Vince McMahon is fighting back after a lawsuit over the dissolution of the XFL hit him.
USA Today has reported McMahon has filed a countersuit against the XFL’s former commissioner Oliver Luck after Luck filed a suit against McMahon back in April of 2020.
The Chairman of the WWE filed his countersuit on Thursday in Connecticut federal court, claiming Luck didn’t follow orders when it came to the hiring of XFL personnel, along with allegations Luck abandoned his duties when COVID-19 forced the suspension of play in March of last year.
The accusation of not following orders stems from Luck adding former NFL wide receiver Antonio Callaway to the XFL player pool, eventually signing him to the Tampa Bay Vipers. McMahon claims he emphasized to Luck the XFL player pool must include “quality football players with good character.” Callaway seemed to not meet those requirements, as in November 2019, Callaway had been suspended 10 games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He also had a suspension in the NFL for the 2017 season for third-degree felony charges of credit card fraud. The former Cleveland Browns receiver wound up never playing a down for the league as he injured his knee prior to the start of the season, leaving the league to pay him worker’s compensation and the XFL in a position where they were unable to terminate him without paying the original signing bonus over $120,000.
In the filing for the lawsuit, McMahon says “Luck knowingly and deliberately deceived me – repeatedly – throughout the Callaway situation, which made me question whether I could continue to trust Luck to be the commissioner and CEO of the XFL.” There were indications McMahon had considered terminating Luck prior to April.
Other instances named in the countersuit include Luck’s pursual of other previous issues such as former Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant, another person suspended for an entire season from the NFL for a substance abuse issue, and an unnamed player listed as “Player A.” Player A had been banned from the university his XFL team practiced at due to a sexual assault charge.
Another player brought up in this situation of Luck pursuing athletes that did not have high character is former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. After hearing reports the XFL would make a play for the former Texas A&M standout, McMahon sent a text message to Luck fuming over the news.
“How long R U going to play this game Oliver? U know there is NO CHANCE IN HELL for Manziel to play for us. I will not change my mind. So what’s Ur plan??”
Luck’s response was an admission Manziel was simply a publicity stunt.
“Vince – we have no intention of signing him, none whatsoever. We’re just milking the story to stay in the news. I’m happy to categorically rule him out but both Jeffrey and I think it is worthwhile to milk it until the showcases are finished (July 12). At that point we can say he doesn’t fit into our plans.”
McMahon’s suit also claims Luck left the league’s HQ in Connecticut on March 13th to return to his Indiana home, with no direct contact following that. His suit alleges Luck missed several league operations meetings.
“Luck’s actions during the crisis caused by the COVID pandemic certainly did not meet my expectations for a Commissioner and chief executive of a sports league charged with devoting substantially all of his business time to the performance of his duties to the XFL at a time of existential threat,” says the filing.
Luck is a former NFL quarterback and father of former Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck.
The countersuit seeks $572,792.10 from Luck for the contract and worker’s compensation over Callaway’s contract in addition to Luck’s personal compensation from March 14th to April 9th.
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