Various: Kota Ibushi on Career Future, MLW Lawsuit Against WWE Update, Vince McMahon Doc. Ratings

Dec 15, 2022

Kota Ibushi Comments on Career Future Plans & Offer from AEW

As noted before, Kota Ibushi has been out of action for New Japan Pro Wrestling since October of 2021 due to a shoulder injury. During his time away from the company, Ibushi accused NJPW’s management of “power harassment” against him.

Dark Puroresu Flowsion held a recent interview with Ibushi. One of the topics discussed included Ibushi’s thoughts on his current plans for the future of his wrestling career.

“My plan for the future is to have my own promotion and do a lot of volunteering. There are really big offers from AEW and all over the world, but I would like to make a contribution, but rather than visiting nursing homes and so on. Of course, I am also thinking of giving back to professional wrestling. Vinegar.
I’m happy! So in 2023, I’m thinking of contributing to the world and giving back to professional wrestling. And above all, I want to liven up the world with professional wrestling. I’m also a player.”

I had the pleasure to speak to Kota Ibushi. I asked him if he still has the desire to start his own promotion. Here is his answer. pic.twitter.com/tsWO1tuGVU
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) December 14, 2022

It was also stated that the reason why some of the wording of Ibushi’s comments was a bit off was due to Ibushi did not respond in English as he usually does whenever they have a chat together. Ibushi later apologized for any issues he caused.

I'm sorry😫
— 飯伏幸太 (@ibushi_kota) December 14, 2022

MLW’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against WWE Update

As noted before, Major League Wrestling filed an antitrust lawsuit earlier this year against WWE claiming 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 MLW’s lawsuit is currently expected to move forward based on recent court records. The presiding judge of the case, Judge Edward J. Davila, reportedly ruled for a conference to take place on September 7, 2023 in San Jose, California to determine an official trial date for MLW’s lawsuit. Davila also ruled that all amended pleadings in the lawsuit would be due by the deadline of February 13, 2023.

Johnson reported that MLW filed a motion on December 7th outlining all of the material they were seeking in the discovery phase.

Plaintiff anticipates taking discovery with respect to its claims, including, among other information: (1) the relevant antitrust market; (2) documents related to VICE, Tubi and FITE; (3) WWE’s employment agreements, event venue agreements and distribution agreements; (4) WWE’s poaching of talent from MLW, AEW and other competitors; (5) WWE’s interference with booking arenas; (6) the impact of WWE’s conduct on entry into the market for broadcasting of professional wrestling programming and related consumer harm; (7) documents related to Jerry S. McDevitt’s appearance in the Dark Side of the Ring program; and (8) damages. Defendant anticipates taking discovery with respect to its defenses in the case, including but not limited to, Plaintiff’s attempts to obtain broadcasting rights from the hundreds if not thousands of other potential buyers, Plaintiff’s efforts to start its own streaming service (which it acknowledges that WWE and Impact have started), and Plaintiff’s recent successes in obtaining broadcast agreement(s), such as its agreement with Pro Wrestling TV, which demonstrate the frivolous nature of its antitrust claims. The Parties are not proposing to conduct discovery in phases or to limit discovery to particular issues.