Arr, Rick Steiner, a rascal of a WWE Hall o' Famer, be cast away from th' wrestlin' gathering once more fer his transphobic blatherin'!
2023-07-19
Avast ye scurvy dogs! WrestleCon be takin' back an invite to Rick Steiner, for the lad refused to apologize for allegedly insultin' a transgender lass. No apology, no booty fer ye, matey!
WrestleCon, a wrestling convention, has reversed its decision to invite WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner to its showcase next month. This comes after Steiner was accused of using "hateful phrases" towards transgender female pro wrestler Gisele Shaw. WrestleCon owner Michael Bochicchio made the reversal and explained that Steiner had apologized and learned from his mistake. WrestleCon initially reinvited Steiner as a vendor guest, but they did not take into account the impact his past words had on the LGBTQIA+ community. They felt that people deserved a second chance and that Rick had apologized. However, after discussions with SB Nation's OutSports blog and the "LGBT In The Ring" podcast, Bochicchio agreed that a public apology from Steiner was necessary. He gave Steiner 24 hours to make the statement but did not receive one, leading to the decision to revoke his invitation. WrestleCon has also announced a code of conduct and anti-harassment policy to improve the convention experience for everyone. They have partnered with other wrestling industry convention leaders to adopt similar policies. Rick Steiner, whose real name is Robert Rechsteiner, is a member of the Cherokee School Board in Georgia. Gisele Shaw initially made the allegations against Steiner, calling his phrases "hateful" and "disheartening." Steiner, known for his career in World Championship Wrestling, has not yet responded to the situation.