The fan claims the proximity of the seat to WWE’s pyro led to them losing their hearing in one ear.
Highlights
- A WWE fan has filed a lawsuit against the promotion, alleging they suffered injuries during a SmackDown taping.
- The fan claims the proximity of their seat to the pyro resulted in them suffering hearing loss in their right ear.
- A similar case was filed against WWE in 2023, but that case was dismissed.
If Backlash in France taught us one thing, it’s that WWE shows can get very loud. If that wasn’t clear from the SmackDown in Lyon and then the PLE the night after, Triple H shared an image showing a smartwatch in the building that warned the wearer that the noise levels were dangerously loud. On the one hand, riling a crowd up that much is something to be proud of. On the other, it might result in lawsuits like the one recently filed against WWE by a fan who claims the noise at a SmackDown taping led to hearing loss.
Suing WWE For Hearing Loss
The lawsuit was filed by Richard Bryant in March who claims his proximity to the pyrotechnics at a SmackDown taping in July of 2022 led to him suffering potentially irreparable hearing loss in his right ear. The lawsuit has bubbled back up to the surface this week after, as reported by PWInsider, WWE filed a motion to have the proceedings moved from the Superior Court to the District Court with federal jurisdiction. That’s due to WWE and Bryant residing in different states.
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WWE’s filing details exactly what it is Bryant is alleging happened at the SmackDown taping where he claims to have lost his hearing.
The Plaintiff alleges that he was an invitee of the premises and was seated next to the stage at the venue when pyrotechnics went off, and the blast was so loud that it allegedly caused the Plaintiff to lose almost all hearing in his right ear.
Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, And Psychological Harm
In Bryant’s original lawsuit, he claimed that WWE failed to warn him of the proximity of the pyrotechnics to where he was sat, and also accused WWE of not properly training those in charge of its pyro. The alleged injuries suffered include “traumatic rupture of his right ear drum, bilateral tinnitus, hearing loss in his right ear, psychological harm.” There’s also mention of damage to Bryant’s foot, although it’s believed that may be part of a different lawsuit that was included in this one accidentally (via Inside The Ropes).
While there isn’t a long line of fans waiting to sue WWE for damage done by noise and pyro at its shows, this isn’t the first time WWE has had problems in this arena. Marvin Jackson filed a lawsuit against WWE for similar injuries allegedly suffered at WrestleMania 38 but the case was dismissed. There’s also the infamous moment some poorly-timed pyro set The Undertaker’s coat on fire as he was on his way to the ring for an Elimination Chamber match.
