On eWn, we have been recapping the lawsuit that WWE is currently embroiled in. This lawsuit was filed by a fan, Richard Bryant, who alleges that during a SmackDown TV taping in 2022, he experienced severe hearing damage.
Bryant initiated legal proceedings against the WWE in March, asserting that the company’s “negligence and carelessness” directly contributed to his injuries.
Elaborating on the nature of his injuries, Bryant explains that he has sustained a traumatic rupture of his right eardrum and is dealing with bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss in his right ear. In addition to these physical ailments, he also suffered psychological trauma. He further states that these injuries could potentially be permanent. For the treatment of these injuries, Bryant claims to have incurred a considerable amount of medical expenses and is now seeking damages worth ,000.
Bryant successfully filed a motion in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on July 24, seeking to pause the lawsuit until they conclude the arbitration process.
However, WWE is of the view that according to the terms and conditions listed on Ticketmaster.com, all disputes arising from the attendee’s experience at the event should be resolved via arbitration.
Asserting their rights outlined in these terms and conditions, WWE filed their own motion on July 3 insisting that they have not relinquished their right to arbitration, hence, Bryant’s claims should be processed accordingly.
Bryant has challenged this move, saying that WWE would need the actual authority to enforce Ticketmaster’s arbitration agreement. He explains that the ticket was a gift from a friend and he didn’t physically possess it, thereby making him unaware of the “reasonable notice” regarding any arbitration agreement.
Interestingly, the lawsuit also includes a claim regarding Bryant being “non-weight bearing” for a while which required the use of crutches and a boot to aid his left foot’s recovery. This claim doesn’t appear to be related to the ear injuries, thus raising some queries about the credibility of this recent filing.
Unless the case reaches a resolution before the designated date, the trial is slated to begin on August 18, 2025.