Wrestlenomics is reporting that MLW has amended its antitrust complaint against WWE, citing exclusivity agreement with Peacock.
According to an amended complaint filed this past Monday, Major League Wrestling alleges that WWE’s agreement with Peacock, which reportedly keeps non-WWE content off of the NBCUniversal streaming platform, contributes to its antitrust case against WWE.
MLW’s new broadcast partner, REELZ recently made a deal that will allow the cable channel to be streamed live on Peacock, except for Tuesday night’s at 10:00 pm ET, when MLW ‘s Underground show airs.
The newly written filing more narrowly defines the market relevant to claims that WWE is violating the Sherman Antitrust Act as the U.S. market for professional wrestling media content, rather than the United States professional wrestling market more broadly.
MLW is arguing exclusivity agreements like those WWE made with Peacock, which prevents the streaming service from distributing wrestling content that in not WWE, is not the norm in the media industry. MLW is also pointing out how WWE has been the dominant force since WCW went out of business in back in March 2001 and was purchased by WWE. MLW also further claims that WWE moving Raw to TNN in 2000 led to the cancellation of ECW from the same network, which later resulted in ECW’s being bought as well by WWE after then ECW owner Paul Heyman filed bankruptcy.
The original complaint, which was filed in January 2022, was dismissed last month. However, the judge in the case allowed MLW to amend its claims. Judge Edward J. Davila ruled that “MLW has not included sufficient facts to plausibly allege a relevant antitrust product market.”
Variety reported recently reported MLW’s run on REELZ is only a ten week run. However, REELZ later made a statement, saying the network has not yet made a full decision about MLW programming. The comment did not further clarify exactly how long MLW will air on REELZ.
Some of the following, per Wrestlenomics is from MLW’s amended lawsuit against WWE.
-WWE executive “Triple H” Paul Levesque called Madison Square Garden back in 2018 to urge the venue to cancel the G1 Supercard of Honor, which was held by ROH and NJPW, whichtook place on WrestleMania weekend in April 2019. It was said MSG did cancel the show. However, it was rescheduled only after ROH’s then owner – Sinclair Broadcasting, threatened legal action.
-WWE blocked AEW from running at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati in 2019 and early 2020.
WWE interfered with MLW talent. MLW claims that WWE hired away then-current MLW champion Stephon Strickland (current AEW star Swerve Strickland, who was known as Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in WWE). MLW further claims WWE’s talent executive at the time, Canyon Ceman encouraged Strickland to opt out of his MLW contract.
-In July 2021, WWE hired Davey Boy Smith Jr. away from MLW. Smith only appeared in one dark match for WWE, which “made clear [WWE’s] intent to impair MLW’s ability to build its brand and viewership by removing one of its successful wrestlers.”
-MLW says AEW demanded WWE stop contacting many AEW talent who WWE was trying to hire away. The claim seems related to AEW CEO Tony Khan’s assertion that AEW talent have told him WWE has approached those talent and tried to get them to break their contracts with AEW.
-MLW points out how WWE ran two premium live events last Labor Day weekend, one, the day before AEW’s All Out pay-per-view and another earlier on the same day, which was intended to prevent the success of the AEW event.
-MLW claims AEW “has yet to be profitable since launching in 2019.” In an attempt to strengthen its argument, MLW states that other content can not be substituted for pro wrestling content — a counter WWE has raised — MLW argued wrestling programming provides a unique audience.
-MLW claims wrestling content reaches the valuable 18 to 49 age demographic and that its audience is different from that of other programs because it skews male and with viewers aged 35 to 44.
-WWE’s conduct is a detriment to wrestling fans, MLW claims, writing WWE “has harmed wrestling fans by reducing their choices and quality of professional wrestling programming and increasing their costs of consuming that content.”
-As in the original complaint, MLW maintains WWE interfered with MLW’s media deals with Tubi, Vice, and FITE.
-MLW presents an analysis of the United States professional wrestling media rights market, arguing WWE currently controls 92% of the revenue from that market, with its deals for Raw and SmackDown, worth a combined $470 million per year. AEW, with its deal is worth $43.8 million per year and makes up 6% of the market. This leaves less than 2% of the remaining market going to other wrestling companies in the U.S., including MLW, IMPACT Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Women of Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and the National Wrestling Alliance.
MLW continues to be represented by lawyers from the well-known law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP. The amended complaint is submitted by Christine Montenegro, whereas the original complaint was submitted by Jason Takenouchi.
The case is filed in federal court in California, where Tubi is headquartered.
Wrestlenomics noted that they contacted MLW and WWE and have yet to hear back.