WWE Charged With 9 Violations Of Kentucky State Law
Credit: WrestlingObserver.com Newsletter
WWE has been charged with nine violations of Kentucky state law, stemming from some incidents that occured at their Backlash pay-per view on April 30 in Lexington. Kentucky state law prohibits usage of blood or blading in professional wrestling, and even in the case of accidental bleeding during a match the promoters are instructed to end that match immediately. What makes this interesting is that WWE was fully aware of the law as it's not uncommon, and even had a meeting to ask for special usage of blood since it was a pay-per view show, or at least permission to allow matches to complete if blood accidentally turned up. They were refused on both requests and decided to go ahead and have some color on the pay-per view regardless. The nine violations being charged against them include:
1. During the Vince & Shane McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels match, Michael S. Hickenbottom (Michaels) intentionally cut himself in violation of state law.
2. In the same match, Vince McMahon continued the match instead of haulting the action as required by state law.
3. Shane McMahon continued the match instead of ending it as required by state law.
4. During the Triple H vs. Edge vs. John Cena match, Paul Levesque (HHH) intentionally cut himself, violating state law.
5. In the same match, Adam Copeland (Edge) continued the match instead of ending it as required by state law.
6. John Cena continued the match instead of leaving as required by state law.
7. In the same match, Copeland competed outside the barricade, in violation of state law.
8. Rich Herring, the promoter of record, allowed wrestlers in the two matches to violate state law and failed to end the matches immediately as required by state law.
9. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) continued the event, having a new match before washing the ring mat of blood left from a previous match in the evening, violating state law.
When all is said and done WWE will likely pay about $50,000 in fines (state law is $5,000 per fine), however head wrestling inspector Tim Gonterman is attempted to get WWE banned from promoting events in the state of Kentucky due to the flagorance of their violations.