Joey Janela is no longer co-promoting a show next month as part of Orange Crush’s PRODUCE series, it was revealed on Tuesday.
Independent wrestling vet Janela had a falling out with upstart wrestling brand PRODUCE earlier this week, a super-indy company which launched just a month ago. Due to this dispute, Janela announced yesterday that a September 13 card from Jersey City, New Jersey titled “Janelasus Rex” won’t have his or Megan Bayne’s involvement anymore.
“Hello I regret to inform everyone that Megan Bayne & Myself will no longer be curating or appearing at the event on September 13th in Jersey City for PRODUCE,” Janela said on X. “A new curator will be appointed for the event & I wish everyone at produce continued success!”
In the hours that followed, Janela described his reason for distancing himself from PRODUCE, which emerged after an issue earlier this week, before the company’s third event, which took place on Monday evening.
Janela, who was scheduled to appear on the card and serve as an agent, ran into travel issues after his planned flight into New York City, where the event was happening, was cancelled.
With no other direct flight options available, Janela said that PRODUCE’s head booker, Adam Abdalla a.k.a Orange Crush, offered that he fly into Philadelphia then drive to New York, possibly via Uber. Janela says he declined such travel options, replying: “I ain’t doing all that.”
Text screenshots posted by Janela show Abdalla expressing frustration, at one point putting a focus on some of the bookings Janela had taken elsewhere.
“Get to the show,” a text screenshot reads. “And don’t prioritize bulls*** 1 pm bookings across the country for half the rate next time.”
Another text screenshot provided by Janela shows Abdalla alleging that Janela missed his flight. Abdalla has since denied ever saying that Janela missed his flight.
“Adam has to learn how to speak to people, he was a great friend of mine also just a great guy but somewhere within the last year or 2 that changed,” Janela said on X. “He’s become someone that has been absolutely unhinged, deplorable and embarrassing to others around him including his friends.”
Shortly after Janela’s social media posts, the official PRODUCE account went on a lengthy tirade of replies on X, disputing details from Janela and defending themselves against many others who joined in on the discussion. He kept the door open for a Janela return at one point, saying in a reply that “Hes welcome back here too when he cools down. All love.”
By Wednesday morning, Abdalla promised to “lay low” on social media and instead focus on building the promotion.
“Let passion get the best of me,” he said. “Apologies to the hard working crew and wrestlers who made such an incredible show happen on Monday – getting baited into drama, detracting from that worthy attention.”
