Danny Cage Calls Out Joey Mercury, ROH Dojo For His Exit From The Company, More
Danny Cage speaks about his time working with the ROH Dojo.
Danny Cage, Who currently operates the Monster Factory Training Center in New Jersey, was previously working with Ring of Honor in their Dojo system. In a new Twitter thread, Cage, real name: Dan McDonald, opens up about his frustrations with Joey Mercury, Will Ferrara, and Kelly Klein.
In his first couple of tweets, he alleges that Ferrara has been intimate with some of the talent and calls into question the way that Joey Mercury believes in getting people over.
When I was hired by ROH I was hired to bring my system to their ROH Dojo. But the kids & coaches didn’t want that. Why put in work when you can get paid to peddle drugs, sleep with people’s wives & students? So I had to go. It’s been the drizzling shits since. Good times. pic.twitter.com/3wY6BGOhIN
— Danny Cage aka Dan McDonald (@TheDannyCage) April 28, 2021
Which I later found out he was & is. I’m not bitter. Just better. Was thinking how much the talent over there would’ve benefited from actually training as opposed to Joey’s formula. Do gas & get someone fired. That’s how you get ahead in his eyes. Trash humans over there.
— Danny Cage aka Dan McDonald (@TheDannyCage) April 28, 2021
Later, he goes on to speak about Joey Mercury allegedly being under the influence during a tryout session and “snapping” on Hana Kimura and speaks about a time that Joey “assaulted” a trainee. Fightful hasn’t been able to confirm that Mercury was under the influence, but did confirm the story about Hana Kimura.
Also that time we thought Joey was pilled up during ROH tryout. Started leaning over. Eyes rolling back in head. Right after he snapped on Hana & told her to shut up or go to the back. That’s how much trash he is. She was one of the sweetest ever. Trash humans
— Danny Cage aka Dan McDonald (@TheDannyCage) April 28, 2021
Then there was that time after I left when Joey pretty much assaulted Eli in the ring during training. Embarrassing him in front of his peers. Also in front of Will who was his original coach & Will did nothing. Because will at this point was mini Joey.
— Danny Cage aka Dan McDonald (@TheDannyCage) April 28, 2021
Danny would later say that he spoke to a former WWE coach about his time dealing with Joey Mercury and they had similar stories.
Plus a worker or two who got fired because of him. He befriends you. Gets dirt. Tells people he’s going to fire x y or z. Then does get them fired. Now he’s feared. Never respected.
— Danny Cage aka Dan McDonald (@TheDannyCage) April 28, 2021
If what was done to me by the trash humans was done to a wrestler there’d be such outrage. But I’m just some coach trying to feed my family. Who just so happens to be the most successful coach in the past decade. Go figure.
— Danny Cage aka Dan McDonald (@TheDannyCage) April 28, 2021
Ian Riccaboni, the current play-by-play broadcaster for Ring of Honor, responded to the Danny Cage Twitter thread with a post on Reddit where he shared his own tumultuous dealings with Joey Mercury, including supporting is recounting of Joey Mercury’s incident with Hana Kimura
Hard and fast use of the pejorative F word which I asked him to stop. “Why do you say that about Rhett Titus’ body? I’m in better shape than him! What, are you some kind of ***?!” This would occur after events but also when he’d call me at 1:30 AM ET. Why it needed to be addressed at 1:30 AM ET on days we didn’t have events and I was living my life as a civilian, I have no idea.
Would joke about the time we saw a woman (the make up artist we had at Madison Square Garden) asking for a ROH staffer by name so she could get her check at the hotel. The situation, admittedly, was kind of funny. It appeared to be something it was not. He has implied that he was ready to drop this conversation. He has posted edited texts between us before on Twitter and I wouldn’t be surprised if he does it again.
Similarly, he’s threatened to out a LGBTQ member of the ROH roster and out one of my best friends.
I haven’t said anything because I was pretty crippled by fear that I’ve said something out of pocket and it might come to light. But Danny needs a friend right now and what he’s saying about the power dynamic that was created is true and what a WrestleMania headliner pulled me aside and warned me. If I said something out of pocket, that is on me and I have to own it.
I was/am not involved in the Dojo beyond the semi-annual tryouts. The first one we did with Joey, I came prepared as I always did with a printed spreadsheet of the campers names, hometowns/home promotion, experience level. I printed enough for everyone. Bully, BJ, Delirious, Daniels, and others said thank you; Joey took the copy I made for him and my personal copy and trashed them. This was the same camp Hana was at. Can confirm what Danny has said regarding Hana.
Finally, most recently, Joey blamed me on Twitter for spoiling Final Battle. One of the Dojo students has since privately apologized for providing him the results. It was a lot of time and energy explaining to folks that I didn’t tell a soul. Joey always said there are two things you can’t get back: people’s time and attention. It didn’t ruin my Christmas but I’m just glad someone nearly four months later admitted to providing him the results. He got my time and attention. Good one.
This has been therapeutic for me, too. There are others who likely feel the same way. But this is a time and an emotion drain. They likely are in similar positions where they have kids or other jobs and that they consider the issue closed and can’t spare the emotion, especially during a pandemic. And there may be some too who fear what they’ve said to Joey via text. But I’m proud of Danny for having the courage to speak up.
Currently, Joey Mercury and Kelly Klein are in the process of pursuing legal action against Ring of Honor. You can learn more about that at this link. Mercury responded on Twitter this morning with the following:
Why didn’t you tell me you were so goddamaned world famous!?!?!
I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to be in your yard at 2:55a, but thanks for the invite. Politely decline.
Talent whom you (& talent) will both share the wisdoms you’ve imparted?
I also don’t have your # pic.twitter.com/OStCvNHgSE— joey mercury (@NumeroUnoRudo) April 28, 2021
Fightful will continue to monitor the story and report any and all updates.
