A ringside moment during WWE’s Monday Night Raw has turned into a legal battle after a Cook County Sheriff’s officer accused wrestler Montez Ford of performing an unwanted, sexually suggestive lap dance on him while he was working security.
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According to POST Wrestling, the Montez Ford lawsuit was filed on October 14, 2026, in Cook County Circuit Court by Noel Lucas. The complaint names Ford, whose legal name is Kenneth Crawford, WWE, and its subsidiary Event Services, LLC, as defendants.The allegations stem from WWE’s July 6, 2026, episode of Monday Night Raw at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Ford and his Street Profits tag team partner, Angelo Dawkins, were making their entrance when the alleged encounter occurred.
Lucas, a sheriff’s officer working an additional security job, claims he was following instructions to remain seated at his assigned position near the ring. Instead, he alleges Ford approached him unexpectedly and began performing sexually suggestive movements without his permission.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the complaint alleges Ford “approached him without warning, straddled him, and began repeatedly thrusting and gyrating his hips toward him in a sexually suggestive manner.”
The filing further alleges that Ford moved closer during the performance and made unwanted physical contact. As reported by POST Wrestling, Lucas claims Ford’s “left inner thigh repeatedly rubbed against Plaintiff’s leg.”
Lucas maintains that he never agreed to participate in the performance and had no reason to believe his security assignment would involve physical interaction with a wrestler.
However, the Montez Ford lawsuit extends beyond what allegedly happened at ringside.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, Lucas claims the interaction aired during Netflix’s live broadcast before WWE shared footage on TikTok and Instagram, generating more than 300,000 views. The complaint also alleges Ford posted footage of the encounter.
Lucas argues that the exposure turned an uncomfortable experience into ongoing public embarrassment.
The lawsuit alleges that people recognized him at his regular workplace the following day and mocked him by imitating Ford’s movements. Lucas also claims his children faced ridicule at school after the footage spread across social media.
His attorney, Whitney Barr, believes the circumstances make the incident particularly troubling.
“Mr. Lucas was there to do his job, not to be made a part of WWE’s entertainment,” Barr told FOX 32 Chicago.
The complaint also takes issue with commentary during the broadcast. According to FOX 32, announcers allegedly made jokes about Lucas, including the remark, “That guy clearly hates fun,” and a comparison to the fictional security guard Paul Blart.
Those details form part of Lucas’s argument that the incident caused emotional and reputational harm.
The Montez Ford lawsuit contains 14 counts, including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and alleged violations of the Illinois Gender Violence Act. Lucas also claims his likeness was commercially exploited without his consent, raising allegations under the Illinois Right of Publicity Act.
But does Lucas actually have a case?
Under Illinois law, certain forms of unwanted physical intrusion or aggression can support civil claims involving gender related violence. Whether Ford’s alleged actions meet the applicable legal requirements will depend on the evidence and how the court evaluates the circumstances.
The publicity allegations present another question. Illinois law generally restricts unauthorized commercial use of someone’s identity, but the Right of Publicity Act also contains exceptions involving sports broadcasts, entertainment, and certain promotional materials.
That distinction could become important when determining whether WWE’s distribution of the footage violated Lucas’s rights.
According to POST Wrestling, the interaction was no longer included in the version of the July 6 episode available on Netflix as of October 15. However, the clip remained accessible elsewhere online.
WWE had not publicly responded to the allegations despite requests for comment from multiple news outlets. No court has determined that Ford or WWE committed wrongdoing.
Lucas is seeking unspecified compensatory damages, punitive damages, legal fees, and an order preventing further unauthorized use of his identity. A case management hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2026.
The Montez Ford lawsuit now raises a question that extends beyond professional wrestling: When an entertainment performance involves someone who never agreed to participate, where does showmanship end and personal consent begin?
