Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
Sex-trafficking allegations involving Vince McMahon
A former WWE employee filed a lawsuit containing allegations of sexual abuse and sex trafficking involving McMahon and others. McMahon denied the allegations and resigned from TKO. The matter generated continuing legal and reputational scrutiny.
2022
Investigation into Vince McMahon conduct
WWE's board investigated alleged misconduct and undisclosed payments involving Vince McMahon. McMahon temporarily relinquished executive duties during the investigation and later returned before the company was sold into the TKO structure.
2022
WWE drops trademark application for wrestler name
Company response
WWE dropped its trademark application for the planned wrestler name “Gunther Stark” after learning that the name had belonged to a Nazi U-boat commander.
Source excerpt
According to PWInsider, the WWE dropped their application for the trademark upon discovering the name’s Nazi link.
Upon filing a trademark for Gunther Stark, the WWE learned too late that the name had belonged to a U-boat captain whose vessel was sunk in the English Channel in 1944.
2022
Major League Wrestling sues WWE
Lawsuit filed
MLW Media LLC sued WWE, alleging that WWE undermined competition and monopolized the U.S. professional wrestling market through anticompetitive business practices. WWE denied the allegations and said it would defend itself.
Company response
Denial — WWE
WWE believes these claims have no merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against them
Source excerpt
In the lawsuit, MLW accused WWE of trying to maintain an 85 percent dominance over the U.S. wrestling market through "unfair and anticompetitive business practices, including poaching talent, misappropriating confidential information, interfering with competitors’ contracts and cutting off competitors’ access to their viewing audiences."
WWE believes these claims have no merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against them
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, by MLW Media LLC, of Mamaroneck, N.Y.
2021
WWE suspends and fines Charlotte Flair
Company response
In April 2021, WWE Official Adam Pearce announced that Charlotte Flair had been indefinitely suspended and fined $100,000. The announcement followed an incident at the end of WWE Raw in which Flair attacked a referee. The suspension and fine were disclosed as the stated response to that incident.
Company response
Personnel action — WWE
WWE Official Adam Pearce announced during Raw Talk that Charlotte has been “indefinitely suspended” and fined $100,000 for attacking a referee at the end of WWE Raw Monday.
Source excerpt
WWE Official Adam Pearce announced during Raw Talk that Charlotte has been “indefinitely suspended” and fined $100,000 for attacking a referee at the end of WWE Raw Monday.
2020
WWE Sued Over WWE Network Patent
Lawsuit filed
Rothschild Broadcast Distribution Systems filed a lawsuit alleging that WWE infringed a patent in creating the WWE Network. According to the article, WWE had not commented on the lawsuit. The report identifies the dispute as a patent controversy involving the WWE Network.
Source excerpt
WWE has been sued by a company alleging that they infringed on a patent to create the WWE Network.
Forbes reports that Rothschild Broadcast Distribution Systems has filed a lawsuit against the company in regard to Rothschild’s patent that covers the basic function of subscription streaming video services.
Forbes reports that Rothschild Broadcast Distribution Systems has filed a lawsuit against WWE.
2020
Pension fund files class action lawsuit against WWE
Lawsuit filed
The City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System filed a class action lawsuit against WWE, alleging that the company and certain senior executives made false and misleading statements about a Saudi Arabia distribution deal. The lawsuit also accuses CEO Vince McMahon of insider trading. WWE's outside counsel called the accusations baseless and said the company would seek dismissal.
Company response
Denial — WWE
Jerry McDevitt, a partner at law firm K&L Gates who is the outside counsel for WWE, said the accusations are baseless and that the case is without merit.
Source excerpt
Jerry McDevitt, a partner at law firm K&L Gates who is the outside counsel for WWE, said the accusations are baseless and that the case is without merit.
“The lawsuit constructs an entirely fictional storyline based on false and fabricated internet gossip, not facts,” McDevitt told CIO. “And we will move to have it dismissed.”
2020
WWE reaches settlement term sheet in securities lawsuit
Settlement
WWE entered into a term sheet to settle a lawsuit in which the plaintiffs alleged securities-law violations related to disclosures about its business relationship with Saudi Arabia. The proposed $39 million settlement is subject to court approval and contains no admission of liability or of the validity of the allegations.
WWE entered a term sheet to settle a lawsuit in which the plaintiffs alleged securities-law violations related to disclosures about its business relationship with Saudi Arabia. The proposed $39 million settlement is subject to court approval and contains no admission of liability or validity of the allegations.
Stated objective. The company said resolving the matter was the right business decision and a prudent way to end the protracted and uncertain class action process.
Source excerpt
On November 18, 2020, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a term sheet (the “Term Sheet”) to settle the previously disclosed action titled City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Vincent K. McMahon, George A. Barrios, and Michelle D. Wilson, No. 1:20-cv-02031-JSR, currently pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”).
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit alleged securities law violations by the Company, its current Chief Executive Officer and its former Co-Presidents, related to certain disclosures concerning the Company’s business relationship in and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Company believes that resolving the matter is the right business decision and that it is prudent to end the protracted and uncertain class action process.
2020
WWE settles lawsuit over WWEShop website accessibility
Settlement
WWE settled a lawsuit filed by Josue Romero, who alleged that the WWEShop website denied blind and visually impaired consumers equal access and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The settlement was contingent on execution of a written agreement; the agreed conditions were not reported.
Source excerpt
Romero's attorney, Joseph H. Mizrahi of the Cohen & Mizrahi law firm in Brooklyn, issued a settlement notice on Monday, December 7, advising the court to dismiss the case.
WWE has settled a lawsuit that was recently filed by a man who claimed he was being denied equal access to the WWEShop website.
The lawsuit alleged that the shop.wwe.com website "is not equally accessible to blind and visually-impaired consumers," and is in violation of the ADA.
2020
Tattoo artist’s copyright lawsuit over WWE games advances toward trial
Ruling
An Illinois federal judge ruled that a factual issue remained over tattoo artist Catherine Alexander’s claim concerning reproductions of her work in three WWE 2K games; the lawsuit will proceed to trial, where a jury will decide whether copyright infringement occurred.
Source excerpt
The lawsuit will proceed to trial and a jury will have to decide if copyright infringement occurred and how much money is owed to Alexander if that is indeed the case.
Take-Two Interactive and World Wrestling Entertainment are headed to trial after a judge ruled that they copied the work of tattoo artist Catherine Alexander on a wrestler in three "WWE 2K" games.
2019
Shareholder sues WWE over alleged XFL-related use of company resources
Lawsuit filed
An Oklahoma firefighters pension fund filed a lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon, alleging that WWE resources were used to help fund the XFL and that board members may have failed to prevent transactions conflicting with WWE's interests. The allegations are not presented as adjudicated findings.
Source excerpt
It also states that WWE’s board members may have failed to ensure that McMahon would not “engage in transactions that conflict with WWE’s interests” as it relates to the XFL.
However, according to the lawsuit that was filed on December 26th in Delaware Chancery Court by an Oklahoma firefighters pension fund, the group believes that McMahon and other senior WWE officers are violating their duties to investors by using WWE resources to help fund the XFL.
2015
Wrestler alleges WWE used likenesses and match footage without fair payment
Issue disclosure
Wrestling legend Bobby Fulton alleged that WWE used wrestlers’ likenesses and intellectual property in matches and distributed DVDs and network content without signed releases or fair payment. He urged fans to contact WWE and its sponsors.
Source excerpt
He stole our likeness, who we are, and our intellectual property of our matches. WWE has admitted they don’t have any of our signed releases most don’t get a dime for DVD’s sold in major stores world wide and online or The WWE Network.
2015
Nelson Frazier's widow sues WWE over alleged career-related injuries
Lawsuit filed
Cassandra Frazier filed a lawsuit against WWE, alleging that Nelson Frazier Jr. died as a result of concussions and other injuries from his WWE career.
Source excerpt
The lawsuit lists Cassandra and Nelson as plaintiffs and alleges that he passed away due to the effect of concussions and other injuries from his WWE career.
Cassandra Frazier, the widow of former WWE Superstar Nelson Frazier Jr. (Viscera, Big Daddy V) filed a lawsuit against WWE on February 18th in Memphis, Tennessee.
1993
Sexual-harassment allegations
The company faced allegations of sexual harassment involving employees. The reports added to negative publicity during a period when WWF was already dealing with the steroid controversy and declining business conditions.
1992
Steroid allegations and federal trial
WWF faced allegations involving steroid use and distribution. Vince McMahon was later acquitted in the federal case, but the controversy damaged the company's reputation and contributed to financial and roster pressures.