If you thought the story about Abdullah the Butcher allegedly passing Hepatitis C to other wrestlers was bad, meet Andre Davis. Davis is an Ohio area independent pro wrestler who is HIV positive. Davis has been wrestling bloody matches and many of his former opponents are currently undergoing tests.
The story broke when Andre Davis was charged with second-degree felonious assault today. Davis is alleged to have had unprotected relations with women that weren’t aware of his disease. The charge stems from one person in particular, but a report says that there may be more victims.
Also in Meltzer’s report, “Area referee Brandon Tolle noted that at least five area wrestlers are being tested because they worked bloody matches with him, and Tolle refereed bloody matches with him.”
How ironic that this story comes just several weeks after a documentary accuses Abdullah the Butcher of carrying Hepatitis C and passing it to other wrestlers through matches. I received a lot of reaction to the story, most sickened if the allegations were true. Needless to say the pro wrestling world has to be in complete disarray with this story.
I think this is a big wakeup call for independent pro wrestlers. Quite honestly I am surprised that a story like this hasn’t been reported before. Here is the thing about independent pro wrestling, or should I say just about every wrestling company other than the WWE in America. These companies don’t test anyone, yet there are hundreds if not thousands of matches involving blood every year on the independent pro wrestling scene. At this point you would have to be a fool to get cut or allow your opponent to bleed in a wrestling match in 2011 without prior testing.
I think it is time for independent pro wrestlers to wake up, band together, and refuse to participate in anymore of these bloodbaths. Some wrestling promoters will stop but most will continue as hardcore wrestling is still a viable product to a small crowd of wrestling fans. A $150 payday and the adoration of 350 people that won’t be around to pay your medical bills after the show is over isn’t worth the risks associated with such a match. The WWE does testing and unless the independent promoters or state athletic commissions start to do the same, it is time to put a moratorium on bloody hardcore pro wrestling matches.
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