8. Botched A Move And Broken Your Leg? Sue The Company!
Everyones seen the clip by now from Sin in January 2001, where Sid Eudy, wrestling for WCW as Sid Vicious but known as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the WWF, botched a jumping big boot from the second turnbuckle and snapped his left leg completely in half, breaking two bones, one of which ripped through his skin. The botch all but ended his career, the last and worst of the instances of terrible timing that would prevent Eudy from ever grabbing the genuine main event status that he probably deserved. When WWF purchased WCWs assets later in the year, Eudys ongoing contract wasnt one of the ones snatched up, and his downside pay was continually reduced a normal move in WCW when a wrestler wasnt able to work. Of course, Eudy couldnt work anyway: he had nowhere to return to even if he was physically able. He was released from his contract in June 2001 by WCWs successor UWC, a shell corporation devoted to dealing with liabilities and lawsuits. In retaliation, Eudys lawyers filed suit against UWC, its parent companies, and the road agent that convinced him (against his better judgement) to perform a move he had no business attempting: one John Laurinaitis, who had just been hired by WWF. He sued for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, tortuous interference with contractual relations, attorney fees, and unjust enrichment, claiming that he was coerced into performing the move. The wheels of litigation moving exceedingly slowly (and expensively), it was nearly four years later that Eudys case would finally be thrown out for good upon appeal... as well it should, given that WCWs contract with him specifically allowed them to do what they did, and in fact entitled them to terminate his contract earlier than they did. His only argument was that, as he felt that WCWs own actions had led to his injury, contract law allowed him to be excused from not being able to fulfill his end: WCW coerced him into delivering the kick that ended his career, so WCW should have kept paying him in full. That wasnt an argument the court was ever going to accept. WCWs contract was airtight. He also tried to claim that WCW airing the footage of his broken leg amounted to them unjustly enriching themselves (no: his contract gave them ownership of the tape of his match, regardless of what happened in it), and that their cashing in an insurance policy on him also amounted to unjust enrichment (no: the policy was specifically to reimburse them for some of the payments theyd already made to him when he couldnt earn money for them). Were not sure who was representing Eudy, but he should probably have powerbombed them.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
