Brian Kendrick Pulled from AEW Dynamite Card After Offensive Comments Surface

Featured Columnist IVFebruary 3, 2022

Photo credit: WWE.com

All Elite Wrestling removed Brian Kendrick from Wednesday's Dynamite card after antisemitic and other offensive comments he made in the past surfaced prior to the show.

AEW president Tony Khan confirmed Kendrick won't compete in his scheduled match against Jon Moxley:

Tony Khan @TonyKhan
We’ve been made aware of abhorrent & offensive comments made in the past by Brian Kendrick. There’s no room in AEW for the views expressed by Brian. We think it’s best for all that Brian be pulled from tonight’s card as we gather more info. We’ll announce a replacement bout ASAP.

In one video from 2011, Kendrick references a conspiracy theory about "Jewish medics" arriving in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and harvesting the organs of the victims.

Culture Crossfire recapped a 2013 video Kendrick recorded for Highspots in which he downplayed the Holocaust and repeated a false claim that the extent of the genocide was "overblown."

David Bixenspan @davidbix
I knew Brian Kendrick was into conspiracy theory nonsense, but until it got brought up last night, I had no idea that, at least as of late 2013, he had drifted all the way into Holocaust denial?!?!? <a href="https://t.co/0RfitLn5yF">https://t.co/0RfitLn5yF</a> <a href="https://t.co/jq1YPsNbXG">pic.twitter.com/jq1YPsNbXG</a>

Kendrick also repeated other debunked conspiracy theories on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the moon landing, the September 11 terror attacks and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Kendrick took to Twitter on Wednesday night to apologize, saying he "crossed the line":

Brian Kendrick @mrbriankendrick
I apologize for all the hurt and embarassment I have caused with my words. These are not my beliefs and never were beliefs of mine, and I crossed the line.

Kendrick last wrestled in October 2020. He spent a number of years with WWE across multiple spells. The 42-year-old was a two-time tag team champion and won the NXT Cruiserweight Championship in 2016.

Across 2021 and into 2022, Kendrick worked in a backstage role with WWE. He was released from the company Tuesday, with AEW quickly announcing he'd be returning to the ring.