The CJI 2 drama just took another wild turn. The anonymous benefactor who promised to pay New Wave $1 million after their controversial loss to B-Team has now pulled that offer, leaving Gordon Ryan’s team empty-handed once again.
The Promise That Never Was
Remember when Craig Jones announced that an anonymous donor would pay New Wave $1 million to match B-Team’s prize money? It seemed like the perfect solution to the judging controversy that erupted after CJI 2’s dramatic team final. Both teams would walk away as millionaires, the controversy would die down, and everyone could move on.
Well, that fairy tale ending just got ripped away.
The Reversal
According to multiple reports, the anonymous donor has rescinded their offer to New Wave. The benefactor cited “misleading information” as the reason for backing out of the million-dollar promise that was supposed to smooth over the judging controversy.
This development comes just days after the donor initially confirmed they would pay New Wave the full amount, effectively doubling the prize money and making both teams winners of the controversial final.
What Changed?
The timing of this reversal is particularly interesting. Reports suggest that Gordon Ryan’s behavior and public statements following the event may have influenced the donor’s decision. One source indicated that the donor felt rewarding what they perceived as “bad faith” behavior would set a poor precedent.
The donor apparently became concerned that paying out would validate complaints about the judging rather than supporting the integrity of the competition and its results.
Craig Jones Caught in the Middle
This puts Craig Jones in an incredibly awkward position. He was the one who announced the anonymous donor’s generosity, positioning himself as the promoter who found a way to make everyone happy. Now he’s left explaining why that promise evaporated.
The situation also raises questions about how much control Jones actually had over the donor’s decision and whether he should have made such a public announcement before the money was secured.
The Community Reaction
The grappling community’s response has been mixed. Some see this as the donor making a principled stand about not rewarding complaints about legitimate judging decisions. Others view it as punishing New Wave for speaking up about what they perceived as unfair treatment.
Reddit discussions have been particularly heated, with some suggesting this whole situation was orchestrated to generate maximum drama and attention for the CJI brand.
What This Means for New Wave
For New Wave, this is a brutal turn of events. They went from thinking they’d secured a million-dollar consolation prize to being left with nothing but the memory of a controversial loss. The team that many felt deserved to win the original competition now finds itself completely shut out.
Gordon Ryan and his teammates are likely feeling the sting of this reversal, especially after initially celebrating what seemed like a fair resolution to the controversy.
The Bigger Picture
This development highlights the messy reality of trying to resolve competitive controversies with money. What seemed like an elegant solution – paying both teams – has turned into an even bigger mess that raises more questions than it answers.
The situation also demonstrates the risks of making public promises involving anonymous benefactors. Without direct control over the funding source, promoters can find themselves in impossible positions when circumstances change.
Looking Forward
CJI 2 was supposed to establish Craig Jones as a major player in grappling promotion. Instead, the event has become a case study in how judging controversies can spiral out of control, even when organizers try to find creative solutions.
The anonymous donor’s reversal ensures that the CJI 2 controversy will continue to be discussed and debated long after the mats were rolled up. For an event that was meant to showcase the sport’s best athletes, it’s become better known for its dramatic aftermath than its actual competition.
New Wave is left to wonder what might have been, while B-Team remains the sole million-dollar winners of an event that nobody seems able to forget – for all the wrong reasons.
The grappling world is still trying to figure out what really happened here, and this latest twist only adds more fuel to the fire.
