Alleging assault, breach of contract, and breach of implied covenant, Ryan Nemeth has sued AEW, CM Punk, and Tony Khan.
On February 14, the case was filed in California. Here are a few of the filing’s highlights:
Brooks expressed his hatred for Nemeth during his [Punk’s] ban [from All Out 2022], for unclear reasons. Brooks made it clear that he was upset with Nemeth, even though Nemeth did nothing to him. Brooks has a well-known history of acting violently and without cause against other people.
On April 16, 2023, Nemeth reached out to AEW executives to express his concern that Brooks will return to the wrestling scene after being suspended and attack him.
After Brooks returned to the wrestling scene, he attacked Nemeth in the male talent locker room on June 21, 2023. “Do we have a fucking problem?,” Brooks said menacingly at Nemeth. Do we have to act like men and go outdoors to deal with this? Nemeth did everything he could to defuse the situation once Brooks cornered him.
Nemeth was terrified of being benched by AEW after the Brooks incident. Nemeth had conversations with the lawyers from Latham & Watkins, AEW’s outside counsel, as well as the company’s in-house counsel. Nemeth would not be benched, the lawyers all agreed.
After speaking with Tony Schivaone on June 22, Nemeth was not scheduled for a game for more than two months.
Nemeth once more complained to AEW’s legal department on June 17, 2023, that he was being penalised for doing nothing. At that moment, Nemeth learnt the true cause for his benching. This was what Brooks had demanded.
Nemeth was eventually hired for a gig in Greensboro, North Carolina, on August 12, 2023.
Nemeth was heading to the sports arena, the site of the wrestling bout, in the hotel lobby early on the morning of August 12. Brooks was there. Without hesitation, Brooks pulled out his phone and started texting.
AEW supervisor Pat Buck texted Nemeth shortly after that, stating that he needed to talk to Nemeth as soon as he arrived to the arena.
When Nemeth got to the arena, he went to find Pat Buck. Nemeth was informed by Buck that he had to leave the arena right away and that arrangements would be made for him to take a plane out that same day.
The loss of Brooks, Khan’s idol whom he loved unconditionally, devastated him. Khan’s anger towards Nemeth was intense. Khan thinks Nemeth is the reason Brooks quit AEW.
A campaign to “blackball” Nemeth from professional wrestling has been launched by the Defendants. In particular, Tony Khan holds Nemeth accountable for Brooks’ departure from AEW and has utilised his substantial wealth to ensure that Nemeth would never be able to support himself in wrestling again.
