UPDATED: TNA Files Lawsuit Against WWE, Claims Company is Stealing Talent

UPDATE: PWInsider reports that as of now, neither WWE nor Brian Wittenstein have been officially served with the lawsuit filed by TNA. TNA has filed a request for expedited discovery and TNA CFO/COO Dean Broadhead signed an affidavit about what he knew of the situation that was filed earlier today.

It is being reported that WWE approached TNA to tell them that Wittenstein was openly discussing his knowledge of contract expiration dates, and it was a reason why WWE fired him. TNA is requesting a temporary restraining order against Wittenstein and WWE, which is believed to be in order to prevent them from sharing information or from approaching talent. TNA has put up a $30,000 surety bond in order for the court to consider the injunction.

A hearing is scheduled for June 11th, which is the current end date of the temporary restraining order.

Additionally, The Nashville City Paper quotes WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt about the lawsuit. McDevitt stated, “Our reaction is that no good deed ever goes unpunished. What the WWE did here is what you would hope any company would do in these circumstances it found itself in.”

ORIGINAL: TNA has filed a lawsuit against WWE and former TNA and WWE employee Brian Wittenstein. The company filed the lawsuit yesterday in Nashville with charges of interference with existing contracts, conversion, breach of contract, civil conspiracy, unfair competition, and violation of the Tennessee Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Wittenstein is also being sued for breach of duty of loyalty.

The suit claims that Wittenstein, who worked for the company for three years from 2008 – 2011, gave WWE inside information on contracts and other details from his time working with the company and that WWE is trying to steal talent from the company via that information. Wittenstein was hired by WWE earlier this year but was let go in April, which TNA claims is after they were presented with the information. However, WWE did not inform TNA that they had been given that information for several weeks.

TNA claims that they were informed of the insider information on May 7th and that several days later, Ric Flair approached TNA trying to get out of his contract so he could go to WWE. The company says Flair hasn’t appeared at events since. Alex Shelley, who is rumored to be heading to WWE, was not mentioned in the lawsuit.

An injunction has been issued demanding that WWE and Wittenstein return whatever confidential material Wittenstein obtained from TNA and were specifically instructed not to destroy any of the material. A hearing is set for next month.

Credit: PWInsider

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