We previously reported on the incident involving OVW referee Dallas Edwards during the March 12 episode of Rise. Since then, multiple statements have been released by those associated with the promotion. Here is a full timeline of everything that has been said.
OVW promoter Al Snow released a statement on Saturday addressing the in-ring incident that left referee Dallas Edwards hospitalized with a brain bleed.
“Professional wrestling has always carried an inherent risk of injury for everyone who steps into the ring,” Snow wrote. “On March 12th, during a live OVW television event, Dallas was involved in a planned moment of physical contact with a wrestler that resulted in him suffering a head injury.”
Snow addressed the delayed response: “Traditionally, when an in-ring injury occurs, the referee is the central point of communication, assessment, and decision-making. In this unprecedented situation, the person who would normally make that assessment was the one who needed assistance. That unforeseen breakdown in communication contributed to a delay in stopping the match and concluding the show.”
Snow said OVW is “reviewing our existing procedures and updating several of our in-ring and ringside protocols.” He listed the updates as “enhanced communication systems, additional referee training, and expanded ringside response measures.”
“We are relieved to hear that Dallas is recovering and receiving the medical care he needs,” Snow added. “Our thoughts are with him, and we’re hoping for his continued improvement.”
Dallas Edwards Confirms Brain Bleed, Will Take Time Away
Edwards posted a statement on X on Friday. He wrote: “Hey guys! I know everyone seems to know about the scary incident last night at OVW. I have been evaluated and I have a concussion as well as a subdural hematoma (brain bleed). With that being said, I have made the decision to take some needed time away to get my life and health back in good spirits.”
Edwards declined financial support from fans: “I appreciate all of the support everyone has been offering but as far as money goes, I am grateful to be in a position that I can manage an accident like this.”
He added that he was awaiting further testing: “As far as updates go, I am getting a CT scan in the morning and if that goes well, I’ll be home.”
Edwards encouraged fellow wrestling personnel to seek emergency training. He closed with: “Thank you to everyone who has reached out or stopped by, it means more than any of you know. Love, Dally.”
Tony Evans Explains Why He Moved Edwards During Seizure
Tony Evans, the wrestler who used his foot to push Edwards out of the way while Edwards was convulsing, released a statement on Facebook on Saturday.
Evans wrote: “During Thursday’s match, there was a planned spot that resulted in an unexpected injury to Dallas. The match was 35+ minutes with 12 men, 2 run-ins and 2 referee bumps. Dallas’ time came as planned and everything seemed fine from my point of view.”
He explained the sequence leading to the moment: “The next sequence had me falling next to Dallas and crawling away with my back turned to him, having my eyes focusing on the other wrestlers in the ring though I knew where Dallas was. As we set up for the next thing, in my periphery, I noticed Dallas was still close to center as he didn’t know what we were doing next, so I go to move him.”
Evans said the situation appeared normal at the time: “Dallas and I have worked together frequently and he will usually always go dead-weight as I try to move him. When I touched him was the first time I had laid eyes on him specifically to this point for a brief second, and I saw OVW officials running from the back but assumed it was for the chaos that had just happened outside of the ring. I go to move him and scooted him with my foot as I usually would, not realizing the severity of what was going on in that moment, as I was under the impression everything was going according to plan.”
Evans said he did not realize something was wrong until the next spot: “I then did the next spot and turned to find many people in the ring huddled around Dallas and stopped in my tracks, confused, scared and worried for my friend. Had I known in that split second moment when I moved him that something was wrong, I would’ve immediately stopped and tended to him as best I knew how. I wish I had known the severity of the situation, nothing is more important in pro wrestling than the safety of ALL involved.”
Evans confirmed he has spoken to Edwards since the incident: “Dallas and I have spoken, and we are good. He understands there was no malicious intent and per Dallas, he doesn’t ‘hold it to any of us personally’, and his perspective is the one that matters most to me. I am as distraught about this situation as everybody. My heart hurts knowing what my friend has gone through. I look forward to being with him back in the OVW locker room soon and wish him a full and speedy recovery. Love you, Dally.”
Brendan Balling Calls It an “Obvious Accident”
Brendan Balling, the OVW Rush Champion who delivered the springboard forearm that struck Edwards, posted on Facebook: “All prayers to Dallas. Not only one of the best refs I’ve ever had but one of the best guys I’ve been able to meet during my time at OVW. Obvious accident, but can’t help but feel horrible about everything. Dallas will be back and better than ever and so will I.”
Balling also posted an earlier update on the night of the incident: “Please keep Dallas in your thoughts as your day begins. I am not going to provide much more information at this time except to the parties who already know, but last night resulted in a brain injury that is being monitored and will continue to be monitored by doctors here.”
OVW’s Initial Statement
OVW released its first official statement on Friday: “Last night during Rise, referee Dallas Edwards – a member of our OVW family – experienced a medical emergency during the broadcast. OVW takes the health and well-being of all our performers extremely seriously, and as a company we are all distraught to see an injury to one of our own. Dallas is alert and doing much better. We ask everyone to keep him in your thoughts and prayers and respect his and his family’s privacy at this time. We wish Dallas a speedy recovery and we can’t wait until he’s back with our OVW family very soon.”
Edwards’ Girlfriend and Fellow Wrestlers Speak Out
Edwards’ girlfriend shared a statement through Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful on the night of the incident: “Please keep Dallas in your thoughts as your day begins. I am not going to provide much more information at this time except to the parties who already know, but last night resulted in a brain injury that is being monitored and will continue to be monitored by doctors here. Seeing all the support you guys have already given is amazing and I didn’t want to leave everyone without some kind of update.”
A close friend of Edwards posted: “This is a very serious post from me. Dallas Edwards is one of my best friends in this world. I spend time with him almost every single day. What happened last night at OVW Wrestling was and is complete total negligence and 100% avoidable. I am beyond anger right now and everyone involved with not helping him while having a seizure, needs to burn their boots or go back to training day one. Accidents happen, what we do is very dangerous. I am very ashamed in all of the wrestlers who didn’t put safety first of all involved. Say a prayer for Dallas today.”
St. Louis Anarchy also released a statement calling Edwards a “class act person” and criticizing the performers in the ring for not showing the referee the same care he showed them.
Snow Faces Backlash Over Past Comments
Snow has drawn additional criticism due to past comments about safety in other promotions. He has previously appeared on YouTube programs where he declared: “Someone will die in an AEW ring. I guarantee it.” Multiple users cited that quote in response to the OVW incident.
Hours after the incident on Thursday night and before addressing Edwards’ condition publicly, Snow posted a joke on X about a visit to Waffle House. One user replied: “Glad you can make jokes about Wafflehouse instead of addressing a referee being mishandled while having a seizure inside YOUR ring. What was it you were saying about death inside a wrestling ring?” Perhaps that was a scheduled tweet and if it was, Snow has not said so as of yet.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer noted: “OVW is run by Al Snow, and there is the natural inclination to blame him even more because it was under his watch and because he’s been such a critic of safety standards in AEW under Tony Khan and it literally couldn’t make him look worse.”
Meltzer added: “It was inexperienced guys who just didn’t react fast enough to what was happening. Usually it’s the job of the referee in these situations to call it off, but it was the referee who was having the emergency. But the video is around, everyone reacted too slow and Evans in particular looked very bad. Going forward, this should be used as a learning tool at all levels of pro wrestling for what not to do. If someone is having a clear medical issue, the match needs to be stopped immediately.”
The episode of Rise has been removed from YouTube. The video of the incident continues to circulate on social media.
— Al Snow (@TheRealAlSnow) March 14, 2026
