Hired Help Gets the Smackdown from ‘Employer’

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word wrestling? Surely not an employment lawsuit, although avid readers will ultimately know that’s the outcome of this story!

World Wrestling Entertainment, otherwise known as WWE, has been in the spotlight for many years. It’s known for its outlandish performers, as well as the “violence” that ensues. I use the term “violence” loosely because it is commonly debated that WWE violence is fake or staged. However, in this most recent case of workers’ compensation, one employee was left severely injured.

In 2013, the WWE hit Savannah, Georgia, for an event during which one guard—who was hired to stand outside the ring and monitor the crowd—was hit from behind with a folding chair, resulting in injuries to his head, neck, and back. The guard was not part of the show but claims he was attacked by Jonathan Good, who wrestles under the stage name Dean Ambrose. He says he is unsure as to who actually attacked him, since his back was to the ring, but his attorney says they will watch the footage to find out for sure.

The attack left the guard with “serious, significant and permanent personal injuries.” He also says that because of the gross negligence of the WWE, he is suffering from “physical and mental anguish, diminishment of his earning capacity, and continues to suffer a loss of enjoyment of life.” The guard is now suing the WWE for unspecified damages related to his injuries.

In a written statement, the WWE said it had no knowledge of the incident, “and the security company that hired the plaintiff doesn’t have any record of this matter either. Furthermore, the plaintiff’s attorney has admitted he has no basis to sue the individual defendants named in the lawsuit.”

In addition to Jonathan Good, the guard also names John Cena, Tim Works, Ryan Allen Reeves, Leati Joseph Anoa’i, Colby Lopez, Glenn Thomas Jacobs, Bryan Danielson, Curtis Jonathan Hussey, Ronnie Aaron Killings, Aaron Steven Haddad, Claudio Castagnoli, and Cody Garrett Runnels as defendants. It is unclear whether this all-star cast will have their day in court, or if the guard is just “faking it.”