Update: “I have canceled Joey Ryan’s flight,” the promotion announced. “He will not be appearing at the August 23rd show.”
Original: Joey Ryan, a professional wrestler who was blacklisted from the industry in 2020 following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, is scheduled to make his return to the ring at an upcoming independent event later this month.
Joey Ryan Scheduled For In-Ring Return
The 45-year-old wrestler is being advertised for the ‘Portland Wrestling: Reborn‘ event, which is scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Vancouver, Washington. This will mark his first official wrestling appearance in several years.
The Speaking Out Allegations
Joey Ryan’s career came to a halt in 2020 during the #SpeakingOut movement, when multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Ryan, known for his work in TNA, ROH, and on the independent scene, denied the claims and filed defamation suits in response. He was subsequently blacklisted from major promotions. In 2022, he briefly resurfaced working at Disneyland but was reportedly let go after the company was made aware of the past allegations.
Ryan’s planned return comes five years after the #SpeakingOut movement, which saw numerous individuals from across the professional wrestling industry come forward with stories of abuse and misconduct. The movement led to the dismissal or blacklisting of several figures from major promotions and sparked a wider conversation about safety and accountability in the business.
