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Update: 9:15 p.m. ET
WWE has issued the following statement to HeelByNature.com
“WWE has not been served with a lawsuit by Ms. Tavel. However, if served, we will vigorously defend ourselves and contest it.”
Samantha Tavel, better known in wrestling circles as Candy Cartwright has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Matt Riddle, WWE, and former EVOLVE owner Gabe Sapolsky.
According to court documents obtained by Fightful, Cartwright is suing each defendant for $10 million dollar for actual damages, damages from emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and costs.
The lawsuit alleges Riddle began sexually assaulting Tavel in April 2017. She claims the incident occurred in a parking lot following an EVOLVE event. She says Riddle bragged to former EVOLVE owner Gabe Sapolsky. She also alleges Riddle forced her to engage in oral sex in May 2018 on a bus with other EVOLVE talent present.
Related Stories:
- Matt Riddle Issues Statement Following Allegations
- Matt Riddle Claims He Is Filing Civil Lawsuit Against Candy Cartwright
- WWE Reportedly Aware Of Matt Riddle’s Sexual Assault Allegations
- Matt Riddle’s Lawyer Issues Statement Following Sexual Assault Allegations
Tavel and her lawyer John Chwarzynski held a news conference Thursday at the Union League Club in Chicago.
“The WWE has painted a picture over the course of the years that female performers are to comply with certain rules,” Chwarzynski stated. “The WWE, since its inception, has hyper-sexualized female performers and they’ve profited from male aggression against these female performers.”
We can only hope the state’s attorney’s office will do the right thing and open an investigation into this matter and press charges against Matt Riddle”
The lawsuit alleges Tavel had bookings with WWE and EVOLVE in January 2020, and prior to that Riddle forced her to perform sexual acts, or she would lose her bookings. She claims that Riddle informed WWE and EVOLVE that he did not want her working with either companies, and she was told “issues with talent” was the reason why she was not booked.
Samantha Tavel aka Candy Cartwright held a news conference today regarding a mulit-million dollar lawsuit she has filed against WWE, Matt Riddle, and Gabe Sapolsky. pic.twitter.com/h3Z3k07jiD
— HeelByNature.com (@HeelByNatureYT) October 8, 2020