Vito LoGrasso and Evan Singleton, two former professional wrestlers, recently filed a lawsuit against their ex-employer, the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), for the injuries and medical setbacks they suffered throughout their stint with the company, CNN reported.
In the court documents submitted by the ex-WWE wrestlers, they claimed that the company has neglected to extend the proper care and concern for its employees particularly the athletes.
WWE has allegedly failed to ensure the safety and health of its wrestlers because the company is just focused on generating profit from the sport that brought about countless injuries and even deaths to its athletes.
LoGrasso, 50, and Singleton, 22, claim that they suffered severe brain damage and other serious wounds due to the stunts they were required to perform for the shows.
"Under the guise of providing entertainment, the WWE has, for decades, subjected its wrestlers to extreme physical brutality that it knew, or should have known, caused created latent conditions and long-term irreversible bodily damage, including brain damage," the lawsuit stated.
Singleton, who took on the screen name Adam Mercer during his stint from 2012 to 2013, has been disabled due to the brain trauma he incurred during his employment at WWE.
Meanwhile, LoGrasso frequently struggles with depression, migraines, and deafness. The 50-year-old ex-wrestler also suffered from memory loss following an almost decade-long career with the company. He had been known as Skull Von Krush and Big Vito throughout his WWE carer.
Citing a picture of WWE CEO Vince McMahon as an example, the lawsuit pointed out that the company has included several activities during their shows that could not be performed safely by the wrestlers, or any other participant.
According to the lawsuit, "actions and inactions" or lack of initiative from WWE have led to long-term injuries to its wrestlers along with lost of profits, premature retirement and loses due to high medical expenses.
In response to the lawsuit filed by both pro-wrestlers against the company, WWE lawyer Jerry McDevitt released a statement, which was later published by numerous mainstream media news outlets.
According to McDevitt, the lawsuit filed by the two former WWE employees has no merit, similar to a separate lawsuit filed in Oregon. He pointed out that WWE has been very sensitive about injuries and that they are ahead of other sports companies in terms of implementing concussion management procedures.
The lawsuit has been noted by some sports enthusiasts and experts as reflective of the same cases faced by the National Football League in connection with the deaths and health of the athletes under their care and supervision. At present, no amount has been specified in terms of settling this WWE lawsuit.
