Why I walked away from Wrestling in 2020: Andy Baker's Story
From September 2005 until June 2020, I, Andy Baker, ran a pro wrestling school called RWA (Runcorn Wrestling Academy). For 15 years, RWA was a place where aspiring wrestlers could learn the fundamentals of the sport, train with the best, and be part of a community that I took great pride in building. We all joked with each other, had banter, and even trainees made fun of me from time to time. Despite this playful atmosphere, my dedication to coaching and providing opportunities for growth was unwavering. We all tried to have fun while working hard and helping each other achieve our dreams. Everyone was free to leave anytime; no one was tied down by contracts, and my primary goal was to foster a positive, supportive environment.
However, in June 2020, my life was turned upside down. People I once considered friends—many of whom still came to visit the school despite training elsewhere—made allegations of bullying and harassment against me. Some of these trainees, who made accusations prior to leaving, even took advantage of free training sessions due to helping coach our youth class. This contradiction, where they felt harassed and bullied but still participated in and benefited from the training, only added to the confusion and pain. These accusations, from former trainees, shattered my career and reputation. The allegations had been brought up on social media platforms, and no substantial evidence was provided, with much of it being hearsay. What made it worse was that these individuals had spoken regular to my young daughter during training, making the betrayal even more baffling.
The damage was further amplified by the Speak Out movement, which, while important for many victims, was exploited in my case. The Liverpool Echo published clickbait headlines, making the situation even more unbearable. A reporter from the Echo even contacted one of my training venues trying to obtain my personal contact information, raising serious questions about whether such behavior is legal or ethical.
Since the article, I’ve struggled with finding relationships due to the nature of the publication, and my confidence in potential new employment opportunities has been deeply affected. The ordeal has made me question people’s intentions and has left me wary of new interactions and opportunities.
During this time, I faced accusations from some trainees about events that had nothing to do with me—issues between themselves from years prior were brought up and somehow twisted into a narrative that portrayed the school as chaotic. Some even described RWA as being "like Sodom and Gomorrah," an absurd and unfounded claim. This wasn’t the environment I had built, and anyone who truly knew the academy would know how far from the truth those descriptions were.
In reflection, I acknowledge that perhaps I could have worded things better at times and understand that not everyone wanted to reach the heights of WWE; some pursued wrestling as a hobby and did not want to be pushed as hard in training. I tend to let my guard down when I get comfortable with people I am around, and feel I can trust them..I do however understand the importance of boundaries and would have taken a step back and/or apologised to individuals if needed, which I have done in the past. Despite the challenges, my intent was always to create an environment where everyone could grow and succeed together.
I don’t claim to be a victim and never have, but I did suffer profoundly during this period. The onslaught of hate I received was overwhelming. I was bombarded with nasty emails, direct messages, and online comments. The accusations, baseless as they were, destroyed everything I had worked for. My mental health suffered greatly during this time. It was only the presence and support of my daughter that kept me going, especially during the COVID lockdowns when the isolation made everything even harder to bear. I have a collection of emails, documents, and pictures that counter these allegations, but the damage was already done- Ironically interview online from the person who started it states "Andy teaches in a fun environment and everybody can have a laugh!"....
I am profoundly grateful to the small number of people who stuck by me and helped me through this incredibly tough period. To you, I owe a deep debt of gratitude; you are the true friends who made a significant difference in my life.
I didn’t deserve for this to happen to me. I had given so much to RWA and to the people who trained there, and it was devastating to see everything I had built torn apart. The fact that I dedicated years of my life to helping others only to have my career ruined by those very same people was a bitter pill to swallow.
It has taken me four long years to mentally recover from what happened. Although I eventually walked away from the wrestling academy in June 2020, I’ve found solace in the positives that came from that decision. Now, I get to spend every weekend with my daughter or focus on the things I truly want to do in life. Walking away was difficult, but in the end, it allowed me to rebuild my life and move forward.
The experience left scars, but I’ve learned to cherish the time I now have and gained a new perspective on what truly matters. While RWA was an important part of my life, I’ve come to realise that my well-being and family come first.
Andy
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