The ongoing legal battle between former AEW star Ryan Nemeth and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has taken a new turn. Following Nemeth’s lawsuit filed in California last month, AEW and its president Tony Khan officially responded this week by filing a petition to compel arbitration, according to a report by POST Wrestling.
The petition was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and it argues that Nemeth’s claims — including allegations of professional retaliation, assault, and blacklisting from the wrestling industry — should be addressed through private arbitration, as outlined in his AEW contract, rather than through public court proceedings.
AEW Cites Binding Arbitration Clauses
In their petition, AEW and Khan emphasize that Nemeth violated his contractual obligations by filing a lawsuit in Los Angeles County instead of pursuing arbitration as required by his contract. They highlight that Nemeth signed three contracts during his tenure with AEW — on March 1, 2021, January 17, 2022, and March 1, 2023 — all of which include identical arbitration clauses.
The arbitration clause, partially quoted by POST Wrestling, states:
“All disputes between [Nemeth] and AEW, including, without limitation, any dispute relating to any matter arising under this Agreement or any dispute concerning the performance, application or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement, shall be resolved for final, binding, and conclusive arbitration conducted before a single arbitrator in Duval County, Florida and administered by JAMS, Inc. pursuant to its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures.”
CM Punk (Phil Brooks) Removed from Petition
Interestingly, although Phil Brooks (CM Punk) was named in Nemeth’s original lawsuit, AEW and Tony Khan’s petition does not include Brooks, noting that he is no longer affiliated with AEW. Their argument focuses solely on Nemeth’s contractual agreements with the company, suggesting that Brooks is not a central party in this dispute moving forward.
What AEW and Khan Are Seeking
In the petition, AEW and Khan are asking the federal court to:
- Enforce the arbitration clause and direct Nemeth to pursue his claims in arbitration instead of public court.
- Require Nemeth to cover AEW’s attorney fees related to the petition.
By pushing for arbitration, AEW aims to avoid a public trial, which could expose internal matters and company practices. Arbitration would handle these claims privately under agreed terms.
Background of Nemeth’s Claims
Ryan Nemeth, who worked in AEW from 2021 until his recent departure, claims he faced retaliation and blacklisting within the wrestling industry. He also alleges assault, though specific details on these claims have yet to be fully disclosed. Additionally, Nemeth’s lawsuit names Tony Khan, AEW, CM Punk, and 20 unidentified individuals (John Does), making it a broad claim of mistreatment.
No Comment Yet from Nemeth
As of now, Ryan Nemeth and his legal team have not publicly responded to AEW and Khan’s petition or addressed the push for arbitration. Whether Nemeth will comply with the arbitration demand or fight to keep his lawsuit in public court remains to be seen.
This development highlights a key legal strategy often used by large companies like AEW — relying on contractual arbitration clauses to handle disputes privately. If the court agrees with AEW and Khan, Nemeth may be forced to drop his public lawsuit and present his case in private arbitration proceedings in Florida.
FAQs
Why did AEW and Tony Khan file a petition against Ryan Nemeth?
AEW and Tony Khan filed a petition to compel Ryan Nemeth to enter arbitration, arguing that his claims, including retaliation and blacklisting, should be resolved privately as required in his AEW contract.
What claims did Ryan Nemeth make in his lawsuit?
Ryan Nemeth alleged professional retaliation, assault, and blacklisting from the wrestling industry. He named AEW, Tony Khan, CM Punk (Phil Brooks), and 20 unidentified individuals (John Does) in his lawsuit.
What does the arbitration clause in Nemeth’s contract say?
The arbitration clause requires all disputes between Nemeth and AEW to be settled through final, binding arbitration in Duval County, Florida, under JAMS, Inc.’s Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures.
Why was CM Punk (Phil Brooks) removed from AEW and Khan’s petition?
CM Punk was removed from the petition because he is no longer affiliated with AEW. The petition focuses only on Ryan Nemeth’s contractual agreements directly with AEW and Tony Khan.
What is AEW asking the court to do?
AEW is asking the federal court to enforce the arbitration clause, direct Ryan Nemeth to pursue arbitration in Florida, and require Nemeth to cover AEW’s legal fees incurred while filing this petition.
Has Ryan Nemeth responded to AEW’s arbitration petition?
As of now, Ryan Nemeth and his attorney have not made any public comment or response to AEW and Tony Khan’s petition for arbitration.
