CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Guardian’s ongoing investigation into local professional wrestling promoter Dillon Hines, the son of legendary wrestler Bobby Fulton, continues to reveal a series of allegations that include alleged verbal and physical abuse, forgery, and questionable business practices. Hines recently stated he has plans to exit the wrestling industry after his promotions event in March.
Heated Podcast Exchange with Bobby Fulton
In March 2024, Dillon Hines and his father, Bobby Fulton (real name Jimmy Hines), appeared on the Duke Loves Rasslin podcast to address allegations of forgery and mismanagement. During the interview, tensions flared when Fulton criticized Dillon’s decision to focus on lesser-known talent rather than established stars, suggesting these choices negatively affected their business.
Dillon reacted defensively, accusing his father of undermining his efforts. In a particularly heated moment, he reportedly said, “You quit being something when you had cancer,” and called his father a “dumb [expletive].” Fulton, battling throat cancer, appeared emotionally drained and attempted to end the argument, but Dillon persisted, intensifying the exchange.
The podcast host described the interaction as “disturbing and deeply concerning” and later shared a portion of the interview with The Guardian. Duke Bennett stated it was one of the most troubling exchanges he had ever witnessed on his show.
Devon Dudley Incident
Former WWE superstar Devon Dudley (real name Devon Hughes) is among the talent who have accused Hines of unprofessionalism. During a local show, Dudley alleged Hines failed to provide a table for a meet-and-greet session. During the event, Hines reportedly demanded that Dudley sign a stack of pictures—an act Dudley claimed was not part of their agreement. When Dudley refused, Hines allegedly threatened to have police remove him from the building. This incident escalated into a public falling out, with Hines reportedly criticizing Dudley on social media.
Rob Van Dam (RVD) Speaks Out
Wrestling legend Rob Van Dam (real name Robert Szatkowski) provided insight into Hines’ strained relationships with talent. In a message to The Guardian, RVD claimed, “The list of talent that got slimed by these two [referring to Dillon and Bobby Fulton] is pretty extensive.” He cited issues with others including CJ Perry (Lana), Sonny Ono, and Michael Bochicchio from Highspots.com. Mr. Bochicchio declined an interview with the Guardian but did say, “Highspots will no longer be affiliated with this promotion. Every reason has been publicly documented already.”
RVD also referenced an incident involving an incident with an individual named Kris at a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania casino. RVD shared a screenshot of a text message from Kris, which read:
“After sending him a $3,000 deposit, which I am certain he kept for himself, he ghosted me. I had to go through every other agent I knew to get with you. Finally got him back involved towards the end. Lucky I didn’t sue him and press charges for stepping out for an $800 tab at the casino… had everything comped during the appearance, and he took y’all over to another spot knowing that [stuff] wasn’t free.”
While Dillon has shared multiple screenshots on his social media that reportedly show him paying RVD in full, RVD maintains a different narrative, alleging unprofessional behavior and financial disputes.
RVD provides details regarding his claims against Hines on his podcast: 1 of a Kind podcast with RVD.
Unfulfilled Commitments and Financial Disputes
Several individuals have also taken to social media to accuse Hines of failing to honor agreements, including:
- Kenny Holden: Claimed Dillon never delivered the promised memorabilia, costing Holden hundreds of dollars.
- Mike Blankenship: Stated he waited nearly eight months to recover money owed by Dillon, which he claims damaged his reputation.
- Matt Riddle Dispute: Dillon accused former WWE superstar Matt Riddle of attempting to raise his booking fee from $8,000 to $10,000 at the last minute. The Guardian’s previous report outlined the Matt Riddle controversy.
Blocking Critics on Social Media
Dillon has also been accused of silencing detractors by blocking them on social media. This practice has reportedly alienated fans and colleagues, with some suggesting it reflects a broader pattern of avoiding accountability.
“Dillon’s first instinct is to block anyone who questions him,” said one promoter. “He’s alienated so many people that it’s no surprise these allegations are piling up.”
Dillon’s Defense and Social Media Feuds
In response to The Guardian’s reports, Dillon Hines took to social media to defend himself and his promotion. He dismissed the allegations as lies from disgruntled individuals and insisted that he had always operated “above board.” Dillon Hines and the promotion have consistently denied all allegations.
Divided Community Reaction
The wrestling community remains divided. Supporters highlight Dillon’s contributions to local wrestling, including organizing events with stars that may never necessarily visit the community any other time.
However, others are troubled by the mounting allegations.
“Dillon’s behavior has been troubling for years,” said a promoter who agreed to speak to the Guardian under the conditions of anonymity. “The allegations of elder abuse and forgery only reinforce what many of us have witnessed firsthand.”
Legendary Bobby Fulton took to social media after several viewers of a recent Facebook Live video became concerned for his well-being. The elder Hines took to Facebook issuing a statement saying, “Last night Dillon and I was live, on his, concerning issues that we thought needed to be addressed….If any watched or watches it, I foolishly started to pretend like we were arguing. He was smiling while I was pretending. Which we wasn’t at all. Some have used that minute snippet ridicule him. There’s nothing further from the truth.” Bobby Fulton would go on to say in his statement, “Well, apparently I have some fuel for the fire.” Some have stated that they do not believe that the incident was benign, but both Dillon and his father refute that statement.
Regarding the March incident, the Guardian asked Duke Bennett from Duke Loves Rasslin’s podcast if he believed the incident during his podcast was staged. “100% real. I know it for a fact because Dillon has threatened to sue me over and over again for airing it. At first, I wasn’t going to, but the issue of Elder Abuse and having damning evidence was too important for me to sit on. Also, again, these guys are often yelling and screaming at each other and Dillon getting physical with Bobby as a result behind the scenes at events.”
The Future of World Classic Professional Big-Time Wrestling
Founded by Bobby Fulton and his father, Big Jim Hines, in 1977, World Class Professional Big Time Wrestling has been a cornerstone of the independent wrestling scene for nearly five decades. Dillon became heavily involved in 2016, organizing events featuring numerous wrestling icons.
As Dillon prepares to step away following his March 8, 2025, event in Chillicothe, Ohio, he has insisted the promotion will continue under new leadership. “This business existed 50 years before me, and it will continue 50 years after me,” Dillon stated in a recent podcast appearance.
Dillon’s Final Event
Dillon’s reported farewell event, set for March 8 at the OU Shoemaker Center in Chillicothe, will feature a lineup of wrestling legends, including Mick Foley, Kevin Von Erich, Hillbilly Jim, Honky Tonk Man, Jake Hager, and others. The event will include an autograph signing, a Q&A session, and a live wrestling show.
Tickets start at $20 for general admission, with premium packages offering exclusive access to the Q&A session and front-row seating.