WWE and Montez Ford have been named in a lawsuit by a security guard who alleges the wrestler performed an unwanted, sexualised “lap dance” on him during a Raw entrance.

Noel Lucas filed the complaint on October 14 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The lawsuit names WWE, Ford, whose real name is Kenneth Crawford, and Event Services, LLC as defendants.

According to POST Wrestling’s Brandon Thurston, the allegations relate to the July 6 episode of Raw at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

Lucas says he was working security at ringside and had been instructed by a WWE employee to stand in that position.

The complaint alleges Ford began “performing a sexually provocative dance immediately in front of and over Plaintiff, repeatedly thrusting and gyrating his hips and pelvis towards Plaintiff, performing a sexualized ‘lap dance.'”

It further claims Ford “moved his body increasingly closer” and “continued the lap dance,” with his “left inner thigh repeatedly rubbed against Plaintiff’s leg.”

The Street Profits entered the show as World Tag Team Champions. Later that evening, they lost the titles to The Vision’s Austin Theory and Bron Breakker after Maxxine Dupri turned against them. The Netflix version of the episode cuts to a break early in their entrance.

Lucas works full-time as a Cook County Sheriff’s officer at a courthouse and also supervises guards for Monterrey Security.

He alleges the incident affected both his working life and his family. According to the complaint, members of the public at the courthouse “mocked him, thrusting their hips in his direction, imitating the sexual movements” the following day.

The lawsuit also says his children were “mocked and ridiculed” at school. Lucas claims he “suffered humiliation, embarrassment, and emotional distress.”

“Like so many law enforcement officers, Mr. Lucas works a second job in order to better provide for his children,” his attorney, Whitney Barr, said.

Barr and Alexis Martin of Caffarelli & Martin Ltd. are representing Lucas.

The lawsuit contains 14 counts, including assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It also includes claims under the Illinois Gender Violence Act and the Illinois Right of Publicity Act, with the latter relating to the broadcast’s use of his likeness.

Lucas is seeking unspecified damages, punitive damages and legal costs. He is also asking for an order preventing WWE from using his identity.

The claims are allegations in a civil complaint and have not been tested in court. WWE did not immediately respond to POST Wrestling’s request for comment. A case management hearing is scheduled for December 10.

What boundaries should apply when wrestlers interact with event staff during a show? Share your thoughts in the comments.