TNA Files Lawsuit Against WWE [UPDATE]

TNA filed a lawsuit in Nashville, TN on Wednesday against WWE and former TNA/WWE office worker Brian Wittenstein for interference with existing contracts, conversion, breach of contract, civil conspiracy, unfair competition, and violation of the Tennessee Uniform Trade Secrets Act. They are also suing Wittenstein for breach of duty loyalty. 


The lawsuit alleges that Wittenstein, who had worked for TNA previously, gave WWE inside information on contracts and other matters backstage within TNA, and now WWE is attempting to poach talent from TNA based off that information.

Wittenstein worked briefly under Michael Hayes when he was hired by WWE earlier this year before being let go in April. The lawsuit alleges that during this time period, Wittenstein provided WWE the inside information from TNA. However, WWE did not inform TNA that the information was provided for several weeks.

TNA claims that this information was presented on 5/7. Several days later, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair approached TNA management about being released from his contract. TNA alleges that Flair wanted out so he could return to WWE.

An injunction was issued earlier demanding that WWE & Wittenstein return whatever confidential information retained during his TNA tenure. They were both instructed not to destroy the material.

WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt commented to The Nashville City Paper: "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." 

People who work in the WWE offices report that Brian Wittenstein as very open about his knowledge of TNA while working for WWE. Someone in WWE finally realized that Wittenstein could be hurting them with what he was doing and he was fired. Wittenstein didn't even make it out of his probationary period as he was fired before 90 days were up.

Wittenstein worked on the New York independent scene before getting a job with TNA and later WWE. People in both companies say that he talked too much, had a big mouth and didn't know his place.

After WWE fired Wittenstein, they wanted to protect themselves so they approached TNA with what they knew. TNA, feeling that Ric Flair was giving them trouble because he wanted out of his deal to return to WWE, put the two situations together and felt like they had the right to file suit against WWE.

As noted before, the feeling within WWE is that they are being sued by TNA for doing the right thing.