WWE Sued by Over 50 Retired Wrestlers Due to Brain Injuries

Editor's note: We previously shared this article, here it is again in case you missed it.STAMFORD, CT— More than 50 retired WWE wrestlers have sued the Stamford-based organization and alleged that there was a cover-up about the long-term effects of neurological injuries.

The suit alleges that repeated head injuries caused by "correctly" performed moves led to an ongoing disease process called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

The plaintiffs include Joseph Laurinaitis, aka "Road Warrior Animal"; Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka; Paul Orndorff, aka "Mr. Wonderful"; Terry Michael Brunk, aka "Sabu"; and many others.
The WWE failed to care for the plaintiffs' head injuries in any medically competent way, according to the lawsuit.
"WWE wrestling matches, unlike other contact sports, involve very specific moves that are scripted, controlled, directed and choreographed by WWE," the suit states. "As such the moves that resulted in Named Plaintiffs’ head injuries were the direct result of the WWE’s actions."

The WWE released a statement that said it is confident the lawsuit will be dismissed and that the suit comes from the same attorney who previously filed lawsuits against the organization that have been dismissed, according to Bloomberg.

WWE controlled the lives of wrestlers strictly, including what medical treatment they received, according to the suit. It also signed them on as independent contractors and didn't classify them as employees.
"The Booking Contracts are nothing more than an unconscionable scheme to save money in violation of public policy and the legal rights of the Plaintiffs," the lawsuit states.

More than 5,000 former NFL players successfully sued the organization for $765 million after seeking damages for head injuries, according to Bloomberg. The NHL also faces a similar lawsuit.
Image of Snuka via swiftwj/Flickr Commons