Ohio Valley Wrestling promoter Al Snow has promised action to improve protocols after Thursday’s injury to referee Dallas Edwards.
Edwards required medical attention following a planned spot during a live television taping on March 12. The promotion issued an initial statement on Friday before the referee shared that he is dealing with a concussion and subdural hematoma.
Edwards hit the mat very hard and was briefly motionless before suffering what appeared to be a seizure. Despite this, the match continued for about a minute, with the official being physically moved out of the way.
Snow explained that the delay in stopping the match occurred because the official is the person who usually communicates injuries. He stated that this breakdown in communication left the company unable to immediately assess the “unprecedented” situation.
The promoter announced upcoming changes to in-ring and ringside protocols. These updates will feature enhanced communication systems, expanded response measures, and additional training.
Snow previously owned OVW outright after purchasing the company in 2018. He retained his role overseeing the promotion’s wrestling operations when Morley Sports Management acquired a majority stake in 2025.
Snow indicated that OVW will share further updates when appropriate. He released the following statement on Saturday:
Hello everyone, this is Al Snow. I want to speak directly to our fans and the wrestling community regarding the incident involving Referee Dallas Edwards at last week’s event.
Professional wrestling has always carried an inherent risk of injury for everyone who steps into the ring. On March 12th, during a live OVW television event, Dallas was involved in a planned moment of physical contact with a wrestler that resulted in him suffering a head injury.
Traditionally, when an in-ring injury occurs, the referee is the central point of communication, assessment, and decision-making. In this unprecedented situation, the person who would normally make that assessment was the one who needed assistance. That unforeseen breakdown in communication contributed to a delay in stopping the match and concluding the show.
We are relieved to hear that Dallas is recovering and receiving the medical care he needs. Our thoughts are with him, and we’re hoping for his continued improvement.
At OVW, the health and safety of our performers and officials has always been our top priority. We are proud of the standards we’ve maintained over the years, but we also recognize that there is always room to strengthen and improve. With that in mind, we are reviewing our existing procedures and updating several of our in-ring and ringside protocols to ensure we continue to meet the highest expectations for performer safety.
These updates include enhanced communication systems, additional referee training, and expanded ringside response measures to help ensure that a situation like this is identified and addressed as quickly as possible.
We appreciate the concern and passion from our fans, and we understand the importance of transparency during moments like this. We will continue to share updates when appropriate, and we ask everyone to keep Dallas in your thoughts as he continues his recovery.
Thank you.
