WWE & MLW End Antitrust Lawsuit With Undisclosed Settlement

WWE has a lot of legal situations right now, but their long-running legal situation with MLW is now over. This antitrust lawsuit was a huge deal for a time, and now a settlement has been reached.

In January 2022, MLW initiated a lawsuit against WWE, alleging anticompetitive practices and interference in MLW's business operations. The claim asserted that WWE, under Vince McMahon's leadership, used its influence to obstruct MLW from securing a television deal with a major network, thus hindering their growth and violating antitrust laws. Recently, it has been revealed that MLW and WWE have reached a settlement, marking the conclusion of their legal dispute.

WWE presented an extensive list of potential defenses against MLW, and according to Brandon Thurston of WrestleNomics, the latest court documents indicate that the two parties are in the process of finalizing a settlement in the suit.

“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.”

The lawsuit also contended that Triple H contacted Madison Square Garden, urging them to cancel an event hosted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor. This was a thorn in their side for a while, but the terms of the settlement have not been revealed at this time.

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WWE attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed by arguing that MLW's claim lacked validity. However, the court ruled against WWE's motion, permitting MLW's lawsuit to proceed. In their pursuit of justice, MLW requested 22 years of data from WWE as part of the legal proceedings.

Many believe that WWE changed up a number of competitive tactics due to this lawsuit. This could also be the reason why WWE is no longer restricting AEW venues. We will keep our eye on this story for more updates at SE Scoops.

WWE has experienced a number of legal hurdles over the years. As they are now owned by TKO Group Holdings, only time will tell how that will dictate the future for the company.