… Beyond Wrestling booking him in this angle or Drew Gulak having the nerve to do this. Safety in the locker rooms, at training and in the ring is no hook for an angle. Not all attention is good. This is awkward s***. @beyondwrestling @DrewGulak“

“Hey @drewcordeiro thoughts on employing a known harasser in Drew Gulak, using that to try and get publicity, and what ever happened to that transphobic camera man is he still working for your scum f*** promotion“

“Oh it’s even worse“

“Beyond Wrestling f*****8 sucks and Drew Gulak is a punk b****
Also that bum running it is a weirdo and I can’t wait for his downfall“

“This drew gulak promo is so f****** gross and evil, this guy gotta be executed”

Drew Gulak was also accused of deliberately injuring other pro wrestlers in WWE, so his reputation is clearly nothing great, but fans feel Beyond Wrestling shouldn’t have used his accusations in such a tasteless angle during their show. Regardless, the promotion’s reputation has been damaged, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.