Indie News: Former GFW star out until 2018

What’s the story?

Former GFW/ROH/just about everywhere else wrestler Davey Richards today announced he had been forced to cancel all his bookings for the rest of 2017.

In case you didn’t know…

Richards is one of the leading independent wrestlers in the world, having worked for PWG, NJPW and CZW as well as the aforementioned GFW and ROH.

He was ROH World Champion between June 2011 and May 2012, winning the belt from his longtime partner Eddie Edwards before dropping it to Kevin Steen (now WWE's Kevin Owens).

The heart of the matter

Richards has faced issues with his right knee for over a decade, having torn his ACL the night before his first match in ROH. These issues have caused Richards to cancel appearances several times.

Richards stated in a series of tweets that he had tried numerous treatments in order to be able to make scheduled bookings but was now at a point where this could no longer continue.

I can't apologize enough to everyone but I have to cancel my remaining bookings for 2017. I am going to need surgery on Right knee.

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

I've always been someone who has bore my heart inside of the ring & "kept it real" with the fans.I've been known to as you call it " no 1/3

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

Show" events. Truth is ( no excuse) I've been battling knee issues since 2006 when I tore my knee the night before my first ROH match 2/3

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

Cortisone shots, Anti inflammatory drugs, Stem Cell therapy, hyperbaric chambers, etc have kept me able to perform this long but not anymore

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

Sorry longer than 3 tweets lol. I've given my life to wrestling since I was 10 and honestly if all I have is a bum knee I am thankful. But..

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

I refuse to let it end like this. I'm going to take the proper time off the get the correct surgery and rehab. I hope to return to make good

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

On the events I haven't been able to perform at bc of my knee. I always prided myself on being a wrestlers wrestle and if I couldn't give

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

You ? I didn't want to waste your time. Perhaps foolish pride. But that's me. Anyways- thank you for reading. I love you all and love this

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

Great sport and hope to return to it and give you your money's worth. Thank you.

— Wesley Richards (@RichardsWesley) September 17, 2017

What’s next?

Unfortunately, surgery and extensive rehab are all that's on the menu for Richards until the new year. Hopefully, he will be back in action sooner rather than later.

Author’s take

Knee injuries are sadly part and parcel of life as a pro wrestler, but that doesn't make them any less devastating, or the potential consequences for later life any more severe.

Sportskeeda wishes Davey all the best with his surgery, we hope his rehab is short and successful and that he returns to the ring as sharp and as intense as ever.

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