WWE: Brandi Rhodes Update, MLW Lawsuit Update, A&E WWE Ratings

Brandi Rhodes WWE Status Update

As noted before, Brandi and Cody Rhodes left AEW this past February following the expiration of their contracts with the company. Cody made his return to WWE at this past April’s WrestleMania 38 event in Arlington, Texas.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Brandi wrestled at an in-house live event inside WWE’s Performance Center this past Friday.

WWE reportedly regularly holds live events on Fridays for their NXT brand to give their developmental talents a chance to perform and improve.

Johnson also reported that it is currently not known who Rhodes competed against for a match but Rhodes is currently not listed internally as a member of WWE’s NXT roster.

---

MLW’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against WWE Update

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

In a recent 10-Q filing with the SEC, WWE provided an official statement regarding the status of the on-going anti-trust lawsuit against them by MLW.

On January 11, 2022, a complaint was filed against the Company by MLW Media LLC (“MLW”) alleging that the Company supposedly interfered with MLW’s contractual relationship with Tubi, a streaming service owned by Fox Corp., and MLW’s prospective economic advantage with respect to its relationship with VICE TV, and supposedly engaged in unfair business practices in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and California law. Such supposedly unfair business practices are alleged to include cutting off competitors’ access to viewers and licensing opportunities, interfering with contracts, poaching talent, eliminating price competition, and misappropriating and attempting to misappropriate confidential information of its competitors. On March 15, 2022, the Company moved to dismiss all claims asserted in the compliant. MLW filed its response to the Company’s motion to dismiss on April 22, 2022. The Company believes that all claims in the lawsuit are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously against them.

As previously announced, a Special Committee of independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”) was formed to investigate alleged misconduct by the Company’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent K. McMahon. Mr. McMahon resigned from all positions held with the Company on July 22, 2022 but remains a stockholder with a controlling interest. The Company has received, and may receive in the future, regulatory, investigative and enforcement inquiries, subpoenas or demands arising from, related to, or in connection with these matters. The Special Committee investigation is substantially complete.

In addition to the foregoing, from time to time we become a party to other lawsuits and claims. By its nature, the outcome of litigation is not known, but the Company does not currently expect this ordinary course litigation to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

---

A&E WWE Programming Ratings – Aug. 14, 2022

This past Sunday’s Biography: WWE Legends drew 594,000 viewers on A&E, up from last week’s 586,000 viewers. This episode also drew a 0.15 rating in the 18-49 demographic and a #24 ranking in the key demographic rankings, both down from last week’s 0.15 rating and #13 ranking. This episode focused on DX.

This past Sunday’s WWE Rivals drew 431,000 viewers on A&E, down from last week’s 488,000 viewers. This episode also drew a 0.13 rating in the 18-49 demographic and a #28 ranking in the key demographic rankings, both down from last week’s 0.15 rating and #30 ranking. This episode focused on the famous Triple H vs. Mick Foley rivalry.

This past Sunday’s WWE Smack Talk drew 192,000 viewers on A&E, down from last week’s 235,000 viewers. This episode also drew a 0.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic and a #101 ranking in the key demographic rankings, both down from last week’s 0.06 rating and #66 ranking.

Source: Showbuzz Daily