Ring of Honor wrestling veteran BJ Whitmer has been arrested on domestic violence charges.
The 45-year-old former champion has most recently been working backstage for as a coach and producer since 2019, but the company terminated his contract this week.
As revealed by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department in Kentucky, Whitmer was arrested on charges of strangulation in the first degree and burglary in the second degree.
In Kentucky, the latter is classified as knowing entering or remaining in a dwelling with the intent to commit a crime.
He was released on June 12 with a $25,000 bond paid, and before he is officially indicted on the charges he will need to appear before a Grand Jury, but no date has currently been set.
There are no further details on the circumstances around his arrest, but AEW confirmed after his release that he was no longer with the company.
In a statement, AEW said: ‘B.J. Whitmer has been terminated following his arrest on domestic violence charges.
‘While talent and staff are ultimately responsible for their own personal actions, this behavior is intolerable within AEW.
‘AEW has reached out to offer support to those impacted by his behavior.’
Whitmer joined the company at its inception as a producer and coach behind the scenes, having been most prominent as a wrestler in Ring of Honor, where he won the tag team titles.
He served as a trainer and colour commentator later in his career, and left ROH before joining AEW.
Whitmer started his independent wrestling career back in 2000, and as well as ROH also worked for the likes of Pro Wrestling NOAH, CZW and more.
He stepped away from the in ring side of his career in 2017 due to neck and back issues related to spinal stenosis, working in other off screen roles.
