A Spring-Ford school teacher and independent wrestler is being investigated by the Spring-Ford Area School District because his wrestling character, “Blitzkrieg the German Juggernaut,” waves a flag adorned with the German Iron Cross and uses Nazi salutes.
In at least one video posted online, the wrestler/school teacher can also be heard shouting "Sieg heil' as he entered an arena before a match.
Kevin Bean, 36, is the teacher and man behind the wrestling persona. According to the Spring-Ford Area School District’s website, he’s been employed by the district since 2004. He currently teaches fifth and sixth grade students at Spring-Ford Intermediate School.
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Bean wrestles with an independent promotion called World Wide Wrestling Association. As first reported in an article published by The Blast, a recent Twitter video from Wrestling Sheet’s Ryan Satin went mildly viral Wednesday night, showing Bean’s entrance at a show in Quakertown, Bucks County.
The full match can be seen below:
The WWWA had posted a video of the entire match between Bean's Blitzkrieg and another wrestler named Cody Rose to its YouTube page. By Tuesday morning, that video had been removed, although Bean remains listed among WWWA's roster of wrestlers.
Following Satin's tween, it didn’t take long for wrestling fans and Twitter users to express their distaste for Bean’s character and antics:
Interestingly, the WWWA’s Facebook page contains this message from owner, founder and president Dino Sanna:
“The wrestling that you see on TV today is, for the most part, not worth taking your family to see. It has become too violent, too risqué and at times blatantly vulgar. What the World Wide Wrestling Alliance brings you is a great great all around experience for the WHOLE family to enjoy!”
Sanna did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PhillyVoice on Friday afternoon
Erin Crew, the manager of communications and marketing with Spring-Ford Area School District, said the district was made aware of the video Thursday and an investigation is underway. Because it’s a personnel matter, Crew said, details of the investigation will not be addressed publicly.
In an additional statement sent in an email, the district said Bean’s actions in the video “do not represent the core values of the school district. As an educational organization, we pride ourselves in providing a safe and nurturing learning environment.”
On Tuesday, visitors to the school school district's website automatically saw a message from Spring-Ford School District Superintendent David Goodin expressing similar sentiments.
The WWWA’s next show is scheduled for Aug. 11 at Silver Wing Arena in Gilbertsville, Montgomery County.
Bean could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday.
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