Judge rules contracts can be partially unsealed in AEW-Ryan Nemeth arbitration case
An update on the ongoing legal battle between Ryan Nemeth, AEW, and Tony Khan.
Judge Patricia Barksdale of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida ruled on Tuesday that AEW can refile partially redacted versions of Ryan Nemeth’s three wrestler contracts with AEW. The company had originally filed a motion to seal the contracts from public view, but Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics had opposed the motion.
“The judge ruled that AEW can refile redacted versions along with a new motion to seal,” Thurston wrote following the ruling. “AEW can’t fully seal the contracts, as the company had requested. I can then file another opposition at that point, if I believe the redacted versions black out too much information. AEW also has the option of withdrawing the contracts as exhibits, but that would mean the judge can’t consider them as part of AEW’s effort to force the dispute with Nemeth to be handled in arbitration in Florida.”
“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,” he continued. “Or, if he continues not to appear, AEW has until 111 days after the date of its June 5 complaint, which is September 24.”
The ongoing legal battle between AEW, Tony Khan, and Ryan Nemeth
Nemeth originally sued AEW, CM Punk, and Tony Khan last year alleging assault and breach of contract following an altercation with CM Punk back in 2023. The company, along with Khan, responded by countersuing to take the matter into private arbitration. The two parties agreed to move to arbitration last April but are currently disputing where arbitration should be held, with Nemeth arguing for California while AEW & Khan are seeking for it to take place in Florida.
Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.