Big Damo Responds To Criticism Over PROGRESS Wrestling Booking Joe Coffey

Big Damo has addressed criticism aimed at PROGRESS Wrestling over the United Kingdom independent wrestling promotion booking Joe Coffey.

It was announced on June 12 that Joe Coffey will wrestle for PROGRESS for the first time since 2017 at PROGRESS Chapter 196: Scorchio on Sunday, July 26 from Camden's Electric Ballroom.

The announcement received criticism from several accounts on X/Twitter due to allegations being made against Joe Coffey during the Speaking Out movement in 2020, and new PROGRESS co-owner Big Damo responded to the backlash, writing: "In this particular instance I saw the evidence. I saw the conversations that were doctored on one side. On the other side was the full conversation. This is why he wasn't let go from his job when many others were."

Joe Coffey was accused of sexual abuse and sending unsolicited pictures of his genitals to a female wrestler during the Speaking Out movement. Coffey was suspended by WWE in June 2020 but returned to NXT UK in November of that year. He continued to be featured on WWE programming until Coffey and his Gallus stablemates Mark Coffey and Wolfgang were released in May 2025.

Big Damo claimed on X/Twitter that Joe Coffey was told not to say anything publicly about the allegations by WWE. Damo wrote: "Effectively what Michael said, he was also told not to say anything by his employer at the time and has tried putting it behind him in the 6 years since."

Big Damo and his wife, former WWE talent Nikki Storm, became the new owners of PROGRESS Wrestling in May 2026, taking over the promotion from Lee McAteer and Martyn Best.