Tony Khan knows how much bad press can come out of a nasty lawsuit. AEW has their share of critics, but one former wrestler is willing to take them to court.
According to Post Wrestling, AEW and AEW President Tony Khan filed a petition on Friday in the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida, seeking to compel Ryan Nemeth into arbitration.
In February, Ryan Nemeth initiated legal proceedings against AEW, Tony Khan, and CM Punk, filing a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on February 14, 2025. The lawsuit accuses CM Punk of issuing physical threats, Khan of facilitating the behavior, and AEW of effectively blacklisting him from professional wrestling. Nemeths claims include assault, breach of contract, violation of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and deliberate interference with his career prospects.
According to legal documents obtained by Ringside News, the lawsuit alleges assault, breach of contract, and intentional efforts to destroy his wrestling career. Nemeth claims that The Second City Saint physically threatened him, Khan enabled it, and AEW ultimately blackballed him from the industry.
Ryan Nemeth was under contract with AEW and had built a respectable career in pro wrestling, following in the footsteps of his brother, Nic Nemeth, who wrestled as Dolph Ziggler in WWE for decades. He alleges that things changed in early 2023 when CM Punk assaulted Matt and Nick Jackson. Nemeth claims AEW and Tony Khan were fully aware of Punks history of violent outbursts but refused to take action because of Khans personal admiration for Punk and his value to AEWs business.
The lawsuit claims that Brooks launched a campaign to threaten and harm the plaintiff, which included physical attacks. It also alleges that AEW and Tony Khan failed to take action to protect Ryan Nemeth and other wrestlers from Brooks actions.
We will have to see how things turn out in this situation, but it appears that AEW and Tony Khan want to get this taken care of quickly and quietly. Only time will tell how the courts decide.
Do you believe taht Ryan Nemeth has a case against Tony Khan and AEW? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
