Various: MLW’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against WWE Update, Will Ospreay on Orange Cassidy Match, Indies

Jul 9, 2022

MLW’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against WWE Update

As noted before, Major League Wrestling filed an antitrust lawsuit earlier this year against WWE. MLW claims that WWE illegally interfered in several of their business deals with television networks and engaged in contract tampering with several of their contracted talent.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that the presiding judge of the case, Judge Edward J. Davila, issued a ruling on July 7th denying MLW’s motion request to move up the Initial Case Management Conference from its original date of October 27th to new date of September 29th. In their motion, MLW had claimed that they “will suffer substantial harm and prejudice without the Court’s intervention because, under WWE’s interpretation of the Federal Rules, the Rule 26(f) conference would not be required to be held until October 6, 2022, more than four months after the motion to dismiss has been fully briefed. During this time, the parties will be foreclosed from conducting discovery.”

The Court, having considered Plaintiff MLW Media LLC’s (“MLW”) Motion To Shorten UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA DENIED
[PROPOSED] ORDER REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME FOR THE INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
Time For The Initial Case Management Conference, the Declaration of Jason S. Takenouchi (“Takenouchi Declaration”) and Defendant’s response, GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion.
The Initial Case Management Conference is reset for September 29, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.
The case schedule is amended as follows:
September 8, 2022 – Last day for Parties to (1) Meet and Confer re: initial disclosures, early settlement, ADR process selection, and discovery plan; and (2) file ADR Certification signed by Parties and Counsel
September 15, 2022 – Last day for Parties to File Stipulation/Motion for Order Changing Time re Initial Case Management Conference
September 19, 2022 – Last day for Parties to file Joint Case Management Statement, pursuant to the Court’s Standing Order for Civil Cases IV(B)
September 22, 2022 – Last day for Parties to file Rule 26(f) Report and complete Initial Disclosures or state objection in Rule 26(f) Report
September 22, 2022 – Last day for Parties to File and Serve Administrative Request to Appear Telephonically at Initial Case Management Conference
September 29 – Initial Case Management Conference

Will Ospreay Comments on His Match Against Orange Cassidy “Stole the Show” at Forbidden Door

Wrestle Inn held a recent interview with Will Ospreay. One of the topics discussed included Ospreay’s thoughts about his match against Orange Cassidy “stole the show” at AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling’s co-promoted Forbidden Door event this past Sunday.

“I feel great. Orange Cassidy did a hell of a job. A lot of people, myself included, were expecting massive dream matches, but we all have to take a step back and realize that this is only the start of the relationship. It’s phase one of the Marvel Universe, it’s the Multiverse opening up so now we can get some dream matches going. I do feel we need to test the waters first and make sure it’s all good. I can completely say that I stole the show. I completely stole it. I prefer patting myself on the back rather than, ‘I could have done this better.’ We are always critical of ourselves, but I know that was great. I know how good it was, down to Orange, the referee, the camera crew, and everything. It was the perfect combination of everything. The crowd was amazing, I love performing in Chicago. That building was incredible, every seat was filled. For AEW’s side of things, it was built around your Bryan Danielsons, CM Punks, and Kenny (Omegas) and on our side of things it was built around (Kazuchika) Okada, Jay (White), and myself. We delivered on our side of things and you guys delivered with Moxley and stuff like that, but the way I look at it is, AEW spent millions on those guys and they are too fragile to show up. It’s a shame they couldn’t be there, nothing but respect, but you guys are being paid millions. I wish I had that type of money. My mom would never work in her life again. After that, I feel everyone is looking at me like, ‘He deserves that damn money.’ When it comes to contract renegotiations, I’m sitting fucking pretty.”

Ospreay also gave his thoughts about if it was hard to structure the match due to Cassidy’s unique character and in-ring work.

“He’s an interesting character, no doubt about it. For me, he’s everything that I can’t stand. He’s lethargic and lazy, and I’m so extra. Look at the jacket I wear, it’s a 10,000-pound jacket. His entire costume costs like $30. That angers me. It’s probably a deep-rooted thing where, maybe, you’re earning this ridiculous sum of money that deserves to go to somebody else that I admire and I respect, (they) deserve that money. You’re getting it with your hands in your pockets? That always annoyed me, but in terms of structure, it’s down to my character can be angry and pissed off at those points, but when he needs to turn up…we all need to take a step back. Orange Cassidy is phenomenal. He understands everything about himself and knows how to play the mind games when it comes to his matches if you’re not giving him the credit where it’s due, you don’t understand what wrestling is anymore. Obviously, you have your (Jim) Cornettes and those lads who take shots and shit on him, but wrestling is a weird thing where it’s so over, why extinguish that flame? I understand so many people put their dream matches together, but I couldn’t help but think that was a pleasant surprise when I found out that was happening. To me, that was a tick in my box. You can put me against the top guy, the bottom guy, the guy with his hands in his pockets, I still walk away with the match of the night.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

FITE TV recently released a three-part documentary titled Ric Flair: The Last Match on their streaming service. This documentary focuses on Flair’s upcoming retirement match and is narrated by Hootie & the Blowfish band singer Darius Rucker.

As noted before, former wrestler Tammy Sytch was arrested this past May in Florida following a police investigation into a fatal car accident involving Sytch this past March. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Sytch filed a written plea of not guilty to the DUI manslaughter charges against her in Florida this past Friday, based on recent court documents. Johnson reported that State prosecutors recently filed their intentions to call as many as eighteen witnesses and have requested Sytch’s defense to file whatever witnesses they intend to call and other materials or expert witness statements within the next fifteen days.

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling recently announced that Max The Impaler will be making her official debut for the company at their August 13-14 events in Tokyo, Japan.

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced that Nick Gage will be making appearances at their Sanctified event on August 19th in Charlotte, North Carolina and their Hope 2 Die event on August 20th in Atlanta, Georgia.

As noted before, Wrestling Entertainment Series recently announced that they have cancelled their debut event in Nottingham, England for a second time. Dean Muhtadi (former Mojo Rawley in WWE) recently announced on Twitter that he will be holding a fan meet & greet event on July 11th in Nottingham with those who purchased a ticket for WES’ cancelled event will be able to attend for free. Muhtadi also announced that 100% of his money earned from this fan event will go towards local U.K. talent who had been booked for WES’ event.

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced that Hiromu Takahashi, KUSHIDA, and El Desperado will all be making an appearance for Starrcast for their Starrcast V convention on July 29-31 in Nashville, Tennessee.

NJPW also recently announced two new matches for the card of their Music City Mayhem event on July 30th in Nashville, Tennessee:

Blake Christian vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Clark Connors vs. Davey Richards

This past Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling’s Impact! featured a vignette revealing that Killer Kelly will be returning to the company soon. Kelly previously worked for Impact from November to December of 2020 and last wrestled in September of 2021 for Ring of Honor.

Impact Wrestling recently announced a new match for the card of their Derby City Rumble event on July 15th in Louisville, Kentucky:

Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabian