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Public Incident, Private Apology? No Way.

Public Incident, Private Apology? No Way.

Posted: Jul 17th 2023 By: Arya Witner

In October 1992 two-sport athlete Deion Sanders attempted to make history by playing in a professional football game for the Atlanta Falcons in the afternoon and a professional baseball game for the Atlanta Braves in the evening. Since the Braves were in the middle of the National League Championship Series at the time, this was a point of contention with the baseball media, specifically Hall of Fame catcher and broadcaster Tim McCarver. McCarver publicly blasted Deion, calling him selfish for not devoting all his time to helping his team win the pennant. After the Braves won the NLCS in 7 games, Deion Sanders, who had heard about this from his Mom, responded by dumping four buckets of water on McCarver, who was reporting in the locker room that night.

In the aftermath on this incident, which is covered in the ESPN 30 For 30 Documentary “Deion’s Double Day”, McCarver said in an interview that due to the public nature of the incident he would not accept a private apology from Deion, stating that since the incident was public, it deserves a public apology. Deion never did and Tim passed away in February 2023.

In a story that was reported on, talked about and editorialized on at the time, in April 2023 at the WrestleCon convention Rick Steiner decided to let his transphobic side shine through and publicly lambasted and shamed Impact Wrestling’s Gisele Shaw for being a transgender woman, calling her “filth” and “a piece of trash”.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Rick Steiner was kicked out of the convention and was announced to be permanently banned from WrestleCon. Everyone had something to say about the incident, including me writing an article that was published both in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and AngryMarks that week. We all accepted that the incident was taken care of and moved on with our lives.

It turns out, like with most stipulations in wrestling, a permanent ban doesn’t really last long. Today, slightly more than three months after the original incident, WrestleCon announced that Rick Steiner would be a part of their next convention in Detroit over SummerSlam weekend.

Michael Bochicchio, the owner of WrestleCon, went to Twitter to defend this booking. Michael stated that Rick “immediately apologized” during a “private mediated event” with other Impact Wrestling staff which Gisele had refused to attend. Due to this private apology WrestleCon agreed to book Rick for this upcoming event, placing him on a “zero-tolerance scale” where Rick will be permanently banned if he does this again.

Maybe this time the permanent ban could last all the way until January.

Now there will undoubtedly be people who are like “Why are you making a big deal? He apologized!." The fact is, much like with Tim McCarver and Deion Sanders, if you are going to publicly shame someone, then you need to follow that up with a public apology.

The fact is Rick Steiner has never said anything publicly regarding this incident. Nor has he even “released a statement” talking about regret.

While I do not represent the entire transgender community or the entire LGBT community, I can tell you from experience that if you say something incredibly stupid, we will normally accept your apology once, as long as you show actual contrition and show that you have learned your lesson and are making an effort to become better educated.

If he had done that, or if Gisele comes out and says he apologized to her and she forgives him, then I am more than happy to allow bygones be bygones and let everyone move on with their lives. Unfortunately, neither of those things have happened and WrestleCon has chosen to make whatever money you’re going to make with a Rick Steiner meet and greet in 2023 over making a stand and doing what was right.

Whether or not you agree with our existence, being transgender is not a fad, we’re not undergoing years of therapy and spending thousands of dollars in surgeries just because it’s cool or so we can win a swim meet vs cisgender women.

In a way it makes the aftermath of Jay Briscoe’s comments even crazier. As mentioned, Jay once said something really stupid. He immediately apologized and donated his pay to an LGBT charity. The response was Jay was never allowed to work for a major league company with US national television.

Meanwhile, let’s face facts, at some point Rick Steiner will be on WWE television again doing an angle with his son and by that point no one is going to care.

So, WrestleCon has made their choice and so have I and I choose to not patronize WrestleCon or spend my hard earned money at their sponsored events. Of course, I cannot force anyone else to follow along, but I know the transgender community would appreciate anyone’s support. Ultimately all this has done is make me, and people of my ilk, even more nervous to attend public events such as this.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

  • 09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
  • 09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
  • 09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
  • 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
  • 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
  • 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
  • 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
  • 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
  • 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
09-18
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  • Angel Reed Sep 18th Today!
  • Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th Today!
  • Billy Robinson Sep 18th Today!
  • Adam Asher Sep 19th
  • Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
  • Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th
  • Bishop Simon Sep 20th
  • Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
  • Ethan Page Sep 20th
  • Boz Sep 20th
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Satine Sep 22nd
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
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  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
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  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
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  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
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