Brain Injury Lawsuit Hits Pro-Wrestling

William Haynes aka Billy Jack Haynes, a former professional wrestler, filed a lawsuit earlier this week in US Federal Court against the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

The lawsuit follows a similar model to the NFL brain injury class action, namely allegations that the WWE fraudulently covered up the true medical toll of the sport from their athletes.

The most troubling allegation, one which if proven is likely to create the greatest chance of success, states that “instead of stopping wrestling matches when wrestlers have sustained head injuries, WWE, along with its doctors and medical professionals, has allowed such matches to continue” and that “during and after wrestling matches, medical professionals associated with WWE have negligently or purposefully failed to diagnose concussions” and lastly that “For years, WWE employed medical staff for the purpose of rubber-stamping a wrestler’s participation long past the outer boundaries of then-known safety guidelines“.

The lawsuit seeks class action status but has not yet been certified, as the allegations have not yet been proven.

While many don’t consider professional wrestling to be a true combat sport given its predetermined outcomes, there is no doubt that these athletes are exposed to significant trauma over the course of their careers.

Original article here – http://combatsportslaw.com/2014/10/29/brain-injury-lawsuit-comes-to-combat-sports/