Thunder Rosa has strongly hit back at online speculation regarding her injury status and alleged heat with multiple stars in the AEW locker room.
After Thunder Rosa announced on Dynamite that she was pulling out of her AEW Women’s Title defence at All Out, speculation surrounding the star went into overdrive.
Immediately after the show it was rumoured that Rosa had actually been suspended, although this speculation was quickly disproved.
While a further report noted Rosa has heat backstage with Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter. The report went as far as to say that Rosa and her long-time rival Baker “can’t stand each other.” The issues between the Women’s Champion and Hayter reportedly stem from a a recent match where Rosa broke her opponents nose.
The star has since confirmed that she will be stepping away from social media for the foreseeable future.
However, Rosa has appeared on Busted Open Radio where she touched on the chaos currently surrounding her. The AEW Women’s Champion hit out at suggestions that her injury is a “work,” disclosing she has been struggling to walk.
The star also appeared to fire back at Britt Baker who cut a promo on Dynamite about her own title reign where she worked through a broken wrist for months. Rosa said that it wasn’t a case of not wanting to wrestle, instead a doctor won’t clear her to get in the ring.
I’m not the best, physically right now. I was in a lot of pain yesterday. A lot has been happening in the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I’m going to be out of commission. I don’t know for how long. For a couple months, probably. I have a problem with my back and yesterday, I was trying to be strong. Back problems are not easy. Some days are good, some days are not. Yesterday was not a good day, I was in a lot of pain,” she said.
“That’s one of the reasons why I’m taking time off. I want to clear the air, this is not fake. This is not a work. I’m not comparing injuries to injuries. If I could fucking walk, I can f*cking work. Doctor Sampson, he didn’t clear me to wrestle. I’m not cleared to wrestle. It’s not that I don’t want to do a match on Sunday [AEW All Out], I can’t walk. It’s a shame that this is being put on social media, not only to discredit me as an athlete, but also discredit me as a wrestler.
I want to walk when I’m 40. I have the right to say ‘No, I can’t walk, I can’t do it.’ I don’t want to have surgery. If we keep doing this and going through the pain, then I’m going to be out for longer. I don’t want to do that.”
Moving on to the subject of her alleged backstage issues, Rosa said that not everything that is being said is true, and challenged anyone who has a problem with her to address her directly.
“Not everything that is being said is true. If anybody has a problem with me, anyone, call Busted Open, call my number, tell me to my face. I don’t hide from my problems. I don’t run from my problems. You can talk to me, my door is open. That goes for anybody. I have taken accountability when things have happened. I’m a straightforward person. Some people don’t like that and are afraid of that. I’m not. I’m a trained fighter, I don’t run away from sh*t. Stop reading stupid sh*t online.
My conscious is clear, I know what I’m all about. If there are any problems of any kind, they can contact me. They can contact AEW and clear the air with them. There is a protocol that needs to be followed. People need to respect the company, in general. I respect and represent AEW. I’m still the AEW Women’s Champion. When I come back, whoever is the champion, if you thought you’re going to get rid of me [laughs], you’re not. I’m going to get better and stronger.”
Thunder Rosa added that she has tried to always take responsibility for mistakes she’s made, before claiming it was wrong for people to try and discredit her abilities over her recent issues.
“I have said sorry with people before and apologized and made amends because that’s what you do. I’ve taken accountability for things I’ve done wrong, but this is beyond me doing something. I got injured and I did not blame anybody because it’s wrestling and accidents happen. I don’t have to blame anybody. It might have happened way before and I just noticed that I’m hurt.
I want to thank AEW family and the medicals. I texted them at 3 in the morning with questions and they answered. Now I have answers and I know what’s wrong with me. For people to discredit my abilities, my career, and me as a person, I’m not cool with that. If I didn’t know what was wrong, I probably would have had the match. It’s physical things I need to take care. Respect AEW. Whoever is doing this, you have to respect AEW.”
Rosa stated that she only found out that she would be missing All Out on Tuesday (August 23rd) before reiterating her respect for everyone in the women’s division.
“I have respect for all the ladies in AEW. I never disrespected any of them. I’m very proud of everything everyone is doing and how everyone is managing themselves. I said what I said. If anyone has a problem, you probably have my number,”
Thunder Rosa has held the AEW Women’s World Championship since defeating Britt Baker in a Steel Cage match at St Patrick’s Day Slam. Her most recent defence came at Battle of the Belts III where she defeated Jamie Hayter.
H/t to Fightful for the transcription.