THUNDER BAY – There are no rounds in wrestling, but you could say ‘Round Two’ is underway. Professional wrestler Devon Nicholson, who has wrestled under the names ‘Hannibal’, ‘Kid Nichols’ and ‘Adam Lust’, has filed suit against the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE). The suit is based on WWE offering a contract to Nicholson, and then revoking that contract because Nicholson has Hepititis C.
In a Statement of Claim filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Nicholson is seeking $600,000.00 for wrongful dismissal and or breach of contract, as well as $250,000.00 for damages for “injury to dignity, feelings and self respect” under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Further Nicholson is seeking Aggravated and punitive damages in the amount of $5 million.
The WWE has not yet responded to any claims made in the Statement of Claim, or filed a Statement of Defense.
Nicholson has also filed a law suit against WWE Legend and Hall of Fame wrestler Larry “Abudulah the Butcher” Shreve alleging that he contacted Hepititis C as a result of Shreve’s action. Nicholson alleges that he caught Hepatitis-C from Shreve after cut him with the same blade he had used on himself in a 2007 wrestling match.
Nicholson has been wrestling across Canada in the Great North Wrestling promotion, and has set a retirement date of October 8, 2011.
None of the statements in the Statement of claim have been proven in court.
Here are comments on the risks of blood and diseases from Larry Shreve;