WWE Reaches Settlement Regarding Lawsuit
A settlement agreement has been reached regarding WWE’s lawsuit with Major League Wrestling.
It was revealed earlier in 2023 that Major League Wrestling (MLW) had filed an antitrust lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment. The lawsuit alleged that WWE pressured media partners of MLW to abandon their contracts or prospective relationship with the promotion.
In March 2023, MLW sued WWE regarding MLW’s deal with REELZ. MLW debuted on REELZ in February 2023 but at the end of that month, the network announced a deal with Peacock – the US home of the WWE Network. Since there was an exclusivity clause between WWE and Peacock, MLW content was blacked out.
That new lawsuit by AEW claimed that WWE’s share of the pro wrestling market was at 92% was at 6% while there was only 2% left for other pro wrestling organizations.
WWE Has Reached A Settlement Deal With MLW
On Monday, December 11th, it was announced that WWE filed the following with The United States District Court California Northern District in San Jose, California. Thanks to PWInsider for the information below.
“In accordance with the Court’s Standing Order for Civil Cases, Section IV.F.1, Plaintiff MLW Media LLC and Defendant World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (together, the “Parties”), hereby submit this Notice of Settlement to notify the Court that the Parties have settled this action. The Parties are in the process of completing the final settlement documents and expect to file the appropriate dismissal papers within the next thirty (30) days.”
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer noted on Twitter/X that no terms were announced while also explaining when the settlement will take place.
“No terms were announced, if major as in other settlements TKO would likely announce them in the next few days in an SEC filing.”
“The parties are in the process of completing the documentation and expect the actual settlement to close in the next 30 days. The MLW lawyers filed the document today. There had been discussions regarding a settlement dating back some time.”
Since MLW filed the lawsuit earlier in 2023, Endeavor acquired WWE officially in September and merged with UFC under a new parent company named TKO Group Holdings.