WWE’s motion to dismiss MLW‘s amended lawsuit has been denied.
Since 2022, MLW and WWE have been involved in a lawsuit, as MLW has alleged that WWE has tried to monopolize the market in the wrestling business and undermine the competition, specifically regarding negotiations for media rights deals.
Kasowitz Benson Torres, the firm representing Major League Wrestling in the lawsuit, issued the following statement:
“Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of professional wrestling promotion company MLW Media, has defeated a motion to dismiss MLW’s amended complaint asserting federal antitrust and state law unfair competition claims against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for monopolizing and attempting to monopolize the market for the sale or licensing of media rights to professional wrestling events in the United States. MLW’s claims will now proceed to discovery.
In denying the motion, Judge Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, held that MLW had sufficiently alleged all four elements of its antitrust claims— relevant market, market power, anticompetitive conduct and antitrust injury-and declined to dismiss the state law claims.
Marc E. Kasowitz stated “We are pleased with Judge Davila’s well-reasoned opinion and look forward to recovering the substantial damages that MLW has suffered as a result of WWE’s many years of egregious anticompetitive behavior.”
The Kasowitz Benson Torres team representing MLW Media is led by partner Marc E. Kasowitz and includes partners Christine A. Montenegro, Nicholas A. Rendino and Jason S. Takenouchi.”
Following this legal victory, MLW’s claims will advance to discovery.
WWE previously filed a response to MLW’s amended lawsuit and requested the court to dismiss the claims. More information is available here.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
