Professional wrestler Sammy Guevara has made his return to AEW Dynamite after serving a one-month suspension without pay, which was implemented after inappropriate comments he had made about WWE superstar Sasha Banks in 2016 resurfaced.
During the most recent episode of Dynamite, which aired tonight on TNT, Guevara -- initially disguised as the masked wrestler Serpentico -- rejoined the ranks of the Inner Circle. A multi-man tag team match was then made for next week's episode -- pitting Guevara, Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Santana and Ortiz against the Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent), Orange Cassidy, Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy. Guevara celebrated his return on Twitter, writing, "The Spanish God is back!"
Guevara was the subject of major backlash last month, when a clip from the wrestler's Jan. 25, 2016 appearance on The Whole F'N Show podcast circulated on social media. In the clip, Guevara -- then 22 -- made troubling remarks about WWE's Sasha Banks, joking that he had wanted to "rape" her. This clip being unearthed coincided with the #SpeakingOut movement, which involved multiple individuals recounting their experiences with sexual abuse and harassment in the professional wrestling industry.
Amid the controversy, All Elite Wrestling announced on June 22 -- exactly one month ago -- that it had suspended Guevara without pay, and that the wrestler had agreed to undergo and complete sensitivity training before returning to television. AEW -- which is based in Jacksonville, Florida -- also explained that while Guevara was serving his suspension, his entire salary would be donated to the Women's Center of Jacksonville.
Guevara issued a public apology the same day, writing, "I've made stupid, inappropriate and extremely offensive comments in my past. In my idiotic mind, I thought I was being funny in using words and terms that represent nothing but horror and pain. I am truly sorry for my hurtful words and actions, and I will never forgive myself."
Guevara also privately apologized to Banks (real name Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado), who issued a statement of her own. "Earlier I spoke with Sammy, he apologized and we had an open discussion," she wrote. "Words like the comments he made, jokingly or not, have absolutely no place in our society... What one thinks is just a side comment can have a massive impact on someone else's life, and can send the wrong message... No person, man woman or child, should ever be subjected to a feeling of fear, or any unsafe environment. We all have to do better not just for ourselves, but for generations to come."
AEW Dynamite airs Wednesday nights on TNT.