A Cook County Sheriff’s officer has filed a civil lawsuit against WWE, WWE subsidiary Event Services, LLC, and WWE performer Montez Ford, whose legal name is Kenneth Crawford, in connection with an on-camera moment from a July 2026 episode of Monday Night Raw.
Noel Lucas filed the suit on October 14 in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The complaint stems from the July 6, 2026 edition of Raw, which was held in Rosemont, Illinois and aired live on Netflix. Lucas was working the event in an off-duty capacity as a security guard. Crawford, a Chicago native, is identified as a defendant alongside WWE and Event Services, LLC.
The lawsuit alleges 14 counts, including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleged violations of the Illinois Gender Violence Act, and a claim involving the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. The claims are allegations in a civil filing and have not been established in court.
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Claims center on an in-ring and ringside broadcast moment
Lucas alleges that Crawford approached him during the live program and performed what the complaint characterizes as a sexually provocative and unconsented-to “lap dance.” The filing alleges that Crawford danced in front of and over Lucas, moving progressively closer during the interaction.
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“Defendant Crawford then began performing a sexually provocative dance immediately in front of and over Plaintiff [Lucas], repeatedly thrusting and gyrating his hips and pelvis towards Plaintiff, performing a sexualized ‘lap dance,’” the filing states.
The complaint further alleges that Crawford continued the dance while closing the distance between them and that his “left inner thigh repeatedly rubbed against Plaintiff’s leg.” Lucas contends that the conduct occurred without his consent.
The lawsuit also takes issue with the material being broadcast to a live national and international audience through Netflix and subsequently shared through WWE’s social-media channels. Lucas alleges that WWE and Crawford used his image for commercial purposes without authorization, forming the basis for his right-of-publicity claim under Illinois law.
The interaction is no longer included in the July 6 episode of Raw on Netflix. The filing and the claims described in it concern the broadcast and subsequent distribution of the segment before its removal from that version of the program.
Lucas alleges ongoing personal consequences
Beyond the physical-contact allegations, Lucas says the attention generated by the televised moment made him publicly recognizable. He alleges that he was mocked by people who saw him the day after the program, including individuals who imitated Crawford’s actions toward him.
Lucas also alleges that his children have been “mocked and ridiculed” at school as a result of the incident. The complaint says he has suffered humiliation, embarrassment, and emotional distress.
His attorney, Whitney Barr, addressed the circumstances surrounding Lucas’ event-security work in a statement.
“Like so many law enforcement officers, Mr. Lucas works a second job in order to better provide for his children.”
That statement underscores a central factual point in the case: Lucas was not appearing as a voluntary on-screen participant in a WWE storyline, based on the allegations in the filing. He was working an off-duty security assignment at the Rosemont event when the segment took place.
What Lucas is seeking from the court
Lucas is asking for an unspecified amount in monetary damages, punitive damages, and reimbursement of legal costs. He is also seeking an order that would prohibit WWE and Crawford from using his identity.
Compensatory damages in a case of this kind can be sought for claimed personal, emotional, reputational, and other alleged harms. Punitive damages, if awarded, are intended to punish conduct that a court or jury finds sufficiently wrongful under the applicable legal standard. Whether any damages will be awarded, and in what amount, remains to be determined through the legal process.
The inclusion of the Illinois Right of Publicity Act claim places particular focus on the use of Lucas’ likeness in WWE programming and promotional distribution. The suit alleges that his identity was used commercially after the event, while the other claims address the alleged conduct of the encounter itself and the emotional impact Lucas says followed.
The Illinois Gender Violence Act allegations are also among the 14 counts listed in the complaint. The ultimate viability of each individual claim will depend on the parties’ filings, evidence, motions, and any later rulings by the court.
WWE and Ford have not publicly responded
WWE had not issued a response to the lawsuit as of the time the matter became public. There is also no public response noted from Crawford, who performs under the Montez Ford name as one half of The Street Profits.
WWE and Event Services, LLC will have an opportunity to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint through the Cook County court process. Crawford will likewise be able to contest the allegations and raise any defenses available to him. A lawsuit filing represents the plaintiff’s version of events and requested relief; it is not a judicial finding of liability against any defendant.
The case is scheduled for a hearing on December 10. That hearing may provide an early indication of the timeline for responses, case management, and any preliminary issues raised by the parties, though the available information does not establish what specific matters will be addressed on that date.
A significant legal issue arising from a live wrestling broadcast
The lawsuit puts an unusual spotlight on the line between WWE’s live entertainment presentation and people working in official or security capacities around the ring. Wrestling television frequently incorporates performers’ interactions with ringside fans, production personnel, commentators, officials, and members of the event staff. Lucas’ complaint, however, alleges that he did not consent to being made part of an intimate, sexualized interaction and that the resulting footage was used beyond the live broadcast.
Those allegations make consent, physical proximity, the nature of the contact, and the status of Lucas as a working security officer central issues in the case. The complaint also raises questions regarding the handling and distribution of footage involving non-performers who are visible during a live program.
For WWE, the matter arrives amid the company’s continued live weekly distribution of Raw on Netflix. The July 6 Rosemont broadcast was part of that live programming schedule, where moments at ringside can be captured instantly for the main telecast and later shared across promotional platforms. Lucas alleges that the circulation of the clip amplified the harm he says he experienced.
Ford’s work as Montez Ford is ordinarily presented within WWE’s scripted sports-entertainment setting. The lawsuit does not itself resolve how the relevant segment was planned, whether any instructions were given concerning Lucas, or what WWE personnel knew before or after the interaction. Those are among the factual areas that could be explored if the case advances.
Next steps in Cook County
As the case proceeds, the court will consider the pleadings and any arguments made by Lucas, WWE, Event Services, LLC, and Crawford. The defendants may challenge the legal sufficiency of the claims, dispute the underlying factual allegations, or pursue other defenses. Lucas would bear the burden of proving his claims if the case reaches later stages of litigation.
For now, the public record establishes that Lucas has brought a 14-count civil action tied to the July 6, 2026 Raw broadcast in Rosemont. He alleges he was subjected to a sexualized dance without consent, that the episode and subsequent social-media use of the footage exposed him to public ridicule, and that the incident caused continuing distress for him and his family.
With a December 10 hearing currently set, the case involving WWE, Event Services, LLC, and Montez Ford is now positioned to move through the Cook County Circuit Court system. No determination has yet been made on Lucas’ allegations or on the damages and injunctive relief he is requesting.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.