The big news that hit last Friday was that Tommy Dreamer has been suspended indefinitely by IMPACT Wrestling for comments he made regarding the action of WWE Hall of Famer that took place on what was referred to as “The Plane Ride From Hell” back on May 5, 2002.
Dreamer (real name Tom Laughlin) appeared on Vice TV’s Dark Side of the Ring “Plane Ride from Hell” episode this aired last Thursday. Ed Nordholm, Anthem Chief Corporate Officer and President of IMPACT, issued an email to the roster on last Friday announcing that Dreamer has been suspended indefinitely moving forward. Anthem further noted that Dreamer’s comments did were “out of line with the core values” of the company.
On Sunday morning, Dreamer took to Twitter to issue a statement and an apology regarding his comments on the episode, which aired last Thursday night on Vice TV’s Dark Side of Ring “Plane Ride From Hell” episode, which was the lowest watched episode so far in the history of the series.
Dreamer was not be at this weekend’s set of IMPACT TV tapings in at Skyway Studios in Nashville, TN. Dreamer has been working both on air roles and behind-the-scenes with IMPACT Wrestling since 2018.
The following comments where made by Dreamer, pertaining to the accusations, and a settlement WWE made with the flight attendant who said that Ric Flair exposed himself to her, pushing her up against the back door of the plane and Flair grabbing her hand and putting it on his genitals. Flair has denied all the claims.
[Flair] is “not going to impose, by force, any sexual stuff onto anybody. He’s just flaunting…stylin’ and profilin’…like the Ric Flair stuff where everybody’s going to laugh about it. Obviously, somebody took offense to it.”“It’s a joke. It’s a gag. Today? 1000% inappropriate…I have hung out with Ric Flair and have never seen him force his will against anybody.”
“If that’s how she felt, maybe she should have not taken a payout and went to the fullest extent of the law to put this heinous person in jail. My opinion.”
Dreamer also had said in a later segment on the episode that Flair was being portrayed as a sexual predator.
Dreamer said the following in his statement on Sunday:
“Regarding my comments made on Dark Side of the Ring. It was never my intention to offend, hurt or victim shame anyone. I understand my comments were insensitive and could trigger emotions in someone’s own personal past. I do not condone sexual misconduct of any kind. I apologize to anyone I offended. From the bottom of my heart. I am so sorry.”
You can read the comments Dreamer said on last Thursday’s episode from his Twitter, along with his statement and apology below. In addition, “The Plane Ride From Hell” full episode is still available for free on Vice TV’s YouTube Channel, which you can also watch below.
Tell us what you think? Is Dreamer’s apology sincere? Should he even have made an apology? Do you think IMPACT will bring Dreamer back, or will he be released from the company?
If Dreamer get’s released by IMPACT will this be the end of his career?