Marisa Welch Posted October 22, 2023 Posted October 22, 2023 EXCLUSIVE REPORT FROM UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER NEW ORLEANS OCW Ambassador Claude Hall was taken to the hospital late Saturday afternoon (10/21/23) after being allegedly assaulted with a cinder block backstage at the OCWFED Hard Target event. Well sources at the scene of the incident are saying that’s not the case. A long-time custodian that works at the arena where the OCW event took place was present during the incident to witness what happened. This is what he had to say. “Yeah I saw that whole thing there go down. See we’ve been having problems with the ceiling in that part of the arena ever since Hurricane Katrina. Trying to cut costs, they keep hiring these quacks to repair it. It barely is up to code. I doubt it would pass an inspection. Yeah so anyways I heard a loud crack and noticed dust falling from above. I surely thought we wouldn't be having an earthquake. So I look up and down the hall I see a piece of big brick dislodge from the ceiling. Before I could even warn [Mr. Hall], I see the block graze his forehead and boom, he’s on the ground. I knew he would be alright cause there wasn’t much contact with the cinder block. He’s lucky, must’ve been in shock though. It must’ve also nicked a vein cause there was a lot of blood. I ran to get help as soon as I saw it.” - Gerald Winslow | local maintenance man/witness Current OCW woman wrestler’s brother was also at the scene. “It all happened so fast. I was talking to him one minute, took a few steps to head to the concession, and the next I heard a groan and saw him laid out all bloody. [it]Was scary, but he was coherent, thankfully.” - Marcelo Welch | witness Fortunately Claude Hall is okay, the incident only resulting in abrasions and a small laceration. A few stitches were needed. A minor injury for something that could’ve ended much worse. He was kept overnight for observation but discharged early this morning. We were able to get a few words with the wrestling star at the hospital before he left for the airport. “I was stunned, I didn’t know what hit me, and when I saw blood it brought me to the ground. I was really shaken up. Just glad I’m alright. I think the fact that I sort of have a bionic skull helped too. Fun fact about me.. I have a small metal plate at the front of my skull after I was in a bad bicycle accident as a kid. Downhill, no brakes, steep hill. Yeah. My momma always said I was hard headed. Before the metal plate was installed, insurance wouldn’t cover it, so they first had to use aluminum. I had to avoid microwaves. It was pretty traumatic, I couldn't even be around baked potatoes for the longest. Aluminum foil was my trigger. Uh, am I rambling. Sorry it’s been a long night.” - Claude Hall | OCWFED Ambassador/victim Claude says he plans to rest and recover all week at his home in upstate New York. He was also informed that Benjamin C-Note Franklin was at the scene of the accident. Claude says he was enraged when he learned of the news and very suspicious as to why he was there at that time. Mr. Hall plans to take no legal action against the owners of the venue at this time. -Jackie Nawlins NEW ORLEANS NEWS CHANNEL 11 • Entertainment 3
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