The Sound of Silence: NJPW and Speaking Out
A review of professional wrestling in 2020 would not be complete without acknowledging the considerable number of unsettling stories that highlighted the painful experiences felt by many connected with the industry. Following a series of allegations made against independent wrestler David Starr in June, countless stories of sexual, physical and mental abuse and bullying were shared on social media involving names ranging from low level indy performers, to those contracted to major companies like WWE and AEW, in what quickly became known as the 'Speaking Out' movement, the wrestling equivalent of 'Me Too' . The scale of reported abuse presented a problem that went far beyond a few bad actors and unveiled a toxic culture in which frequent transgressions were permitted to take place. The enormity of the situation was difficult to absorb and many long term wrestling fans have turned away from the medium as a result. With the absence of any industry wide governing bod
