10 Alleged WWE Sex Scandals That Rocked Wrestling
9. Nicole Bass And The Brooklyn Brawler
After getting fired from the WWF in 1999, Nicole Bass filed a suit for sexual harassment against the company for the reported sum of $120 million.
The former body builder alleged that the Brooklyn Brawler Steve Lombardi "assaulted her in an airplane on the way to England by pushing her against a wall, grabbing her breasts, and grinding his groin into her body,” a claim that was dismissed immediately after Laura Brevetti, Lombardi's attorney, said nobody else on the plane had seen the incident. Bass had claimed the incident took place in plain view of fellow passengers on the flight.
Bass’ lawyer Kathleen Tomlinson said her client had been subjected to “relentless backstage sexual harassment” during her five months with the company, while the WWF claimed she wasn't very good at her job and was let go because of that. The company took the view that Bass was attempting to get some sort of revenge on Vince McMahon for doing so.
WWE lawyer Jerry McDevitt flat-out said that Bass only knew one move, the Chokeslam. “You have to be good. You’re competing against the best of the best. Ms. Bass wasn’t good enough and that’s what this lawsuit is about.”
Vince McMahon, who took to the stand for two hours, no less, backed up McDevitt by saying: “You’re just trying to throw dirt against the wall, trying to make something stick. She just didn’t have the coordination to develop her skills.”
Vince also added that he had high hopes for Bass but he was forced to fire her because she had "two left feet." To prove this, the defence showed video tapes of Bass in the ring just to prove how bad she was.
In repost, Rena 'Sable' Mero testified, claiming Vince broke his promise to her to play the role of a classy and intellectual woman, as well as other points that are discussed in the next entry in this list. Ivory and Jaqueline Moore also stood, but denied there were any locker room problems or that they'd ever seen any incidents of sexual harassment in the WWF.
Around a month after the lawsuit began, it was unanimously thrown out. The jury decided that Bass was not sexually harassed during her time working for WWF, and awarded her no damages.