The #SpeakingOut movement continues in the WWE as the alleged victim has now adopted a bigger legal action against the accusers. The independent scene wrestler Candy Cartwright, has filed a civil lawsuit against Matt Riddle, WWE, and former EVOLVE owner Gabe Sapolsky. The news was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
According to the court documents acquired, as reported by Fightful, Candy Cartwright is seeking $10 million dollars per defendant for ‘actual damages, damages from emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and costs.’
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Candy Cartwright Files $10 Million Lawsuit Against WWE & Matt Riddle
Fightful also noted how the suit will deal with WWE Star Matt Riddle’s actions from the past. He is accused of a series of assaults against Candy Cartwright from 2017 through January 2020. Riddle was allegedly, first sexually assaulted her in April of 2017 in a parking lot following an EVOLVE show.
She is claiming that Riddle bragged about the incident with EVOLVE owner Sapolsky while two more individuals from WWE “tacitly approved” of the assault. WWE has also not taken any actions against Riddle despite the accusations from earlier this summer.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Candy Cartwright – real name Samantha Tavel was in a relationship with Riddle in 2018. She said that after leaving an EVOLVE event on May 19, of that year, the SmackDown Superstar forced her to perform oral sex on him on a bus with other wrestlers. The victim said that she was not comfortable doing the act while the other wrestlers on the bus said, “No.” Tavel also claimed that Riddle then put his hands on her neck and forcefully said, “What if I just made you?”
“I never thought he would do anything to hurt me and, in that moment, I was terrified,” Candy Cartwright said at a media conference on Thursday.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times story, Candy also claimed that EVOLVE terminated her contract in January 2019, after she refused to continue to perform “forced sexual acts” with Riddle.
These accusations were revealed earlier this year after which the now SmackDown Superstar admitted that he had an affair with Candy Cartwright, but he denied any allegations of sexual assault. Last month, Riddle dropped a petition for a restraining order against Candy Cartwright. He then announced on September 17th that he would be filing a civil suit against her which is yet to be filed.
WWE, in response, issued the following statement, as noted by Wrestling Inc,
“WWE has not been served with a lawsuit by Ms. Tavel. However, if served, we will vigorously defend ourselves and contest it.”
