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Investigations underway after unsanctioned wrestling event results in critical head injury

Posted: Aug 31st 2017 By: Randy Ellis

Investigations are underway into an unsanctioned, staged wrestling event Sunday at Oklahoma City's Blue Note Lounge that resulted in a critical head injury to a 25-year-old Oklahoma City entertainer.

William Ogletree, a stand-up comedian and guitarist with the rock group The Hitt Boyz, was in critical condition Tuesday at the OU Medical center, a hospital spokesman said.
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Ogletree was on life support equipment Tuesday afternoon but had no brain activity, said his uncle, Joseph Ogletree, a spokesman for the family.

William Ogletree reportedly was injured Sunday while participating in a maneuver called the "spine buster" during a staged wrestling event, his uncle said.

The uncle said that his nephew's foray into professional wrestling apparently was recent and he was unaware of his nephew's participation but knew he had an interest in the theatrics of it.

Professional wrestling events are required to be licensed by the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, and this one was not, said Joe Miller, the commission's administrator.

Miller identified the promoter as Leslie Hensley of B.L.O.W. (Balthazar's Ladies of Wrestling), and said his agency is investigating. Also investigating are Oklahoma City police and the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office.

Efforts to reach Hensley and the Blue Note Lounge for comment were unsuccessful.

"It's a very bad deal," Miller said. "We're at the very beginning of investigating this and trying to put all the pieces together."

Scott Rowland, first assistant district attorney, said criminal charges may be possible, but it is "way too early to tell.

“It's concerning to us, but that's about all I can tell you right now. We're asking for it to be investigated,” Rowland said.

Miller said even though professional wrestling events like the one at the Blue Note Lounge involve a lot of staged theatrics, they are also dangerous and require athleticism. Because of that, participants and promoters are required to be licensed to make sure the ring is properly constructed and the participants are physically fit and trained.

Group disputed jurisdiction

About a year ago, representatives of B.L.O.W. made a presentation to the commission in which they contended it didn't have jurisdiction over their events, Miller said.

"They said they were theatrical, there was no physical contact — anything like that — it was all play acting," Miller said.

The commission insisted they needed to be licensed, and B.L.O.W. officials asked for the opportunity to prove there was no need for that, Miller said.

"We said, 'OK, your next training session, let us know. We'll send somebody out or myself, I'll go out and watch and you show me what you're going to do.' ... They never called, never did anything, and yesterday was the first time I heard anything more about them. It's kind of a tragic deal."
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"We all know (professional) wrestling is play acting, to a degree," Miller said. "There is a predetermined winner and a predetermined loser, but what they do can inherently be dangerous."

'Things happen'

Before issuing a license, the commission makes sure participants are properly trained, have taken physical exams and had their blood tested for communicable diseases, he said. The commission also sends inspectors to events to make sure all stunts are approved and the wrestling ring meets all specifications, he said.

Tommy Wageman, a Guthrie professional wrestler who wrestles under the name Terry Pantera, said the safeguards provided by the commission's licensing requirements are important.

"It's very dangerous," Wageman said. "I've been in this business 27 years. I've fractured my neck, broken bones, and that's after being trained for years. Things happen."

Brad Eubanks, a professional wrestler and promoter from Tahlequah, compared professional wrestling to making movies, but noted professional actors often use stunt doubles when filming dangerous scenes.

A professional wrestler doesn't have a stunt double when a 275-pound man jumps off the top rope of a wrestling ring and lands on top of him, Eubanks said.

Eubanks said that while professional wrestlers and promoters sometimes have differences of opinion with the regulatory commission, its requirements provide a measure of safety and he would not participate in an unsanctioned event.

Unsanctioned wrestling events are sometimes promoted through social media, Miller said.

William Ogletree personally touted the Battle of the Legends event where he was hurt.

In an online post, he wrote: "This Sunday I will be wrestling in a match with a lot of extremely talented people! I'm so excited to help with this. I am going to get beat up a lot so if you don't like me this is the show for you!"