The WWE had to deal with a number of brain damage lawsuits over the years. Now, the company has withstood another one of those lawsuits, but not for the reasons you might think.
WWE Brain Damage Lawsuit Filed By 50 Wrestlers Dismissed
The brain damage claim filed against the WWE involved a whopping 50 wrestlers. Surely, the judge would not dismiss this major case.
But, the judge did dismiss the lawsuit, claiming the filing was frivolous and surpassed the statute of limitations.
In other words, the case never made it to the court system. Even if the brain damage allegations are true, the court believes they are now expired in the eye of the law.
The lawsuit involved numerous well-known former WWE superstars. Some of the superstars in question died before the case even made it to a judge, which certainly influenced the overall decision.
In the lawsuit, names such as Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Paul Orndorff, and King Kong Bundy were mentioned. It also included Mr. Fuji and Road Warrior Animal.
Unfortunately, Snuka and Fujiwara died in 2017 and 2016, while King Kong Bundy died last year.
From The Tampa Bay Times:
The lawsuit, which also named WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as a defendant, said the organization knew the risks of head injuries but didn’t warn the wrestlers. U.S. District Judge Vanessa Bryant in Hartford, however, said there was no evidence that WWE knew that concussions or head blows during wrestling matches caused CTE.
Serious Consequences Of Brain Damage
Several wrestlers that were mentioned as claimants in the lawsuit were officially diagnosed with a condition called CTE. For some, the condition was only found after their deaths.
CTE is an abbreviation for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. It is a medical condition caused by several and repeated blows to the head.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy has clear links to the development of dementia. It can also lead to problems with memory, personality changes, and behavior changes.
Of course, the most famous case of CTE is none other than Chris Benoit. In fact, it is believed CTE caused him to murder and take his own life.
The story of Chris Benoit is tragic, and the WWE never acknowledged the CTE diagnosis after his death.
Despite their lack of acknowledgement, it is clear the WWE knows the effects of CTE. Over the years, they have banned several moves, including chair shots to the head.
While the WWE may have withstood another lawsuit, their track record with brain damage is not the best. Numerous former WWE wrestlers have been diagnosed, with some suffering from dementia as a consequence.
Is CTE Still Possible In Today’s Wrestling Culture?
While the WWE and other major wrestling companies are taking more precautions, the risk of CTE should not be ruled out all-together. Wrestling is risky, so head injuries sometimes cannot be avoided.
That being said, the wrestling world today is quite different from what it used to be. So, there is undoubtedly a reduced risk compared to a good 20 or 30 years ago.
Of course, this hasn’t stopped wrestlers from getting severe and career-ending injuries. The most recent example was the youngest Diva Champion Page, who suffered a career-ending neck injury.
In short, while wrestling is safer today, it is certainly not without risk. That makes us appreciate wrestlers even more.