A federal judge has ruled that AEW cannot fully seal Ryan Nemeth‘s wrestler contracts as part of the ongoing legal dispute involving Nemeth, All Elite Wrestling and Tony Khan.
According to Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston, Judge Patricia Barksdale of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida has instead allowed AEW to refile partially redacted versions of the contracts, along with a new motion to keep them under seal.
“The judge ruled that AEW can refile redacted versions along with a new motion to seal,” Thurston wrote. “AEW can’t fully seal the contracts, as the company had requested.”
Thurston added that he will have the opportunity to challenge the redactions if he believes too much information has been withheld. He also noted that the company could withdraw the contracts altogether, although doing so would prevent the court from considering them as evidence in its bid to move the dispute into arbitration.
“If AEW wants the court to consider the contracts, the company has to file a new motion and redacted versions within 21 days after Nemeth puts his first filing on the docket, which he hasn’t yet,” Thurston explained. “Or, if he continues not to appear, AEW has until 111 days after the date of its June 5 complaint, which is September 24.”
Ryan Nemeth Filed His Lawsuit Against AEW In 2024
Ryan Nemeth originally filed suit against All Elite Wrestling, CM Punk and Tony Khan in 2024, alleging assault and breach of contract stemming from an altercation involving Punk in 2023.
The promotion and Khan later sought to move the dispute into private arbitration. While both sides agreed to arbitrate the case earlier this year, they continue to disagree over where those proceedings should take place, with Nemeth arguing for California and All Elite Wrestling seeking to have the matter heard in Florida.
