MLW Files Amended Lawsuit Against WWE

Major League Wrestling have filed an amended lawsuit against WWE, 21 days after a judge in the Northern District of California US District Court dismissed MLW's initial antitrust lawsuit against WWE that was filed in January 2022.

In the amended suit, MLW are continuing to assert their claim that WWE are impeding their ability "to compete in the licensing of its programming for distribution on streaming services and continues to threaten to deprive MLW of its ability to license its programming for distribution on cable." MLW stated they are "at risk of its business being irreparably destroyed."

MLW's recent TV deal with REELZ is referenced in the lawsuit and the promotion has claimed they are at risk of losing that deal because of WWE's exclusivity clause with Peacock. MLW Underground only started airing on REELZ in February but the TV station recently announced a deal with NBCUniversal that brings REELZ's linear channel and on-demand programming to Peacock.

MLW Underground is reportedly unable to air on Peacock because of the aforementioned exclusivity deal and Variety recently reported that MLW's contract with REELZ is set to end in early April, after only 10 weeks. REELZ noted in a statement that no decisions have been made as of yet.

The court demanded more evidence when the antitrust lawsuit was dismissed. MLW has looked to provide it, claiming that WWE holds 92% of the total market while AEW has 6%, leaving just 2% for the rest of the promotions. The amended filing also references WWE's attempts to stop G1 Supercard from taking place at Madison Square Garden in 2019 over WrestleMania weekend.