Report: MLW Distanced Themselves From Davey Richards After 'Pattern Of Odd Behaviour'

Further details on Davey Richards' sudden retirement from professional wrestling have emerged. 

Richards announced his retirement on Friday, March 17 after several promotions severed ties with the former ROH World Champion. This followed domestic violence allegations being made against Richards. 

The 40-year-old issued a statement to PWInsider, announcing his retirement. He also denied the allegations of domestic violence against him.

Richards has since issued a separate statement to Wrestling Inc., which reads: 

"I have not been arrested and no charges have been filed and I maintain these allegations are 100% false. Maybe it's just my time to step aside. I don't want to affect anyone or any promotion. People need this sport - it gives them a place of belonging and hope, I don't want to be the one to take that away or tarnish it. I'll be okay, and boy will I miss you all."

It was further noted by Wrestling Inc. that several promotions cutting ties with Richards followed a screenshot which circulated in the St. Louis wrestling scene. The screenshot was "an accurate representation of a court document that Wrestling Inc. obtained, in which an ex-partner alleges that Richards 'engaged in inappropriate and unreasonable behavior...including significant use of cocaine and other substances and domestic violence [toward a different partner].'"

Since coming out of retirement in 2021, Davey Richards' primary promotion had been Major League Wrestling but he was effectively done with the organisation as of February 2023. Their original deal was set to run longer but MLW looked to distance themselves after a "pattern of odd behaviour unfolded", Fightful Select reported.

Richards was a backstage producer in MLW in 2022 and the situation was initially okay but numerous wrestlers ended up complaining about the former ROH World Champion due to his "puzzling" recommendations for their matches. 

Furthermore, Richards reached out to the National Wrestling Alliance about a booking, telling the promotion that he was contractually available. Richards actually wasn't but MLW and NWA worked together to sort out a booking that worked for both companies. Richards wrestled for NWA in August and November of 2022, defending his MLW National Openweight Championship. 

A separate situation involved Richards claiming he had been approached by AEW for a match with Bryan Danielson. According to Fightful, Richards did have contact with Sonjay Dutt but AEW told MLW that Richards wasn't planned for a match as Tony Khan's promotion went with Timothy Thatcher instead, believing he was a "more suitable opponent." 

Richards' final match took place on Friday, March 17, where he lost to Dan Moloney at OTT ScrapperMania. Richards was scheduled for further matches with the promotion but OTT pulled him from the remainder of their shows over the weekend.