Details on Billy Jack Haynes Lawsuit Against WWE

Former WWE Superstar Billy Jack Haynes has filed a lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment, attempting to hold the company liable for injuries wrestlers sustain while working for it.

PWInsider acquired a copy of the lawsuit, which is 30 pages long. Below are some of the key notions of it.

He first accuses WWE of negligence, saying it:

“…has, for decades, subjected its wrestlers to extreme physical brutality that it knew, or should have known, caused long-term irreversible bodily damage, including brain damage.”

He also cites how the usage of steel chair shots to the head contributed to brain damage, referencing Mick Foley and calling out comments made by Stephanie McMahon and Triple H.

The quote in question: “For example, if there are a number of guys in the ring, like say there is five guys attacking one guy, and I am a good guy going to come out, if I come out by myself, I am going to get beat down just as bad as the other guy. But if I come out with a chair, I might have a better chance. Logically, so that is how the chairs are used. You might have seen ?? or I don’t know if you have seen any of our scripts ?? but there might be chair shots written in at some point.”

Among other notes in the lawsuit:

*Over the course of his two years with WWE, Haynes claimed he suffered “15 concussions”, yet was was never encouraged by WWE physicians to seek the help of a neurologist and had his injuries downplayed by WWE staff. Haynes also claimed he was never warned about potential head injuries and if he had been, would not have worked for WWE.   (This paints a picture that Haynes would not have potentially gotten concussions working for other wrestling promotions, which is silly. The physicality of professional wrestling would obviously state otherwise.)

*Haynes alleges he was “forced, and encouraged, to take steroids and other illicit drugs. He did so at the behest of WWE. WWE intimated that he would be fired if he refused. He received steroids, along with various other illicit drugs, directly from WWE-affiliated physicians on a monthly basis. These drugs masked the pain stemming from his WWE matches, and caused him to wrestle through dangerous injuries, including injuries to his head.”

*Haynes also alleges that “While wrestling for WWE, Haynes, and other wrestlers, also contracted Hepatitis C. This occurred when Haynes, and the other wrestlers, at the behest of WWE, would become covered in each other’s blood during matches.”

WWE has since taken more steps towards protecting the well-being of talent, and has become more vigilant with domestic violence as of late.

More parts of the lawsuit can be found here.

Editor’s Note

Some of the stuff definitely sounds plausible for WWE at that time, but now, highly unlikely of WWE.

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