WRESTLING SCHOOL CLOSED AMID SCANDAL CLAIMS:

A WRESTLING school in Runcorn has suddenly closed amid allegations of sexual harassment by members.

The Runcorn Wrestling Academy (RWA), based at the council-owned Grangeway Community Centre, closed last week after it was implicated in a Me Too-style scandal that has been engulfing the world of professional wrestling.

Female trainees have alleged in a series of tweets that they were subjected to sexual harassment by other wrestlers at RWA, which has been operating since 2005.

One former trainee told the Weekly News the atmosphere was ‘more like a social club than a legitimate school’, while another compared it to ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’.

The allegations came after stars in both British and American professional wrestling were accused of sexual misconduct by female wrestlers using the hashtag #SpeakingOut.

In response, RWA owner Andy Baker said he was closing the school and deleted all of its social media and email accounts.

In a statement, he denied the allegations but admitted that he himself had displayed ‘poor judgement’ and said things that he thought of as ‘banter’, but in hindsight he should not have said.

He said: “Sometimes I say things in jest. I realise in today’s world you cannot say anything without someone taking offence.”

He added: “Because of this movement, I have lost my wrestling schools, 95% of my trainees have turned against me.

“This has already caused a lot of damage, not only to my health but my reputation.”

Another branch of the school in Winsford has also closed.

Anyone involved in the RWA who wants to share their story can email christopher.mckeon@reachplc.com or contact @cjmckeon on Twitter.