Ryan Nemeth filed a formal complaint to AEW executives, dated September 12, 2023, highlighting issues he faced during his time with the company, particularly involving CM Punk.
The complaint, which was obtained by Fightful Select, claims that Nemeth experienced abuse, harassment, and threats from Punk, with the primary grievance being AEW’s failure to respond to these incidents. Nemeth alleges that AEW’s inaction was compounded by being encouraged to antagonize Punk in a promo, despite concerns about potential retaliation from Punk.
The complaint outlines a series of events, including Nemeth’s initial concerns over being targeted by Punk, his communication with AEW’s legal representative Megan Parekh, and an alleged locker room threat by Punk in June 2023. Despite support from some AEW figures like Parekh, Tony Schiavone, and the Young Bucks, Nemeth claims he was not booked for two months following the threat and believed AEW was intentionally sidelining him. Nemeth also expressed his frustration over AEW’s failure to take action after the incident and felt his contract would expire without being renewed.
In the complaint, Nemeth details several interactions, including an incident on August 12, 2023, when he was asked to leave AEW Collision due to Punk’s request. He also notes being instructed to antagonize Punk in a promo on the August 16 episode of Dynamite. Despite voicing his concerns to AEW legal and HR, Nemeth alleges that his grievances were not properly addressed. He also claims that his concerns about being made a scapegoat in the aftermath of Punk’s altercations with other talent, including Jack Perry, were largely ignored.
The complaint also reveals that Nemeth was offered a settlement by AEW, but it was contingent on signing an NDA, which he declined. In addition, Nemeth claims that AEW’s legal representative, Chris Peck, threatened him over sending the timeline and hinted at future antagonism if the matter escalated to arbitration.
Nemeth’s AEW contract was set to expire in March 2024, but he believes AEW’s failure to act on his concerns and creative pitches ultimately led to his exit. Despite his grievances, Nemeth maintains that AEW has a roster of talented people deserving of a safe working environment and that he does not believe Punk was the sole cause of the issues he faced. However, he also claims that many others have shared similar concerns with AEW management, particularly Peck, but that his issues were ignored.
Nemeth is now seeking changes to AEW’s policies and financial compensation for the hardships he believes he faced during his tenure. AEW has not publicly commented on the matter as of the latest reports.
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