According to The Takedown on SI, contracted production AEW crew member Christopher Dispensa who has worked with AEW since 2019 has filed a civil lawsuit against the company and its current World Champion Jon Moxley (Jonathan Good).
The lawsuit, which was filed against the parties back on May 30, 2025 in the Wayne County Circuit Court by Christopher Dispensa, alleges various degrees of negligence by AEW and Moxley, alongside civil assault and battery. The incident was said to have taken place during the May 10, 2023 episode of AEW Dynamite in Detroit, Michigan.
The report notes that Dispensa, is a contracted employee under Broadcast Service Group, which is the supplies crew for AEW. His legal team, Raitt Law, PLLC, told The Takedown on SI that he has not performed work for AEW since Dec. 5, 2024, and had been demoted to a carpenter by Broadcast Service Group without explanation.
In the suit, Dispensa claims that he suffered severe neck and shoulder injuries after being shoved to the ground unexpectedly by Moxley during the cage match between Moxley and Kenny Omega and that he (Dispensa), required cervical fusion surgery, shoulder surgery, and treatment for other unspecified injuries.
Dispensa notes the injuries happened after Moxley and Omega took the action to the outside and when Moxley went to grab a screwdriver to use on Omega, he then shoved Dispensa to the ground. In the suit, Dispensa claims Moxley was only supposed to grab the screwdriver, as Dispensa took an unplanned fall as a result of being shoved by Moxley, which was not part of the script.
The lawsuit also alleges that Moxley “had a history of disciplinary issues before this incident involving other people while under [AEW’s] employ, agency and/or contractual relationship.” In addition, the suit also notes “past disciplinary offenses by [Moxley] include a documented history of unpredictability as well as a lack of control by Defendant AEW, all of which were known or should have been known to Defendant AEW at the time of this assault.”
However, according to the report, multiple high-level AEW sources with knowledge of Moxley’s working history with the company (not speaking in an official capacity on AEW’s behalf), told The Takedown on SI that they have been unaware of any history of disciplinary issues with Moxley, adding that Moxley is respected within AEW by talent and management. One source specifically referred to Moxley as a “locker room leader” and disputed the description of Moxley in the lawsuit.
A portion of Count I claims AEW has a responsibility to “exert reasonable control over its employees, agents, and/or contracted individuals to ensure the safety of other performers, production crew, and the general audience.”
Dispensa’s legal representation told The Takedown on SI that AEW’s upper management was made aware of the incident, but never had any discussions with them about it and that Dispensa met with Tony Khan and AEW General Counsel Chris Peck about possible full-time employment opportunities months following the accident. Furthermore Dispensa did also acknowledge there was never a prior conversation about the injuries he that he says he had sustained from the incident.
The Takedown on SI further notes Dispensa’s attorney said his client never filed an official incident report that night because he had another job he had to get back to, but that he did indeed speak with three individuals that evening that he did get hurt during the match.
Dispensa’s legal team said their client told AEW’s ringside physician Dr. Michael Sampson, about the incident and that Sampson was upset over the situation, saying that all stunts or interactions outside of the ring must be approved by him beforehand. It was also said that Sampson was near Dispensa when the incident occurred and Sampson asked him to go over and see the training staff.
Dispensa’s representation told The Takedown on SI he was eventually told that he would not be treated any longer by AEW’s athletic training staff, the incident was never acknowledged again and Dispensa and Moxley never discussed the incident after the segment.
Dispensa’s team told The Takedown on SI he is looking to obtain compensation for “injuries suffered due to actions of the wrestler and the company he worked for.” The filing says the “amount in controversy exceeds $25,000”, claiming that he incurred damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, disability, permanent and serious disfigurement, wage loss and lost earnings capacity, pain and suffering, exemplary damages for mental and emotional anxiety, humiliation and/or indignity, diminution to business reputation and opportunities, other economic and noneconomic damages not yet known, and all other damages available under Michigan Law.
The Takedown on SI reached out to an AEW spokesperson regarding the lawsuit and the allegations published, which was responded to with, “AEW does not comment on pending litigation.”
Moxley is scheduled to defend the AEW World Championship against “Hangman” Adam Page at the company’s All In Texas PPV on Saturday, July 12. It was also noted a status conference for the lawsuit is currently scheduled for August 29.