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LAWSUIT CLAIMS WWE SENT 'HUSH MONEY' THROUGH DANIEL BRYAN AND SASHA BANKS

By Mike Johnson on 2024-09-05 13:40:00

A new lawsuit against WWE and UFC was filed on 9/3 before the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Washington by Leland Owens, alleging that WWE and he entered into a verbal agreement in Yakima Lower Valley, Washington, but that he "never got paid."

In the filing, Owens claimed, "I gave the WWE ideas and never got paid.  I also told Daniel Bruan (at the time what i was going to do with my earning with said ideas and the World Wrestling Entertainment tried to get in front of it because Vince thinks of this as competition.  We have a verbal agreement in which was supposed to talk about at the time i receive my payment for my ideas."

Owens alleged that WWE sent Daniel Bryan (under that name) and Sasha Banks (acknowledging she was now Mercedes Mone in AEW) to send him a check for $100,000 as "hush money" for a comment made about his daughter by Stephanie McMahon.  Owens also claimed he submitted ideas through Instagram to Paul Levesque, Mercedes and Bryan.  

Owens claimed the ideas including his own company, which was going to be titled PIE, an event called "Stomping Grounds" and idea for "my cage match, among other ideas."

Owens asked for a cease and desist on the part of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings as well as "what is fair and accurate."

Owens filed the lawsuit via mail on 8/30, with the Court recording it on 9/3.   Obviously, WWE has not responded to any of the claims.

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It does not appear based on the filing there will be much going forward, especially since the idea that former WWE talents were delivering money for Vince McMahon would seem to stretch the fabric of reality, but anything is possible.

There is also no way that any entertainment company, WWE or otherwise, would accept unsolicited ideas through social media.  

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