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The wrestling world can be a wonderful place for the fans, the wrestlers, and everyone involved. We all know of course that “it ain’t ballet,” and the men and women performing in the ring are risking their bodies to entertain the fans. Injuries can happen at any time, and have happened at any time - both the current and former heads of WWE creative tore a quad muscle just by taking a step.
Related: How A Concussion Kept Dolph Ziggler From Fulfilling His Main Event Potential
Some injuries pile up over the years and have made life complicated for veterans who have retired and even some active performers too. There has been a coalition of superstars over the years who are trying to sue WWE thanks to those injuries. At least one lawyer, Konstantine Kyros, believes that the company is negligent in educating their roster about certain bumps and the long term damage they can cause.
A Lawyer Representing Past WWE Superstars Has Sued The Company
It might seem like complete common sense that the more you bash a head in, the more chances there are for serious injuries, but common sense isn’t the law of the land. Generally, science, and more importantly, law are the laws of the land. With no Union in place for the wrestlers, and nowhere near the health facilities and traveling band of doctors WWE now has being used back then, injuries mounted for a lot of old school superstars and legends. That’s where Kyros comes into play.
Several courts have dismissed his lawsuit against WWE, but that hasn’t stopped Kyros from filing again. His website states, “Kyros Law is representing dozens of former WWE wrestlers over concussion related injuries sustained by these wrestlers. The lawsuit alleges that the WWE for years failed to warn and engaged in a campaign of disinformation about the nature of the head injuries wrestlers sustained in WWE events to long term disabling injuries and death.”
It Can Be Hard To Prove The Former WWE Superstars Claims
Not to sound pro WWE, but there have been a lot of advances in medicine since the 80s and 90s. It is also hard to take into account when certain injuries occurred during plenty of these plaintiff / wrestlers journeys.
Related: The Ridiculous Lawsuit That Claimed Natalya Was A Dominatrix, Explained
One wrestler alleges he has suffered multiple concussions and brain damage over the course of his ten-year career with the company. However, this same wrestler was part of WCW, ECW, and various Independent promotions during this ten year time frame. Who is to say he was injured severely during WWE events only?
WWE Has Won The Court Battles So Far
As with many big WWE lawsuits, their super lawyer Jerry McDevitt stepped in. The lawsuit was able to be filed in Connecticut, where the WWE is headquartered. The original lawsuit was tossed out several years ago, stating that the claims were either frivolous or filed after the statute of limitations expired. An appeal was filed in 2020, which also got dismissed, again due to the fact that there was zero evidence that WWE knew that concussions of head blows during wrestling matches caused CTE. Over fifty wrestlers were left in the lurch, and Kyros has to pay legal fees to WWE incurred thanks to the lawsuit.
Related: Larry Zybsko's Ridicukous Lawsuit Against Chris Jericho, Explained
Oddly enough, both the NFL and NHL have been sued successfully by former players who have been dealt all sorts of injuries over the years. They both settled. The WWE, then led by Vince McMahon, was never known to settle and fights lawsuits tooth and nail, especially ones he knew he could win.
It will be interesting to see if Kyros takes aim again, now that the company is under new management. But if that happens, remember the only change is Vince McMahon. Stephanie McMahon has learned from an early age to fight, and chances are that’s exactly what would happen in the event Kyros moves forward with his latest appeal.