WWE & Montez Ford sued over controversial RAW lap dance segment - report. October 15, 2026 WWE and Street Profits star Montez Ford are facing a lawsuit over an alleged unwanted interaction during the July 6 episode of Monday Night RAW in Rosemont, Illinois. The plaintiff claims the televised incident continued to affect his personal and professional life after footage circulated online. According to a report by POST Wrestling's Brandon Thurston, Cook County Sheriff's officer Noel Lucas filed the lawsuit on Oct. 14 in the Circuit Court of Cook County. WWE, Ford, whose legal name is Kenneth Crawford, and WWE subsidiary Event Services, LLC, are named as defendants. WWE and Montez Ford face 14 counts in security guard's lawsuit. Lucas was working off-duty security at the Allstate Arena when the incident allegedly occurred during the Street Profits' entrance. The lawsuit claims Ford approached Lucas without consent and performed a sexually provocative dance, repeatedly moving his hips and pelvis toward the officer. The complaint includes 14 counts. It includes allegations of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the Illinois Gender Violence Act. Lucas also alleges that WWE and Ford used his image commercially without permission, claiming a violation of the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. According to the filing, the clip gained hundreds of thousands of views online. Lucas claims members of the public later recognized and mocked him at his full-time workplace. Moreover, his children were reportedly ridiculed at school over the footage. His attorney, Whitney Barr, said Lucas works a second job to help provide for his children. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary and punitive damages, legal costs, and an order preventing WWE and Ford from using Lucas's identity. The current Netflix version of the July 6 RAW reportedly cuts away early during the Street Profits' entrance. Nevertheless, footage of the interaction remains available online. WWE had not responded to POST Wrestling's request for comment by Thursday evening, according to the report. A case management hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10. The allegations have not been established as facts in court, and the lawsuit remains a legal matter involving the parties named in the complaint. For WWE, an entrance that was part of the televised show has become the subject of a legal dispute, with developments expected to unfold through the court process. Vishal Bhawani is a WWE Writer at Evolve Media, specializing in delivering the latest updates from the world of professional wrestling, with a focus on WWE. With over 5 years of experience in sports content writing and editing, he has worked across leading sports media platforms covering Football and Cricket while also managing and mentoring writers and maintaining high editorial standards. He follows a variety of sports, including Cricket, Football, and Tennis.

WWE and Montez Ford sued over alleged "lap dance" With security guard during RAW. Follow Us To Stay Connected With Its Updates WWE and Montez Ford are facing a lawsuit over a moment from the July 6 episode of Monday Night RAW that a Cook County Sheriff's officer says crossed the line. Noel Lucas, who was working off-duty security at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, filed suit Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court against WWE, Ford, whose legal name is Kenneth Crawford, and WWE subsidiary Event Services, LLC. Lucas is accusing the defendants of 14 counts, including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violations of the Illinois Gender Violence Act. The incident happened during The Street Profits' entrance as Ford and Angelo Dawkins made their way toward the ring. According to the lawsuit, Lucas had been instructed by a WWE employee to work near ringside when Ford approached him during the live Netflix broadcast. The complaint claims Ford began performing a sexualized dance directly in front of Lucas without warning or consent. Lucas alleges Ford continued moving closer to him as the bit went on. "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.'" "[Crawford] moved his body increasingly closer to [Lucas]; continued the lap dance." The lawsuit also claims Ford's "left inner thigh repeatedly rubbed against Plaintiff's leg." Lucas says the situation became even worse once video of the interaction spread online. According to the complaint, footage received hundreds of thousands of views and was shared through WWE and Ford's social media accounts. Lucas claims the exposure made him recognizable when he returned to his full-time job at a courthouse the following day. The lawsuit alleges members of the public recognized Lucas and mocked him by recreating the motions from the RAW segment. "Members of the public recognized him from the videos of the encounter that had circulated on social media and mocked him, thrusting their hips in his direction, imitating the sexual movements." Lucas also claims his children have been mocked and ridiculed at school because of the video. His attorneys say the situation has caused him ongoing humiliation, embarrassment and emotional distress. Lucas is also accusing WWE and Ford of improperly using his likeness for commercial purposes under the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. Attorney Whitney Barr addressed the lawsuit in a statement provided to POST Wrestling. "Like so many law enforcement officers, Mr. Lucas works a second job in order to better provide for his children." Lucas works for the Cook County Sheriff's Department while also supervising security personnel for Monterrey Security, which is how he ended up working the WWE event. As of Thursday evening, the version of the July 6 RAW episode available on Netflix no longer showed the interaction. The broadcast appears to cut to a break early in The Street Profits' entrance, although footage of the moment remains available elsewhere online. Lucas is seeking unspecified monetary damages, punitive damages and legal costs. He is also asking the court to prevent WWE and Ford from using his identity. A case management hearing is scheduled for December 10. WWE had not issued a response to the lawsuit at the time of the original story. The lawsuit now puts a moment that originally played out as part of The Street Profits' entrance under a much different spotlight, with Lucas arguing that what WWE presented as entertainment caused problems that followed him away from the arena and into his personal life. What do you make of the allegations against WWE and Montez Ford, and do you think performers should have stricter boundaries when interacting with security and other non-performers during entrances? Let Ringside News know your thoughts and feedback in the comments. Share Send This Story To Your Friends Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

Is WWE planning to shift Crown Jewel 2026 from Saudi Arabia after recent airport attack? Sports journalist blending data, analysis, and a passion for WWE, basketball, and soccer. Published at: October 13, 2026 at 11:56 PM Modified at: October 14, 2026 at 12:11 AM WWE is uncertain about the Crown Jewel 2026 venue. In the latest follow-up episode of WWE Raw, the Stamford-based promotion announced two matches for the upcoming Crown Jewel 2026 PLE. It will be Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn and Liv Morgan vs Chelsea Green in the clash of champions matches. While fans are excited about the announcement, there is still uncertainty over the schedule due to the current situation in Saudi Arabia. So far, the company has continued promoting the PLE in Riyadh, but with the latest advisory from government authorities and continuous attacks in the region, there are questions over the possibility of the PLE taking place in Riyadh itself. WWE reportedly discussing Crown Jewel's location. WWE's plans for the early November PLE have come under scrutiny following a series of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With the Premium Live Event scheduled for November 7, the developing security situation has raised questions about whether the company will move the show to another location. Before, Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer reported on October 9 that the chances of WWE holding Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia became an intense conversation point inside the company. The story got more complicated the next few days with reports of additional attacks in the Saudi Arabian airport and the US Embassy in Riyadh telling American citizens to stay away from the airport and vicinity. The warning also mentioned potential flight cancellations, airspace closure, and other disruptions. It made the logistics and safety of sending WWE Superstars and others to Saudi Arabia for the show even harder to decide. It got a new twist on October 13 when, according to False Finish, WWE has been discussing the PLE hosting with the US government. According to the report, it is now up to the TKO officials and Ari Emanuel if the event will be held in Riyadh. Amid these speculations, TRNBCKL reported that the PLE is set to move out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to the current situation. However, the new location for the event has yet to be confirmed. Will WWE move Crown Jewel 2026 away from Saudi Arabia? As of October 14, WWE has not announced a relocation of the elite PLE. The company continues to advertise the event for November 7 in Riyadh, and the October 12 episode of Monday Night Raw promoted the show and announced its champion-versus-champion matches. On the other hand, following TRNBCKL, Bryan Alvarez of WON reported that Riyadh is still the plan for Crown Jewel, although there is a backup city in the US that is on the table. Sean Ross Sapp also highlighted that the rumors about the relocation of the mega PLE are false. PWInsider also reported that a WWE source denied that the company has locked in a backup location in Europe, as a rumor was making the rounds. The company is paying close attention to the situation and will take the final decision once they get affirmation from the private security firm they contract with, which is an expert in the region. Additionally, there is the question of what plans WWE has for the future of the company in the region. In 2027, Saudi Arabia is set to host WrestleMania 43, which will be the first-ever WrestleMania that is supposed to be held outside of North America. But the promotion has yet to announce dates for WrestleMania 43. With the event just a few days away from happening, WWE is likely to think about security matters, travel issues, contracts, and overall safety of their performers. Crown Jewel is set to happen in Riyadh on November 7, 2026, unless the company makes any changes. Furthermore, the issue has gotten attention due to the long relationship between Saudi Arabia and WWE. The WWE PLE is a significant event in the sports and entertainment calendar of the Kingdom, and WWE has been present in the country since 2018. When and where will the WWE Crown Jewel 2026 take place? Is WWE planning to move Crown Jewel 2026 away from Saudi Arabia? For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join its community on Telegram & Whatsapp. Summarize using AI: Kunal Chawda is an experienced sports journalist with over six years of experience in the field. With a background in engineering and an MBA, he brings an insightful, statistical, and analytical perspective to his writing. While Kunal has a deep passion for WWE, basketball, and soccer, his commitment to unbiased reporting keeps his work grounded in facts rather than fan-driven narratives. When he's not covering sports, Kunal can often be found buried in mystery books, following clues and trying to uncover the truth before the final reveal.