Felix Upton on March 14, 2026
Al Snow is finally speaking out after the terrifying in-ring incident that left OVW referee Dallas Edwards hospitalized with a brain bleed — and the OVW executive says a breakdown in communication played a major role in why the match didn’t stop sooner.
Snow addressed the situation in a statement posted on Twitter on March 14, 2026, after heavy criticism surrounding the March 12 OVW Rise taping in Louisville, Kentucky, where Edwards suffered a serious head injury during the main event. Snow began by directly acknowledging the incident and the concern from fans and the wrestling community.
“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.”
According to Snow, the injury happened during a planned spot in the match that resulted in Edwards taking a dangerous blow. Snow explained that when injuries normally happen in a wrestling match, referees are responsible for communicating with production and determining whether the match should stop.
“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.”
But in this case, the referee himself was the one who needed immediate help. Snow admitted that this unusual scenario contributed to the delay in ending the match and stopping the broadcast.
“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.”
He also said OVW is now reviewing its procedures following the incident and looking at ways to improve its safety protocols. Snow added that the company plans to introduce improvements to communication systems and emergency response measures.
“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.”
The OVW executive also made it clear the company is relieved Edwards is receiving treatment and continuing to recover. Snow ended the message by thanking fans for their concern and asking them to continue supporting Edwards during his recovery.
“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. We appreciate the concern and passion from our fans, and we understand the importance of transparency during moments like this. We ask everyone to keep Dallas in your thoughts as he continues his recovery.”
The statement comes after Edwards himself shared a personal update revealing doctors diagnosed him with both a concussion and a subdural hematoma — a type of brain bleed — following the accident. Edwards said he plans to take time away from wrestling while he focuses on recovering and regaining his health.
The frightening moment took place during the main event of the March 12 OVW Rise broadcast when Edwards was struck during a diving move and appeared to lose consciousness in the ring, forcing the show to be stopped.
With Snow now addressing the controversy and OVW reviewing its procedures, the incident continues to spark serious discussion about safety and emergency response inside the wrestling ring.
Do you think OVW handled the situation properly, or should the match have been stopped immediately? Let us know what you think.
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