MLW Antitrust Lawsuit Against WWE Update – Lawsuit Officially Dismissed After Settlement Deal Made

As noted before, Major League Wrestling’s original antitrust lawsuit against WWE was dismissed this past February and had filed a new amended lawsuit this past March. A settlement deal between the two companies was reached earlier this month.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that The United States District Court California Northern District (San Jose) California officially dismissed MLW’s lawsuit with prejudice earlier today based on recent court records. Johnson reported that this ruling was made following WWE and MLW officially filing a notice on December 22nd stating that they had reached a settlement deal.

MLW’s legal team released an official statement touting their settlement victory for the company over WWE.

Official press release:

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.