Former AEW & current TNA wrestler Ryan Nemeth (younger brother of Nic Nemeth aka Dolph Ziggler) has filed a lawsuit against CM Punk aka Phil Brooks, All Elite Wrestling and Tony Khan, alleging assault, breach of contract, and blackballing from the industry.
The lawsuit, filed in California on February 14, claims Punk had an unexplained grudge against Nemeth and confronted him aggressively in June 2023.
Nemeth alleges AEW executives promised he wouldn’t be benched but was kept off TV for months due to Punk’s influence. He was later removed from an August event after Punk allegedly reported his presence.
The suit also accuses Khan of blaming Nemeth for Punk’s AEW departure and using his influence to harm Nemeth’s career. Additionally, Nemeth claims Punk assaulted The Young Bucks in early 2023.
You can read highlights from the filing below:
– During his [Punk’s] suspension [from All Out 2022], for unknown reasons, Brooks made it known that he despised Nemeth. Nemeth did nothing to Brooks whatsoever, but Brooks made it well-known that he was angry with Nemeth. Brooks has a notorious history for taking violent action against others for no reason.
– On April 16, 2023, Nemeth contacted executives within AEW to tell his employer that he was worried Brooks would come back to the wrestling circuit following his suspension and assault Nemeth.
– On June 21, 2023, following Brooks’ return to the wrestling circuit, he assaulted Nemeth in the male talent locker room. In a menacing manner, Brooks shouted at Nemeth, “Do we have a fucking problem? Do we need to step outside and handle this like men?” Nemeth was cornered by Brooks and did everything he could in order to de-escalate the situation.
– Following the incident with Brooks, Nemeth greatly feared being benched by AEW. Nemeth spoke with AEW’s in-house counsel and attorneys from Latham & Watkins (outside counsel for AEW). All of the attorneys promised that Nemeth would not be benched.
– Following his June 22 conversation with Tony Schivaone, et al., Nemeth was not booked for a match for over two months.
– On June 17, 2023, Nemeth again contacted AEW’s legal department to complain that he was being punished for doing nothing. It was then that Nemeth discovered the real reason why he was being benched. Brooks had insisted upon this.
– On August 12, 2023, Nemeth was finally booked for an event in Greensboro, North Carolina.
– On the morning of August 12, Nemeth was walking through the hotel lobby to board a shuttle to the sports arena where the wrestling match would take place. He saw Brooks. Brooks immediately took out his phone and began to text.
– A moment after that text was sent, Nemeth received a text from AEW supervisor Pat Buck saying that he needed to speak with Nemeth as soon as he got to the arena.
– Upon arriving at the arena, Nemeth sought out Pat Buck. Buck told Nemeth that he needed to leave the arena immediately and that travel would be arranged for him to fly out on that same day.
– Khan was heartbroken by the departure of Brooks, his idol and that he adored in every way. Khan was furious with Nemeth. Khan believes that Brooks left AEW because of Nemeth.
– The Defendants have embarked upon a campaign to “blackball” Nemeth from professional wrestling. Specifically, Tony Khan blames Nemeth for Brooks leaving AEW and has used his significant resources to make sure that Nemeth can never again make a living in wrestling.
