Recent Deaths Are Creating Legal Trouble for WWE

WWE has had ongoing legal trouble in the form of a class action lawsuit that alleges their mistreatment of employees, and a number of recent deaths have empowered the plaintiff’s attorneys to continue pushing forward.

The lawsuit, filed in July 2016, alleges that WWE has not properly handled their superstars’ concussions, and takes issue with WWE’s standard practice of classifying wrestlers as “independent contractors.”

According to PWInsider, WWE attorneys have attempted to stop discovery in this case, since the recent class action suit was in addition to existing ongoing lawsuits. Attorneys on the other side argue that the plaintiffs were not yet suing when discovery on the original cases was halted, meaning that the recent plaintiffs could not have had time for their charges to be properly heard.

The motion argues that “the epidemic that is killing professional wrestlers and the Plaintiffs in this case necessitate a full and robust discovery to ensure that these wrestlers are given the relief they need before more wrestlers die from the complications of professional wrestling. Discovery should not be stayed as it is only further wasting precious time and rewarding the Defendants abusive, delaying tactics.”

It specifically invokes recent deaths including George Steele, Jimmy Snuka, Chavo Guerrero Sr., Ivan Koloff, Nicole Bass, and Rex King.

George "The Animal" Steele: WWE Hall of Fame Class of 1995

While I’d like to be able to offer some meaningful insight and commentary here, legal analysis and concussion science are somewhat beyond the scope of what we do here at Wrestling Rumors. We will, of course, continue to keep you up to date.