Member of the Anti-Fun Police, alongside disgraced star, Travis Banks and, Chief Deputy Dunne, Los Federales Santos Jr. retires from wrestling. During the #speakingout movement in the United Kingdom wrestling scene, many beloved stars turn out to be sexual assaulters or abusive toward women and their peers.
Los Federales Santos Jr. was caught in the backlash because of his association with Travis Banks (and for not speaking out about his partner), who was accused of having a relationship with a minor (who was also his trainee), while also being abusive towards her. He wrestled last time on March 14, 2020, for ATTACK! Pro Wrestling in Britain. He previously wrestled for Progress Wrestling, but his main house was ATTACK! Pro Wrestling, and IPW UK.
Here’s the statement by the star:
So for complete and utter transparency with you all, I went into lockdown after my last wrestling match, which was at Attack Pro on the 14/03/2020. As soon as the world went into lockdown, I though give it 2 weeks, rest, recover and I’m sure I’ll be itching to go back to wrestling! Truth is, I do miss it, but not as much as I thought I was going to! It turns out there’s a lot more things I don’t miss than things I do miss, so with my heart not being in it and just enjoying being at home more, I’m going to concentrate on my family now, my Mom is my first and foremost priority! Now I’ve been really lucky, I have achieved so much in wrestling in such a short space of time since I started it. I started my journey in 2015 and I couldn’t be more grateful for the memories, moments and opportunities that I’ve had, but I just don’t miss wrestling that much anymore, walking away now, I can be happy with what I’ve done, with my heart not in it, it’s time to step aside and see the new stars flourish. I have no real health issues or critical injuries, for that I am truly thankful.
Also, I need to apologise to those that have been affected recently with the speak out movement. It’s a movement for a pure and positive change in wrestling and for everyone involved, you cannot be commended enough! You have been brave and fearless and leaders to making real change! I have let you down, I have been a coward and fearful to speak up for what’s right in fear of being chastised or it being a detriment to what I’ve done in wrestling. This should never have been the case, speaking up for what’s right should have been the main issue first and foremost, I’m not perfect, I’m human and I’m trying now, more than ever, to do and be better! I’ve tried to keep myself to myself in regards to what happens outside of a wrestling show. Ignorance is bliss, but that was the wrong attitude to have as well, for all of this, I am deeply sorry and I apologise! I don’t know if it’s enough, but I mean it! What this movement has showed me however is that the younger generation are more braver, smarter and just than I have been, it’s in good hands, there will be a new path to walk and there may be slip-ups, that’s always going to happen when walking a new path, but please bare with them! They’re making good changes!
Now, I’m walking away from wrestling because I’ve clearly not been having the same drive for it anymore since April time at least, even if this movement didn’t happen, I probably still wouldn’t have come back if I’m being honest! The time away from wrestling and just being at home has made me realise what I am missing! The more and more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve missed seeing my friends outside of wrestling, I’ve missed being at home with my Mom, who I care for and it’s been nice not having any stress or anxiety to make sure I perform and deliver to not let anyone down. I realise me doing this may very well in fact let people down and for that I apologise! I’m hoping that if anything, I can leave you with more positive memories than bad, I’m hoping I’ve done you proud and that when I have slipped up, I’ve proven that I’m willing to try and do better! I’ve been all over the UK, Ireland and Germany, made countless friends and memories, won Championships, wrestled at Wembley Arena, I even wrestled Dave Benson Phillips, got my mouth busted open by clashing heads with a ref and all other kinds of silliness and high jinks.
I will look back on all of this with the most fondest of memories, it’s taught me about respect, understanding and learning and being open to new things I’d have known nothing about, the likes of LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter amongst other things. Remember, it can’t rain all the time, I love you, I appreciate you and please remember to look after YOU. Your health mentally and physically are important, watch that TV series/movie that you’ve wanted to, read that book you’ve been putting off, enjoy that video game/painting or whatever other hobby you may have, enjoy other things, take time for yourself and recharge, self-care is important. This has been more than long enough, thank you for reading, look out for and be good to each other. I may pop along to a show now and again, but as for in-ring wrestling, this is adios!
From that goofy idiot,
Santos Jr.
