WWE Could Be Dismissed from Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit After Plaintiff Fails to Serve Court Papers

WWE may soon be dropped from a lawsuit stemming from a slip-and-fall incident at a Monday Night Raw event earlier this year—because they haven’t even been served with the case.

William Ricks filed suit on September 2, 2025 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division. He alleges he slipped in a puddle while attending the April 22, 2024 WWE Raw event in Columbus, Ohio. Defendants include WWE, The Columbus Sports Arena and Entertainment, Ohio State University, and UMR, Inc., a health insurance provider.

But now, the case could partially collapse due to procedural issues. As of today, the court has taken notice that WWE and UMR have not been served—more than 90 days after the case was filed. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), that delay could cost Ricks dearly. The court issued the following:

“Plaintiff filed this case on September 2, 2025. According to the docket, Plaintiff has yet to effect service on Defendants World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC or UMR… The Court ORDERS Plaintiff to show good cause within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Order why the unserved Defendants should not be dismissed and why an extension of time to effect service should be allowed. The good cause showing must be supported with sworn affidavits.”

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If Ricks fails to comply or convince the court, WWE and UMR could be dismissed from the lawsuit without prejudice. According to the complaint, Ricks claims:

“he was walking in and around an aisle by sections 207/208 when he slipped and fell due to a hazardous condition that existed in the form of an unmarked puddle of a liquid or liquid-like substance that was not open and obvious.”

The suit alleges that all defendants—except UMR—owed Ricks and other attendees a duty to maintain the premises free of hazards. He also alleges permanent pain and suffering but doesn’t specify what injuries were sustained.

UMR is only mentioned in the suit in relation to possible medical payments. The filing states Ricks “may have had medical assistance with or received payments from Defendant UMR for care and treatment rendered due to injuries sustained in the aforementioned accident.”

In a separate legal development, The Columbus Sports Arena and Ohio State University responded to the lawsuit on October 27, filing a motion to dismiss based on lack of jurisdiction. Their argument? Ohio State is an “arm of the state” and therefore immune from this kind of lawsuit under sovereign immunity. They wrote:

“Here, neither the state nor OSU has waived its sovereign immunity, and therefore, the case should be dismissed, as the Ohio Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction over all claims alleged against OSU in Plaintiff’s complaint.”

Ricks responded to that motion on November 10, arguing against the dismissal, but the court has yet to rule on that aspect.

With WWE yet to even be served and now under a ticking 14-day deadline for Ricks to justify the delay, there’s a real possibility that the wrestling giant walks away from this legal battle—without ever stepping into the ring.