Over 50 Wrestlers Listed In WWE Brain-Injury Lawsuit
Don't expect to see many of these guys entering the Hall of Fame any time soon.
Bloomberg is reporting that World Wrestling Entertainment is being sued by a number of former WWE superstars, who are claiming that the largest wrestling company in the world hid the long-term effects of brain injuries from their employees.
The lawsuit claims that WWE 'placed corporate gain over wrestlers' health', and in doing so left them 'severely injured and with no recourse to treat their damaged minds and bodies'. The list of superstars involved has surfaced, and within it we find a number of iconic names from the 80s and 90s.
Among them are Road Warrior Animal, both members of Demolition, Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Mantaur (why Mantaur, why?!), Paul Orndorff, Earl & Dave Hebner, the Powers of Pain, Shane Douglas, King Kong Bundy and many more. Those of you hankering for a Demolition induction into the WWE Hall of Fame may be waiting a little longer.
WWE has responded to the suit, calling it '...another ridiculous attempt by the same attorney who has previously filed class action lawsuits against WWE', before going on to state that it will meet the '...same fate as prior attempts and be dismissed'.
Here's the full list of plaintiffs;
JOSEPH M. LAURINAITIS, a.k.a. | Road Warrior Animal, | JIMMY “SUPERFLY” SNUKA, by and through | his guardian, Carole Snuka, | PAUL ORDNDORFF, a.k.a. Mr. Wonderful, | SALAVADOR GUERRERO IV, a.k.a. Chavo | Guerrero, Jr., | CHAVO GUERRERO, SR., a.k.a. Chavo Classic, | BRYAN EMMETT CLARK, JR., a.k.a. Adam | Bomb, | ANTHONY NORRIS, a.k.a. Ahmed Johnson, | JAMES HARRIS, a.k.a. Kamala, | DAVE HEBNER, | EARL HEBNER, | CHRIS PALLIES, a.k.a. King Kong Bundy, | KEN PATERA, | TERRY MICHAEL BRUNK, a.k.a. Sabu, | BARRY DARSOW, a.k.a. Smash, | BILL EADIE a.k.a. Ax, | JOHN NORD, a.k.a. The Bezerker, | JONATHAN HUGGER a.k.a. Johnny The Bull, | JAMES BRUNZELL, a.k.a. Jumpin’ Jim, | SUSAN GREEN, a.k.a. Sue Green, | ANGELO MOSCA, a.k.a. King Kong Mosca, | JAMES MANLEY, a.k.a. Jim Powers, | MICHAEL “MIKE” ENOS, | BRUCE “BUTCH” REED, a.k.a. The Natural, | CARLENE B. MOORE-BEGNAUD, a.k.a. Jazz, | SYLVAIN GRENIER, | OMAR MIJARES a.k.a. Omar Atlas, | DON LEO HEATON, a.k.a. Don Leo Jonathan, | TROY MARTIN, a.k.a. Shane Douglas, | MARC COPANI, a.k.a. Muhammad Hassan, | MARK CANTERBURY, a.k.a. Henry Godwin, | VICTORIA OTIS, a.k.a. Princess Victoria, | JUDY HARDEE a.k.a. Judy Martin, | MARK JINDRAK, | BERNARD KNIGHTON as Personal | Representative of the Brian Knighton, a.k.a. | Axl Rotten, Estate, | MARTY JANNETTY, | JON HEIDENREICH, | Case 3:16-cv-01209 Document 1 Filed 07/18/16 Page 1 of 214 2 | TERRY SZOPINSKI, a.k.a. The Warlord, | SIONE HAVEA VAILAHI, a.k.a. The Barbarian, | LARRY OLIVER, a.k.a. The Crippler, | BOBBI BILLIARD, | TIMOTHY SMITH, a.k.a. Rex King, | TRACY SMOTHERS, a.k.a. Freddie Joe Floyd, | MICHAEL R HALAC, a.k.a. Mantaur, | RICK JONES, a.k.a. Black Bart, | KEN JOHNSON, a.k.a. Slick, | GEORGE GRAY, a.k.a. One Man Gang, | FERRIN JESSE BARR, a.k.a. JJ Funk, | LOU MARCONI, | ROD PRICE, | DONALD DRIGGERS, | RODNEY BEGNAUD, a.k.a. Rodney Mack, | RONALD SCOTT HEARD, a.k.a. Outlaw Ron | Bass, and | BORIS ZHUKOV
You can read the official lawsuit documentation HERE.