This past weekend, at Evolve 72, Joey Styles made an off-color remark, an attempt at humor, and was immediately fired after the show. Since then, he's been fired from Beyond and Chikara as well.
Some on the internet feel he was dealt with too harshly. Add Mickie James to that list.
James, who is scheduled to wrestle NXT Women's Champion Asuka at Takeover Toronto on Saturday, posted an open letter to Joey Styles on her Facebook page this morning.
Dear Joey Styles,
I want you to know that I love you. In the midst of all this ugliness surrounding you at the moment I think it's important you know that. From me and all your friends who you've helped throughout your career. How so many have forgotten that because they'd prefer to jump on the bandwagon to make themselves relevant is sad to say the least. I've known you for many years & you've always been nothing but respectful & loving to me. I've never seen you be disrespectful to any woman in the business. If anything you've always been so supportive & kind. I thank you for that. It's a shame that a JOKE, whether it be in bad taste or not, has been taken so far out of context. I'm curious as to what the lady involved thought of this whole thing. Because if it had been me, I would've popped because I understand comedic context. Call me old school but had you been a comedian, or an actor in a movie, everyone would've laughed. It's only because everyone is tiptoeing in this politically correct, sponsor endorsed, & way overly sensitive generation that it's been blown way out the water. Last I checked this is the wrestling business. A business where we have cursed, endorsed sexuality to all kinds of extremes, kissed asses, and even murdered on live tv, that a little political joke seems to be the least of offensive things done. I understand we are in a new era but for goodness sake let's not lose our sense of humor, or the sight of why we all fell in love with this business in the 1st place. That is to be a character, that can do and say things they would never do or say in real life. Because it's acting! Also, for all your "Friends" who have jumped on the bandwagon now that you've been "Fired", also a complete joke because you CAN NOT fire an independent contractor, they should be ashamed of themselves. Yes they have a right to their own opinion but we should also remember... people in Glass Houses shouldn't throw stones. That means pretty much everyone in this business as it's one of the dirtiest games ever played. That's my 2 cents... and it's worth exactly what you paid for it... but since everyone else seems to feel so important to throw out their public statements then why not. Lastly, I will say this again... I love you, I respect you, and I respect everything you've done for this business that I adore. This too shall pass...
Always your Friend,
Mickie James-Aldis
There was a rumor going around that James wasn't NXT's first choice to fight Asuka; it was Trish Stratus, but her pregnancy prevented her from accepting the match. Triple H shot down those rumors last week, but there has been some reckless speculation that this public position on Styles might get James in trouble with the top brass. It's unlikely there will be any repercussions for James' post, but we will definitely update if and when anything develops.
