Here’s what we know. On December 29, 2024, ex-convict Wes Watson was involved in the gang beatdown of a special needs man at Elev8tion Fitness in Miami, FL. As news hit the press, Christian Duque of StrengthAddicts, inspired by the wonderful reporting of Jon Bravo Films and Ballerbusters , took to social media to weigh in. In so doing, Angel Bajeda (the owner of Elev8tion Fitness) started posting comments regarding the incident in question. Mr. Bajeda insisted that it was a matter of pure self-defense and that Watson defended himself after being attacked by the special needs man. Bajeda insisted that Wes had clean hands, denied any scenario of multiple people aiding Watson, and denied the gym’s involvement.
When Duque pressed Bajeda about the high likelihood that Bajeda would be deposed civilly and/or called to testify in future criminal proceedings, Bajeda doubled down on his version of the incident. When Duque pressed him on dishonesty in a deposition and/or perjuring himself on the stand, Bajeda insisted that he would say the same thing in court, stating “I know how this works.” At the time, it seemed Mr. Bajeda was openly stating he’d lie under oath. Now, given the wealth of evidence released – from police reports, state charges of felony assault and battery against Watson, and newly released Miami Police Department body cam video (courtesy of Jon Bravo Films), it’s 100% clear that Mr. Bajeda intends to lie under oath. Only time will tell if Mr. Bajeda is stupid enough to try it.
Mr. Bajeda and Elv8tion Fitness went radio silent as the social media backlash against this incident spread like wildfire. They took some remedial measures, albeit very late in the game. They admonished Watson to stop putting the gym and its location on blast for future fights. When that failed to stop the backlash, they booted Watson and his thugs out of the gym altogether. Mr. Bajeda never went back on any of the lies he tried to present as an alternative narrative to what really went down at his facility. The gym at no point in time released any sort of official statement regarding the incident. Instead, they closed the location where the incident took place and celebrated another grand opening of a new facility in the area. When Watson was arrested and charged with felony assault and battery, the gym continued to stay silent. But the body cam footage shows that not only did Elev8tion Fitness allow Wes Watson to lure people into the gym for allegedly 1:1 fights, but they tried to use the Miami Police Department to destroy evidence in a criminal investigation.
The man above, clearly a gym employee, was on the phone with someone (presumably Bajeda or another owner/higher-up) and asked the Miami Police to order the victim to erase his cell phone footage. Next, he asked MPD if they could ask instead of tell. Miami Police officers declined both requests. At that point, the Elev8tion Fitness staff member put the phone back to his ear and walked away.
Who is the staff member in the photo (please provide us his name) and what’s his position with the gym? And who was he speaking with? The fact is, the gym was very uncomfortable with the victim having control of a video that could later be critical in a police investigation, prosecution, and/or to be released on social media. It’s shocking that this gym would think that law enforcement officers would knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily facilitate Elev8tion Fitness in getting the victim of a crime to destroy evidence.
Mr. Bajeda was adamant that there was video and the police had seen it; however, the idea that the victim had his own video, must have alarmed the gym’s management and owners because that video may have shown a clearer picture of what happened that day. The man standing in the picture above is one of Wes Watson’s goons. It seems he was in the process of recording some of the footage on his phone from the way he’s holding it. Was the man seated involved beyond controlling the computer? We don’t know.
But the gym’s involvement in this criminal matter doesn’t stop there. If you watch the body cam footage released by Jon Bravo Films, there’s a part where an MPD officer asks another officer if an Elev8tion Fitness manager was involved in the gang-style beat down of the victim in the felony assault and battery that took place at the gym. Could this be why Elev8tion Fitness wanted the victim’s video destroyed?
The man in the picture above, who said his name was “Nick,” and the goon behind him (who hit the victim with a dumbbell) told Miami Police officers that he didn’t make contact with the victim. The police officers disagreed and said the video (which video) confirmed that he, in fact, kicked the victim while he was on the floor. “Nick” should be charged in this crime, as well as the goon behind him.
The goon in the photo above may also have been involved in the gang-style beatdown of the victim in this case. He was the most involved of the goons, as he was also in the video room with Elev8tion Fitness staff. This lying thug concocted an entire false narrative which he tried his best to deceive members of law enforcement with. Lying to a police officer is a misdemeanor of the first degree, under Florida Statute 837.055.
Although Angel Bajeda was adamant that Wes Watson acted in self defense, no one from law enforcement on that given day bought it. And no one knew that better, than ole Wes, himself. This is why towards the end of this body cam nightmare, he decided to go with the idea that the victim may have had a firearm. No one believed this story, either. It’s only a question of time until more people are charged in this crime. It’s also very likely that Elev8tion Fitness will be sued – as I hope they are. This gym may have great locations, great equipment, and great amenities, but it’s owned and operated by some pretty shady individuals.
Don’t like what I wrote? SUE, ME! PLEASE!
