Various: Court Bauer on MLW’s Lawsuit Against WWE, Hikuleo on Loser Leaves Japan Match, Indies

Feb 8, 2023

MLW Owner Court Bauer Comments on Reasons for MLW’s Anti-trust Lawsuit Against WWE

Deadline.com held a recent interview with Major League Wrestling owner Court Bauer. One of the topics discussed included Bauer’s reasons why MLW filed an anti-trust lawsuit against WWE.

“I keep reminding myself the key to success is perseverance. It sounds idealistic, but it’s really about the grit and having to keep going out there. We had a pretty good idea what transpired [with Tubi]. Sometimes, it’s a ruthless business. It as the most gutting experience of my professional career.
There are several things that have come up that have disrupted our business in terms of talent and tampering with contracts. Overall it’s just the suppression of the growth of our business that we looked at. So, this wasn’t just tampering with one deal, one piece of talent. It’s the totality. If you look at the 40-year history and the practices of WWE going back to the eighties … the problems start to emerge. They have an immense market share. They will do what they do to make sure that that’s not softened.
Vince McMahon wants to own all the boats. That’s how you build an empire.”

Hikuleo on His Upcoming Loser Leaves Japan Match & Rumors of Other Promotions Being Interested in Him

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s official English-language website held a recent interview with Hikuleo. One of the topics discussed included Hikuleo’s thoughts on his upcoming Loser Leave Japan match against Jay White at this Saturday’s The New Beginning in Osaka 2023 event.

“It was a shock to hear Jay ask for a Loser Leaves Japan match. In a way, I was surprised he came after me the way that he did. I know he was going to come for me eventually, after what happened in Kobe, but him doing what he did right after he lost to Okada in the Tokyo Dome really made it seem to me that he’d lost his mind. He’d been building this kingdom, this legacy, and it was all destroyed in front of him. So he’s taking it out on me, but I guess that it’s a compliment in a way. The Grand Slam Champion, everything that he’s done, and I’ve been in the back of his head so much that he blames me for losing it all. Jay White is the best at getting into people’s heads, and I’m now in his. It was a shock when I first heard about it but I’m ready for it now.”

Hikuleo also gave his thoughts on why he wants to stay in Japan and continue his career in NJPW.

“It goes back to me being early on in my career. I’ve still got so much to learn. I only just came back in the fall of 2022, and the amount of reps I can get, the discipline I can develop, the things that I can achieve in Japan? There’s still so much that I have to do, still.”

Hikuleo also gave his thoughts about the recent rumors and reports of other promotions currently being interested in signing him.

“I know that Jay is valuable anywhere. It’s nice to know that I am too. But at the end of the day, this is about winning. At the end of that day in Osaka, one of us is leaving Japan, and people will remember tat for a long time to come. It’s destiny. When you think of what Jay White has achieved in the last five years, it puts us on entirely different levels, and I can instantly make my value skyrocket if I’m the guy that made Jay White leave Japan.”

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Arez and Aramis reportedly recently requested and were denied their releases from Major League Wrestling, according to Rob Bihari. Bihari reported that the reason for their requests was due to the lack of work for both of them in MLW since this past April and June respectively. Bihari also reported that both have recently been threatened with legal action from MLW if they try to break their current multi-year contracts with the company.

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced that they will be launching a new NJPW Academy as part of their L.A. Dojo this March.

Mercedes Mone reportedly is currently scheduled to make an appearance at this year’s Planet Comicon convention on March 17-19th in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Fightful.

As noted before, Matt Cardona filed a trademark for his former WWE ring name “Zack Ryder” this past January. Cardona recently provided an update on Twitter stating that his trademark application was rejected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

As noted before, Dirty Dango is currently believed to have recently signed a one-year contract with Impact Wrestling. During a recent interview with the Windy City Slam podcast, Dango confirmed that the recent reports of him signing a contract with Impact and it being for one year in length was true.

The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced that Bully Ray will be making an appearance for the company at their Nuff Said event on February 11th in Tampa, Florida. It was also announced that Bully Ray will be the guest commentator for the NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship match at the event.

The NWA also recently announced nine new matches and a new match stipulation for the card of their Nuff Said event on February 11th in Tampa:

Trevor Murdoch vs. Chris Adonis
NWA National Heavyweight Championship – Homicide vs. Cyon (c)
Singapore Cane match – Thom Latimer vs. Fodder
NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship “No Seconds Allowed” (No one allowed at ringside) match – Matt Cardona vs. Tyrus (c)
NWA World Tag Team Championship – Blunt Force Trama (Carnage & Damage) vs. La Rebelión (Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf) (c)
NWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship – The Renegade Twins (Charlette & Robyn Renegade) vs. Pretty Empowered (Kenzie Paige & Ella Envy) (c)
Pre-show: Missa Kate vs. La Rosa Negra
Pre-show: Dak Draper & Mims vs. Jax Dane & Blake Troop (w/ Chris Silvio)
Pre-show: Mercurio & Natalia Markova vs. Jennacide & Max The Impaler
Pre-show: Odinson vs. Joe Alonzo