Following a lawsuit filed by former AEW star Ryan Nemeth, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and its president, Tony Khan, have initiated legal proceedings to move the case to arbitration. This development comes after Nemeth accused AEW and Khan of various allegations, including assault and professional retaliation.
Key Takeaways
- AEW and Tony Khan filed a petition to compel arbitration in response to Nemeth’s lawsuit.
- The lawsuit includes claims of assault, breach of contract, and professional retaliation.
- AEW argues that Nemeth’s claims should be resolved through arbitration as per his contract.
- The case is now in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Background of the Lawsuit
Ryan Nemeth, who previously worked with AEW, filed a lawsuit in California against the company, Tony Khan, and former wrestler CM Punk, along with 20 unnamed defendants. The lawsuit alleges:
- Assault: Nemeth claims he was assaulted by CM Punk during an AEW event.
- Breach of Contract: He alleges that AEW violated the terms of his contract.
- Professional Retaliation: Nemeth asserts that he has been blacklisted from the wrestling industry due to his complaints.
AEW’s Response
In response to the lawsuit, AEW and Khan filed a petition in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, arguing that:
- Arbitration Clause: Nemeth signed three contracts with AEW, each containing an arbitration clause that mandates disputes be resolved in Duval County, Florida.
- Contractual Obligations: The petition states that Nemeth ignored his contractual obligations by filing the lawsuit in California instead of pursuing arbitration.
- Legal Fees: AEW is also seeking to have Nemeth cover the legal fees incurred in bringing this petition to court.
Legal Implications
The arbitration clause in Nemeth’s contracts specifies that all disputes must be resolved through binding arbitration, which is intended to keep such matters private rather than in public court. The clause reads:
"All disputes between [Nemeth] and AEW… shall be resolved for final, binding, and conclusive arbitration conducted before a single arbitrator in Duval County, Florida…"
This legal maneuver is not unique to Nemeth; AEW has previously sought arbitration in other cases involving former talent, indicating a pattern in how the company handles disputes.
Next Steps
The court will decide whether to enforce the arbitration clause as requested by AEW and Khan. If the court rules in favor of AEW, Nemeth will be required to pursue his claims in arbitration rather than in the public court system.
As of now, neither Nemeth nor his legal team has publicly commented on AEW’s petition. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how disputes are handled in the wrestling industry, particularly regarding contractual obligations and arbitration agreements.
Sources
- AEW & Tony Khan File To Move Ryan Nemeth Lawsuit To Arbitration, Wrestling Inc..
- AEW, Tony Khan file to compel arbitration in Ryan Nemeth lawsuit, F4W/WON.
- AEW and Tony Khan petition to move Ryan Nemeth’s lawsuit to private arbitration, POST Wrestling.
- AEW & Tony Khan Seek To Move Ryan Nemeth Lawsuit To Arbitration – PWMania, PWMania.
