WWE News: Former Commentator Joey Styles Gets Fired From Multiple Promotions Over Offensive Comments At Evolve Event
From the archive: published Nov 14, 2016, 9 years ago. Details may have changed since.
Former WWE and ECW announcer Joey Styles is known as one of the most unique and energetic commentators the sport has even heard. Trademarked by his “Oh My God!” phrase, he spent decades play-calling some of the most intense matches in ECW history. When WWE started to put their personal stamp on the ECW brand after acquiring it, Styles formally retired from full-time commentating, and became Vice President of Media Content, having a heavy influence on the WWE.com website.
Recently, Styles was let go from WWE after a tenure of over a decade. Styles then returned to his passion of commentating, being behind the booth for independent wrestling promotions Evolve, Chikara, and Beyond Wrestling.
This past weekend, there have been a whirlwind of reports on Styles, but unfortunately from a negative standpoint. Styles, who is not one to shy away from speaking his mind, was forced to cut a promo on the fly to heel manager Stokely Hathaway during a segment at an event for the Evolve promotion.
What was said ended up being very controversial, as it was related to offensive words said by President-elect Donald Trump during a leaked conversation on the Access Hollywood bus over a decade ago. As a result, he was let go from Evolve.
Styles stated in a formal statement to PWInsider that, unaware of what to say at the time, he panicked and said the first thing that was on his mind to draw more heat to Hathaway.
Joey Styles apologized to EVOLVE locker room for bad Donald Trump joke https://t.co/f8AdUWhKUf pic.twitter.com/4k3KCogaKD
— Cageside Seats (@cagesideseats) November 13, 2016
“I had no idea what to say when Stokely Hathaway and I were at ringside about to trade promos and I didn’t have Joanna with us to ask about English tailoring.
“I panicked and I did exactly what Gabe Sapolsky told me not to do earlier in the week and made a political joke. The joke included a partial quote from the President-Elect that was meant to mock him and then, in-turn, my scripted nemesis, Stokely Hathaway.
“I started the joke and stopped quoting the President-Elect without using the offensive word.
“Again, I did not utter the offensive word.
“I then turned to Stokely Hathaway and said the word that I will not use, brings me to you.'”
Even with the departure from Evolve, Styles still had upcoming commentating appearances scheduled.
This weekend, Styles was scheduled to commentate for Beyond Wrestling’s #Insatiable event in Worcester, MA.
However, because of the remarks, the promotion has decided to drop him from the card.
Joey Styles will no longer be appearing at Sunday's live event in Worcester or any future Beyond Wrestling live events. Thank you.
— Beyond Wrestling (@beyondwrestling) November 14, 2016
Unfortunately, for Styles, yet another promotion is deciding to terminate their relationship with him.
Per a recent blog, Chikara owner Mike Quakenbush shared his feelings of the recent controversy, stating that the promotion has also decided to cut ties with Styles.
“Effective today, we are terminating our relationship with Joey Styles. Effective today, we are instituting a zero tolerance policy for misogynistic, racist, and/or homophobic speech, written or verbal, whether it’s directed toward our cast, our crew, or our patrons. This is the shape of CHIKARA.
“At CHIKARA, we love pro-wrestling every bit as much as our fans do. We love it so much, we want it to change. Let’s take a step toward a world where we need not be subject to any type of hate speech, and that the only violence we witness is of the neatly choreographed variety.”
It is indeed a shock that such a swarm of promotions have decided to relinquish their affiliation with Styles. Obviously, when it comes to the relationship between kayfabe and reality, there are some things that still cross the line.
Based on Styles’ comments at Evolve 72, promoters feel justified to go in panic mode and sever ties with him for the protection of their company. While, objectively, this makes sense, hopefully Styles can quickly rebound from this misfortune and get behind a commentating booth again sooner than later.