WWE And MLW Lawsuit Officially Dismissed And Settled, MLW Law Firm Issues Statement
The WWE and MLW lawsuit is officially over.
On December 26, Judge Divale signed the order today dismissing MLW v. WWE with prejudice, meaning the case can’t be relitigated.
On December 11, it was announced WWE and MLW reached a settlement in the antitrust case.
MLW’s law firm issued the following statement:
Kasowitz Secures Settlement on Behalf of MLW Media Against World Wrestling Entertainment in Antitrust Suit
New York, NY, December 22, 2023 — Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of professional wrestling promotion company MLW Media (MLW), has reached a settlement with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) over MLW’s antitrust and state law claims against WWE for monopolizing and attempting to monopolize the market for the sale or licensing of media rights for professional wrestling programming in the United States. On December 22, 2023, MLW filed a stipulation and proposed order of dismissal of its lawsuit against WWE with the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, notifying the court that the parties have entered into a settlement agreement.
The settlement follows MLW’s successful defeat of WWE’s motion to dismiss, as well as its successful motion to strike numerous affirmative defenses in WWE’s answer to the amended complaint. The parties agreed to resolve the matter on mutually acceptable terms.
The Kasowitz Benson Torres team representing MLW is led by partners Marc E. Kasowitz and Christine A. Montenegro and includes partner Nicholas A. Rendino.
On January 11, 2022, MLW filed an anti-trust lawsuit against WWE, accusing them of interfering in television and streaming deals and poaching talent.
The lawsuit went through multiple amendments and motions. It was dismissed in February 2023, but MLW filed an amendment. A judge denied WWE’s motion to dismiss MLW’s amended lawsuit in June. MLW argued WWE was engaging in unfair practices, including blocking ROH and AEW events. MLW also stated that WWE’s Stephanie McMahon interfered with a MLW deal with FOX-owned streaming service Tubi.
