Judge Rules In Favor Of Brandon Thurston’s Challenges To Unseal Confidential Information In WWE Shareholder Lawsuit

An update on the WWE shareholder lawsuit.

The latest on the WWE shareholder lawsuit was provided by POST Wrestling. Judge Travis Laster has ruled in favor of reporter Brandon Thurston challenging redacted items in the lawsuit.

Thurston is a reporter for POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics. He challenged the continued confidential treatment of various filings, such as a voicemail from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel to former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon before the TKO merger deal.

The lawsuit is set to go to trial on June 8th in the Delaware Chancery Court. It is being alleged that Vince McMahon was unfair in his role in selecting a buyer for WWE so that he could secure a role within TKO. McMahon, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, Nick Khan, George Barrios, and Michelle Wilson are defendants in the case.

Thurston has waived the right for the defendants to disclose any personal information and has challenged the second and third categories.

There was an argument made that the disclosure would damage professional relationships within and outside of WWE, in addition to causing harm to the individuals identified, and it would erode confidence among stakeholders. Judge Laster did not consider that an ample enough argument. The defendants were unable to argue that the harm outweighed the public interest.

Thurston stated the following on the May 28th episode of Pollock & Thurston on POST Wrestling:

“I argued that it is relevant information. Not necessarily because I’m trying to unveil who the Wall Street Journal sources are, but because this is relevant information about, perhaps, the factional atmosphere in the board and who certain board members suspected were giving information to the press. I even messaged (Wall Street Journal reporter) Joe Palazzolo before filing that to make sure he was comfortable, and he said, ‘Yes, go for it.”

To get a look at the list of names who will be testifying, click here.