WWE Pushes Back Against Motion to Avoid Arbitration in SmackDown Fan Injury Lawsuit

WWE has escalated a civil lawsuit by moving it from the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Stamford, to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, thereby shifting the case to federal jurisdiction. This strategic decision comes as WWE and the plaintiff, Richard Bryant, are from different states. With the case now under federal jurisdiction, WWE is pushing back against a motion to avoid arbitration in the lawsuit related to an injury sustained by a SmackDown fan.

In March, Richard Bryant from Florida filed a lawsuit claiming he sustained injuries during a Friday Night SmackDown event in Orlando in July 2022. Bryant alleges that pyrotechnics near his seat caused significant hearing loss in his right ear, including a ruptured eardrum and tinnitus, and accuses WWE of negligence in the warning, testing, and supervision of the pyrotechnics.

The lawsuit also references unrelated foot injuries, raising concerns about the consistency of Bryant’s claims. He is seeking compensation for medical expenses and suggests his injuries might have long-term effects. The case’s shift to federal court marks a significant change in its management.

On July 3rd, WWE filed a motion with the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut to transfer Bryant’s lawsuit to arbitration, arguing that Bryant is bound by Ticketmaster.com’s terms and conditions, which stipulate arbitration for disputes arising from ticketed events. WWE’s motion contends that they have not waived their right to arbitration.

Bryant responded on July 24th, arguing that WWE lacks standing to enforce Ticketmaster’s arbitration agreement, as he received his ticket from a friend and never physically possessed it. He also claimed he did not have “reasonable notice” of any arbitration agreement.

According to PWInsider, WWE responded to Richard Bryant’s lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on August 7th. WWE argued that Bryant’s efforts to block the transfer of the lawsuit to arbitration should be denied by the Court.

WWE maintained that Bryant is subject to the arbitration agreement, regardless of his awareness. WWE argued that they had previously successfully argued similar points in a different fan lawsuit involving alleged hearing damage.

The court had scheduled a trial date for August 18, 2025, should the matter not be resolved through arbitration beforehand. We will have to wait and see the final outcome of the lawsuit, as WWE is determined to prevail. The company is well-prepared to handle the case, even if it does not reach a resolution through arbitration.

What do you think WWE’s chances are of winning this lawsuit? Do they have a strong case now? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!