Eleven Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR) athletes and staff filed their resignation in a joint statement on Friday, July 31, due to bullying and toxic company culture.

Wrestlers Jan Makie Gaerlan (Main Maxx), Christopher Hofer (Chris Panzer), Mark Javellana (Jake de Leon), Stanly Sy (Mr Sy), Romeo Moran (SANDATA), and Kenneth Halili (Ken Warren) decided to quit along with graphics and media staff members Matt del Rosario and Maow del Rosario, media officer Chai del Rosario, production’s Ouel Babasa and logistic team’s Czarina Saño.

“As individuals, we are aware that we are not without our own faults. However, we can no longer tolerate the amount of bullying and toxicity that manifested within our company’s culture over the years, and has affected us and the people around us in a negative manner,” read the statement.

“This decision to leave comes from a desire to maintain our own physical, mental, and emotional well-being, especially during such a trying time as the current pandemic.”

Jake de Leon and Ken Warren are among the 3 wrestlers who were given a chance to try out for the WWE last year in China.

The mass resignation came a month after PWR wrestlers Nina and Crystal came out with their experiences of sexual harassment in the industry.

PWR released its own statement and voiced its support for sexual harassment victims by creating a management committee to assist them with any action they want to take against their abusers. (READ: The scar of sexual harassment)

The promotion is the largest organizer of locally-produced wrestling events in the country, which includes the PWR Homecoming held in 2019.

“While we are eternally grateful for all the opportunities that we’ve gotten through PWR, it pains us to admit that we are no longer comfortable remaining with the company at this time,” added the statement. – Rappler.com