Issues for 1PW.
1PW originally launched in 2005, ceased operations in 2011, but relaunched in 2022. Steven Gauntley founded the promotion and was part of the relaunch.
The promotion was promoting an event for October 28 that featured the likes of Matt Cardona, Erick Redbeard, and James Storm, but the event has been canceled according to multiple talents booked for the show.
Announcer Joe Dombrowski has accused Gauntley of fraud and other illegal activities, providing the following evidence:
Steven Gauntley had a secret bank account he used to embezzle 1PW income without his business partners knowing.
— Joe Dombrowski (@joe_dombrowski) September 27, 2023
From the time it was meant to be closed (April) onward, over 5,000 GBP were transferred from there directly to his personal bank account. 1PW never saw it come in. pic.twitter.com/wenc3MKpCy
Steven Gauntley misrepresented the company's value, by claiming things he or the company didn't even own (such as camera equipment, the ring, all of which are rented) as assets. In other words, fraud. This arrangement didn't last.
— Joe Dombrowski (@joe_dombrowski) September 27, 2023
But he had another plan to raise funds.......
Steven Gauntley kept booking & announcing talent for Oct & Dec in spite of multiple talents still needing paid for June & some even earlier.
— Joe Dombrowski (@joe_dombrowski) September 27, 2023
He claimed to me NONE required deposits for Oct, but turns out he was offering several.
When I confronted him on this, the story changed. pic.twitter.com/kkskqpktS5
Ultimately, once Steven Gauntley realized how close to all of this information I was, he did what he knows to do... he ran.
— Joe Dombrowski (@joe_dombrowski) September 27, 2023
I was able to join a growing list of "friend" and "associates" who can now see this view anytime they want... pic.twitter.com/PKbzeQYiuH
in over his head and didn't know how to survive. Now I know that this is just his nature. This all felt deliberate, measured, and pre-meditated. The company was making money. There was no reason for this. But the way of a snake is to be a snake.
— Joe Dombrowski (@joe_dombrowski) September 27, 2023
Please help spread the word to any fans or staff or talent you may know that aren't aware. There is literally no one running this company according to the UK government.
— Joe Dombrowski (@joe_dombrowski) September 27, 2023
If anyone is still owed money & needs contact info to attempt to get it from the source, please contact me.
Evidence that this company has no one running it currently pic.twitter.com/1eDIb7a9iL
— Joe Dombrowski (@joe_dombrowski) September 27, 2023
Gauntley filed a termination of appointment filing with the UK government on September 26.
The 1PW social media account has been deactivated. Ticket sales for the event on October 28 have been paused by the venue.
“We are looking into the issues raised around the 1PW event so have decided to pause ticket sales for the time being. We will provide an update to customers as soon as we have more information," said a spokesperson for the venue.
Fans can support Dombrowski and Mark Ashley by watching Will Ospreay vs. Matt Cardona as ad revenue generated will help pay what they are owed. Watch by clicking here.
1PW was previously accused of not paying talent. Will Ospreay announced he had parted ways with the company after the accusations of talent not being paid surfaced.
