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Professional wrestling has always walked a fine line between spectacle and risk. While the industry has made incremental progress in talent safety in recent decades, moments like the recent incident involving referee Dallas Edwards serve as stark reminders that the margin for error remains razor thin - and that when that razor cuts, most independent promotions will be woefully under prepared for that moment.
Several weeks ago, Edwards suffered a seizure after taking a bad bump during an OVW event, an incident that could have had far more catastrophic consequences. In response to the incident (and honestly, the scrutiny it put the company under for what certainly appeared to have been a late response Ohio Valley Wrestling has rolled out a comprehensive set of updated safety protocols. These measures are not only appropriate, they should, in my opinion, represent a baseline that every independent promotion in the United States should seriously consider adopting.
What stands out most about OVW’s response is its proactive framing. Rather than treating the incident as an isolated anomaly, the company has acknowledged systemic gaps and moved to address them with what they state will be institutional changes.
The introduction of Seizure First Aid Certification, in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana, is particularly significant. Wrestling promotions have historically focused on visible injuries, such as broken bones, lacerations, concussions, but neurological emergencies like seizures have received far less attention. Training staff and talent to recognize early warning signs and respond appropriately introduces a level of preparedness that has been largely absent at the independent level.
This is not just about liability mitigation; it’s about competence under pressure. When seconds matter, untrained personnel improvising is not a strategy - it’s a risk. As I wrote after the Dallas Edwards incident, the response, from watching the stream of the incident, took two minutes two long. If this training prevents a repeat in any way, shape or form when something unforeseen or terrible happens, that's a great thing.
OVW’s collaboration with Dr. Chris Nowinski and the Concussion & CTE Foundation signals another important shift: moving concussion awareness further away from rhetoric into operational practice. By integrating Concussion Safety & CTE Prevention Training into the OVW Academy’s beginner syllabus, the promotion is hopefully embedding safety culture at the developmental level. This is critical. While WWE has moved towards using helmets and crash pads to help protect talents as they first train and obviously has a concussion protocol as part of their Wellness Policy, independent wrestling has long relied on informal training ecosystems where safety education varies wildly depending on the promotion, moment and personalities involved.
Standardizing this kind of education, especially under credible medical guidance, creates a more informed talent pool. Over time, that translates into safer matches, better decision-making, and potentially longer careers. Every promotion should be reaching out to Nowinski for guidance.
The addition of trained medical staff at ringside, facilitated through Norton Healthcare for OVW, also addresses one of the most glaring inconsistencies in independent wrestling: uneven medical coverage. At many indie shows, medical support ranges from certified professionals to, in some cases, little more than a first aid kit and good intentions. OVW’s case-by-case deployment model is pragmatic, acknowledging budget constraints while still prioritizing higher-risk events.
Equally important is the inclusion of CPR training for talent and staff, something I have been calling for since Silver King passed away in a ring in Europe following a medical emergency several years ago. Emergencies in wrestling don’t always wait for medical personnel to intervene. Having multiple individuals capable of immediate response significantly improves outcomes in critical situations. Referees and others working ringside will be closest to an emergency when it unfolds. Having proper training for them and others could be the difference between a miracle moment and a horrible tragedy.
Perhaps the most quietly transformative change is OVW’s overhaul of in-ring and back-office communication systems. Rather than ask why these changes, which seem common sense to me, weren't already in place, I'd instead point out that 90% of independent promotions likely have none, and that needs to change. Equipping referees, announcers, camera operators, and now the timekeeper with direct communication channels to the production director creates a unified command structure. This is crucial in live performance environments where hesitation or miscommunication can delay life-saving decisions. The ability to immediately halt a match without confusion or procedural lag is not just a production upgrade, it’s a safety imperative - and one that every tiny independent running Palooka, Missouri should have some form of.
Yes, I obviously understand that independent wrestling promotions often operate under tight financial constraints, which can make comprehensive safety programs seem out of reach. But OVW’s approach (which obviously is also being done in advance of any potential litigation against them) demonstrates that meaningful improvements don’t require massive overhauls, just intentional prioritization.
Yes, money is tight at that level and yes many promotions are operated by dreamers at a haphazard level, but it would be far wiser for promotions at every single level to be proactive, as opposed to being the promotion that stands there powerless, unable to assist, waiting for an ambulance to arrive while rounds of guilt and legal worry soon follow.
OVW has framed these protocols as a “living, evolving effort,” which is exactly the right posture. Safety in wrestling cannot be static. It must adapt alongside new research, technologies, and lessons learned from incidents like the one involving Dallas Edwards. Independent wrestling scene thrives on creativity, passion, and resilience. It now needs to match that rebellious energy with a standardized commitment to safety.
Promotions that fail to do so are not just behind the curve. They are putting talent at unnecessary risk if and when the unthinkable happens.
If a promotion is allowing bumps on the neck or head, dives out of the ring, Canadian Destroyers, etc., then they should also be ready for when something goes wrong.
Sooner or later, the law of averages catches up to all, but in pro wrestling, that slight margin of error can be deadly.
If anyone running an independent promotion is truly serious about sustainability, professionalism, and talent welfare, then these OVW protocols should be seen as the bare minimum of what should be done. I call on all promotions to partner with their local fire departments for CPR certification and to reach out to organizations similar to the ones Ohio Valley Wrestling has announced partnerships with in order to better safeguard their talent, staff, fans and the well-being of the promotions themselves.
Mike Johnson can be reached at MikeJohnsonPWInsider@gmail.com.
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