BY KEVIN SAWYER – On Monday, dozens of former professional wrestlers unveiled a class action lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The suit alleges that the WWE was negligent for many years with regard to making the wrestlers perform in such ways as to encourage brain and neurological trauma and damage and that it covered up the possible long term affects.
Among the more than 50 former grapplers, the charge is being led by such hall of famers as Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff. Both former male and female wrestlers who wrestled for Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Federation, as well as in the later re-branded WWE, are holding him responsible for the traumatic injuries they have suffered since leaving the ring. The suit charges that McMahon and the WWE knew all about the potential dangers and failed to warn the wrestlers of possible future consequences.
Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, 73, is leading the lawsuit against the WWE.
The suit goes on to state that, “Instead of upholding its duties to its employees, the WWE placed corporate gain over its wrestler’s health, safety and financial security choosing instead to leave the plaintiffs severely injured and with no recourse to treat their damaged minds and bodies.”
The suit also alleges that McMahon and the WWE continued to conceal the possible damage and “routinely failed to care for them”. The lawsuit also contends that the WWE had labeled the wrestlers as independent contractors rather than employees to avoid having to take responsibility for their injuries. In addition, the suit also looks to attack the legal clause that addresses contact sports, such as hockey and football, which may offer the Stamford, Connecticut based WWE a way out. The suit claims that all of the moves used in the matches have always been carefully scripted and that the wrestlers had to perform them or risk losing their jobs. This would differ from the straight and unscripted violent contact that happens in both the NHL and the NFL.
Snuka, who is now 73 years old, is being represented by his wife because a judge found him mentally incompetent to stand trial for the alleged murder of his former girlfriend more than thirty years ago. Many have come to Snuka’s defense claiming that he is suffering from dementia, and other neurological damage, due to the injuries suffered throughout his long career.
This is not the first time former wrestlers have tried to sue McMahon and his WWE. However, there has been little success in past lawsuits as the WWE managed to have all of those cases against them dismissed.
PHOTO CREDITS: The Associated Press / Sportskeeda.com / Denofgeek.us / Cagesideseats.com