Referee Dallas Edwards Speaks Out After Suffering Concussion, Brain Bleed
Ohio Valley Wrestling referee Dallas Edwards has broken his silence following a terrifying medical emergency during OVW’s weekly Rise broadcast on March 12 in Louisville, Kentucky, revealing he has been diagnosed with a concussion and a subdural hematoma — commonly known as a brain bleed.
Edwards was knocked unconscious after being inadvertently struck by a top-rope forearm from wrestler Brendan Balling, after fellow wrestler Tony Evans pulled him into the planned spot. He subsequently began convulsing in the ring, with the match continuing briefly before being stopped and medical personnel rushing in.
In a personal statement posted to Twitter on March 14, Edwards confirmed his injuries and announced he is stepping away to focus on his recovery. Rather than accepting financial donations from the wrestling community, Edwards issued a pointed call to action for his fellow workers:
“In lieu of donations, I instead implore all of my fellow workers to get some sort of training in assisting another’s life. Being in the position before, it’s very important to be educated in all scenarios relating to injury, illness, or condition in the ring, especially when we’re performing.”
Edwards also noted he was awaiting a CT scan and, pending positive results, hoped to return home from the hospital. OVW issued a statement confirming Edwards is “alert and doing much better” and that the promotion takes “the health and well-being of all our performers extremely seriously”.
The incident has drawn widespread backlash across social media, with concerns raised about the medical protocols at independent promotions and how the match continued while Edwards was down.
Balling publicly expressed remorse, calling Edwards “one of the best refs I’ve ever had” and noting the move was “an obvious accident”
