AEW has terminated its contract with Bear Boulder (real name Thomas David Wansaw) after his arrest for allegedly assaulting his fiancée. Wansaw was taken into custody on January 13th on charges of battery by strangulation, following an incident at their shared apartment.
According to an affidavit filed with the Orange County Clerk of Courts in Florida, Wansaw allegedly pushed the woman to the ground and placed his foot on her throat, causing her to lose consciousness. When she regained consciousness approximately five to ten minutes later, she managed to escape to the balcony and call 911. Officers observed visible injuries, including red marks, scratches around her neck, and a bruise on her hand.
The arrest report indicates that Wansaw admitted to the assault, claiming his anger was triggered by negative comments the woman made about his job. He was arrested at the scene and taken to the Orange County Detention Facility. A no-contact order was filed against him on January 14th.
Wansaw’s attorney filed a written plea of not guilty and a waiver of arraignment on January 15th. The case remains open, with a motion to modify the no-contact order granted without objections from the state. The alleged victim is listed as a state’s witness in the modified order.
Wansaw, alongside Bear Bronson, formed the tag team “The Iron Savages,” primarily appearing on Ring of Honor programming. His last match with AEW took place on January 11th.
