AEW remove Brian Kendrick from show after “abhorrent” comments resurface

Warning: This article contains references to distressing historical content and comments made by Brian Kendrick.

Brian Kendrick will not be making his AEW debut this week. The wrestling promotion decided to pull the athlete’s first appearance after “abhorrent” comments made by the wrestler have resurfaced on social media.

Kendrick was due to make his AEW debut on the February 2 edition of Dynamite, but company president Tony Khan confirmed he would not be appearing.

Some of Kendrick’s comments include claims about the Holocaust, 9/11 and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which 26 people were killed.

An interview from 2013 has also found its way onto social media, in which the wrestler told the Culture Crossfire website that he was “a conspiracy nut”. Amongst other comments, the wrestler also claimed that the Holocaust was “overblown”, and claimed that both the Sandy Hook shooting and 9/11 were hoaxes.

Sports journalist David Bixenspan posted a video to Twitter, in which some of Kendrick’s horrific anti-Semitic comments can be heard.

(Warning: Distressing content)

That 2011 Brian Kendrick clip is even WORSE in context: It’s part of a section w/ the title card “Who or what are the repitlians?” and makes it very clear that he thinks that, as explained to him by David Icke, “Zionists,” “Jewish medics,” & “the Rothschilds” are The Reptilians. pic.twitter.com/xoxzh2NrS0

— David Bixenspan (@davidbix) February 2, 2022

AEW respond to Brian Kendrick comments

AEW president, Tony Khan, released a statement via social media on February 2.

He said: “We’ve been made aware of abhorrent and offensive comments made in the past by Brian Kendrick. There’s no room in AEW for the views expressed by Brian. We think it’s best for all that Brian be pulled from tonight’s card as we gather more information. We’ll announce a replacement bout ASAP.”

We’ve been made aware of abhorrent & offensive comments made in the past by Brian Kendrick. There’s no room in AEW for the views expressed by Brian. We think it’s best for all that Brian be pulled from tonight’s card as we gather more info. We’ll announce a replacement bout ASAP.

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) February 2, 2022

Kendrick has since posted an apology on social media.

He said: “I spread the most vile comments without thinking of the damage it would cause. I will live with this regret for the rest of my life. I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused.”

I spread the most vile comments without thinking of the damage it would cause. I will live with this regret for the rest of my life. I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused.

— Brian Kendrick (@mrbriankendrick) February 3, 2022

Who is Brian Kendrick?

Brian Kendrick initially rose to fame in the WWE, where he became a two-time tag team champion and a world cruiserweight champion. He fought in a Championship Scramble match for the WWE Championship in 2008, but did not claim the title.

He had three separate stints with the company. In 2020, he transitioned into semi-retirement, before taking up a role as a backstage producer. Furthermore, he was due to fight on NXT this month but requested his release on January 25. He received it six days later.

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