As reported earlier this week, Ring of Honor launched an internal investigation to look into allegations of fan intimidation involving Bully Ray.
Despite ROH General Manager Greg Gilleland issuing a statement saying the internal review would be conducted “over the next 48 hours to determine the appropriate actions,” ROH has yet to conclude the investigation.
The fan in question is Josh Ketch, who issued a series of tweets over the weekend about the incident. After having an exchange where with Velvet Sky and being spat upon and face palmed by Mandy Leon, he was brought backstage where Bully Ray (Mark LoMonaco) confronted him. LoMonaco does not deny that this occurred, but alleges that it was not as intimidating as Ketch made it out to be.
Ketch has tweeted he has yet to be contacted by Ring of Honor for their investigation.
ROH issued the following statement to the media about the on-going investigation:
“Ring of Honor prides itself on providing a fun and entertaining environment for both our fans and wrestlers to experience professional wrestling at the highest level.
Fans are encouraged to cheer, boo, and chant during the show while wrestlers interact both positively and in rivalry, as that is the engagement that makes the ROH experience what it is. Wrestlers interacting with fans is core to the experience, however, under no circumstance should any of our athletes or staff confront or engage fans outside the bounds of this entertainment experience or outside the bounds of the area that hosts this experience. We hold all of our athletes and staff members to the highest standards and, because of the actions over the weekend, we fell short of meeting those standards.
We are still in the process of investigating this matter as well as reviewing and assessing internal security protocols to ensure a safe environment for all fans and athletes. All of our athletes and staff will also be trained and reminded of our policies and protocols for fan interaction and appropriate behavior in all situations.
To our amazing and wonderful fans, we apologize for the matter that transpired this past weekend as it does not reflect who we are as an organization or how we hope to engage with our fans. ROH fans are known worldwide for their passion, admiration, and appreciation for our athletes, and we share this same admiration and appreciation for our fans. We encourage all of our fans to continue attending our events and supporting our amazing athletes in a respectful manner as they have done in the past, and we promise to continue delivering what the fans deserve – the best wrestling and the best fan experience on the planet.”