A popular AEW wrestler was fired following an arrest and a ‘battery’ charge.
Trigger warning: The following report contains acts of physical assault and domestic violence.
Last wrestling on the 11th January 2025 episode of ROH on HonorClub, Bear Boulder, Serpentico & The Dark Order were defeated by the team of LEEJ and Shane Taylor Promotions. Absent from AEW television since then, a new report has emerged about his current status.
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, popular ROH and AEW star, and a part of The Iron Savages tag-team, Bear Boulder was fired by AEW. The Jacksonville-based promotion learned about his arrest in January and cut him from the company.
Boulder was arrested for ‘battery by strangulation’ on January 13th, 2025, two days after his last match. Also known by his real name, Thomas Wansaw, he is no longer a part of Tony Khan’s AEW.
The arrest affidavit shared by Fightful reads:
On January 13, 2025, I, Deputy J. Rincon (EID 11291) responded to a location in unincorporated Orange County, Florida in reference to a call for service. My investigation revealed; On January 13, 2025, I responded to an apartment located at [Address withheld] Winter Garden, Florida in reference to an aggravated battery.
Upon arrival, I made contact with several deputies that already had a subject in custody. I interviewed the caller/victim, [Victim] who informed me she was physically battered by her fiancé, Thomas Wansaw. I observed what appeared several injurieson [Victim] and photographs were taken and uploaded to Axon Evidence to be attached to the report. According to [Victim], she sustained injuries around her neck which included red marks as well scratches just below her neck just above her breast.
The back of [Victim’s] neck was also red and appeared it was battered as well. [Victim] also sustained a bruise that appeared to be bright red on her right hand. According to [Victim], she was in a verbal argument with Thomas Wansaw that escalated into a physical altercation when he pushed her to the ground. Thomas Wansaw then placed his foot onto her throat causing [Victim] to lose consciousness and black out.
[Victim] stated she gained consciousness approximately five to ten minutes later and was able to retreat outside to a patio/balconyarea and call 911. [Victim] stated she believes Thomas Wansaw picked her up and placed her on the couch as that is where she was when she regained consciousness. [Victim] stated this was not the first time Thomas Wansaw has been physically violent with her and it has happened approximately five to ten times over the course of their relationship.
[Victim] also stated when Thomas Wansaw is attending his anger management courses, he is a completely different person. [Victim] was cooperative but then during the investigation she stated she did not want Thomas Wansaw to go to jail as it will cause a great financial strain on their relationship.
[Victim] did begin to complete a written statement but decided not to finish it because she did not want him to go to jail. [Victim] did make the comment that if she recanted her story would he not go to jail and she was advised that would not happen at this point. I read Thomas Wansaw his Miranda Warning and he was very cooperative and agreed to speak with me. Thomas Wansaw’s account of what occurred was consistent with [Victim’s] testimony. Thomas Wansaw stated he knows what he did was not right but [Victim] made some negative comments about his job and he became upset.
Thomas Wansaw did state he placed his foot on her neck and it did appear [Victim] did lose consciousness and that is why he picked her up off the floor and placed her on the couch. Thomas Wansaw did mention [Victim] did pull a knife on him earlier in the day during another argument but he would not elaborate and did not want to pursue the issue.
I placed Thomas Wansaw under arrest for violation of Florida State Statute 784.031, Battery by Strangulation (domestic violence) and transported him to the Orange County Detention Facility for processing without incident. [Victim] declined several requests by deputies on scene for medical attention to respond and clear her. [Victim] stated she will drive herself to the local hospital for evaluation. My agency issued body worn camera was activated during this entire call.”
The victim has been identified as Wansaw’s fiancee, and her name has been withheld.
A court hearing convened on January 27th, resulting in the issuance of a no-contact order.
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