10 Biggest Wrestling Scandals Of The 2020s So Far

2. Speaking Out

Once again, we have to talk about some very unpleasant things now. Reader discretion is advised. 

In June 2020, indie wrestling standout David Starr was accused of sexual assault by a woman called Victoria. This sparked a chain of accusations leveled not just against Starr, but against a number of other high-profile names in the wrestling world. This became known as the 'Speaking Out' movement, wrestling's equivalent of 'Me Too'. 

The ramifications were widespread. WWE released wrestlers like Jake Gallagher and Travis Banks after they were called out, while Jimmy Havoc was let go from AEW. 

Not every accusation led to a firing, however. JD McDonagh (then going by the name Jordan Devlin) was investigated by WWE following accusations against him, but he eventually returned to TV. Darby Allin was accused of various kinds of abuse by independent wrestler Hawlee Cromwell, which seemed to fly under the radar at the time. 

'Speaking Out' had been a long time coming. It might not have rooted out every single abuser in wrestling, but it was a vital step in bringing to light some of the darker elements of the business.