Davey Richards has issued the following official statement regarding ROH's decision to pull him from Final Battle:
I guess I could be pretty upset about ROH pulling my farewell match.
A company I've given literally everything in my body for time and time again, driven crazy amounts of hours to save the company money on flights, worked for reduced payoffs when the houses were down, etc.
It's wild man, it's such a different place now than when I started- not saying better of worse- just different.
So here we are- at the end of the road. I gotta be honest- though it's pretty crappy to me and the fans to not get a farewell match I really can't be anything but thankful for my time spent in that ring.
Truth is, ROH fans have been the only family I've had for the past 6 years.
What you saw is what you got with me. For better or for worse I bore my soul to you all. You All were there during the worst days when my grandparents died unexpectantly, my divorce, my home being taken. You didn't even know it but you all saved me. That ring was my therapy.
Sometimes people have good days, sometimes very bad ones, sometimes they do things they're very proud of, sometime they make mistakes and do things they're regretful of. No one's perfect and I've been though all of those moments right in front of the ROH fanbase.
I recovered, grew, learned, matured in that ring. I want so bad to kiss it goodbye bc it was the only familiar thing I knew for so long.
But I can walk away. I'm ok. If for no other reason that I know is from day one to my last match I gave you all 100% of everything I had in my body and heart. You always hear people say, " leave it all in the ring". Well I can honestly say I did that. So in that I have closure.
Whether you like me or hate me I've always been honest ( often times perhaps too honest). But that's me. I don't believe in lying to people I consider family- and like it or not I considered y'all family.
ROH wanted to tell you all I was injured for Final Battle. Yes my neck is banged up, but I could have been there and wrestled by then. I didn't want y'all being fed lies so I took the Initiative to tell you the truth.
I don't wanna slander anyone or speak badly of anyone.
Instead of thinking about this situation I'd rather think that I got to see one of my best friends go from an illegal immigrant barely getting on a preshow to a main eventer, I got to see a guy everyone wondered why I chose to tag with become far better than ill ever be, I got to share the ring with the guys I looked up to starting out, I got to see the new crop of amazing athletes come into they're own.
I got to find a reason to live when I had none.
You all gave me so many good time and great memories ( hello Colt:) ) that I can only hope I gave you all some.
There was an aura, a surreal felling that company once had that I hope they find again.
ROH is about heart. I hope they find theirs again.
Please continue to watch them, support them, go to the shows bc the guys in that locker room and in that ring have more desire, heart, and dedication than can be measured.
Thank you all for everything, hope to see you all somewhere else down the road. But if not, you all meant the world me and I am forever in debt. Wesley Richards.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
