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Lio Rush is not pleased with the way WWE handled the recent re-hiring of Drake Maverick.
The former NXT Star took to Twitter to air his grievances, stating it was a “slap in the face” to use legitimate releases as a storyline.
Man….Are they going to hire everyone back then? Kind of a slap in the face to use this as a shoot work. But i guess I鈥檓 not surprised. Super happy for anyone getting there job back. But damn, real trauma and a lot of others were apart of this.
— 馃 Ever After OUT NOW! (@itsLioRush) June 4, 2020
Literally making a mockery of legitimate firings.
— 馃 Ever After OUT NOW! (@itsLioRush) June 4, 2020
Why else would you post that
— Tegan Elizabeth May (@TeganMayyy) June 4, 2020
Rush spoke to Fightful last year regarding reports of several incidents that occurred during a WWE European tour in 2008.
Rush claims that a former ROH employee, who currently works for WWE was trying to leak information in hopes he got fired.
He addressed reports regarding not wanting to carry water for locker room veterans during the tour.
Lio Rush has now posted emails on social media, sent to WWE, claiming he was working in a hostile work environment at the time.
Rush included the following caption alongside the screenshots of the emails.
For too long now I鈥檝e dealt with a lot of bad publicity, rumours and stories on the internet that attack, not just me as a wrestler, but attack my integrity. The attacks on my character have gone on too long without my side being heard.
With everything going on in the world and a lot of social issues being brought to the forefront, I have to empower others by empowering myself. How can we expect change without sharing the experiences that illustrate the insensitivities that divide us?Please be clear, I am in no way insinuating that the WWE is a racist company, nor am I commenting on the racial attitudes of any of the companies individuals. However, this email shows that I expressed concerns of racial insensitivity and my feelings as a young African American male to the WWE office during the incidents that have brought so much negativity to my name.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter – Martin Luther King
Below is the e-mail he sent to someone in WWE, presumably a member of management.
Objections to hostile work environment.聽
I would like to bring to your attention behavior that has escalated over the past 2 weeks.
The situation started with a fairly mellow conversation with [REDACTED] after a bus ride he pulled me to the side and explained how it’s expected as a gesture of respect for the new wrestlers to offer beers and drinks to the guys who’ve been here longer and ask that i also help carry coolers off the bus.
I didn’t think much of this until another conversation was brought to me by one of the [REDACTED] who re enforced what had said and advised me that it was in my best interest to comply as well as telling me that new wrestlers are expected to help carry the older guys bags off from underneath the bus.
The situation took a more negative turn when [REDACTED] approached me about the same subject during my personal time, and added the warning that other wrestlers are talking negatively behind my back because of my un willingness to hand out alcohol nd carry other wrestlers bags.
The situation drastically escalated at the bologna live event 20 mins before i was scheduled to perform. Once again, [REDACTED] pulled me to the side in gorilla telling me that other wrestlers are continuing to talk negatively about me and advised that i comply with the demands of the other wrestlers.
Further more he told me that a female wrestler had a accused my fianc茅 of entering the female locker room. The negative gossip surrounding my name has escalated to out right lies in order to damage my professional reputation.
At no point did my fianc茅 enter the female locker room or any locker room for that matter. WWE security were witness to myself and my fianc茅 waiting in the stands pre show for 4 hours.
As for the continued harassment to serve other wrestlers with beer and to carry their luggage, i fundamentally disagree with this type of hazing.
It is not within my job description or contract to perform duties of this kind. I would like it to be noted that i don’t consider myself above any particular type of task, when breaking down rings at NXT was apart of my duties, i performed all duties happily and professionally. However what i am being told to do here is degrading and unprofessional.
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