AEW: El Hijo del Vikingo on Match with Kenny Omega, Tony Khan on Goldberg, Luchasaurus Lawsuit Update

Mar 22, 2023

El Hijo del Vikingo Comments on Upcoming Match with Kenny Omega for AEW Debut

Sports Illustrated held a recent interview with El Hijo del Vikingo. One of the topics discussed included Vikingo’s thoughts on his upcoming debut in AEW and match with Kenny Omega.

“I’m excited to be on television on Dynamite and show my skills to the world. I’ve wanted this fight for so long. It is an honor to come to AEW and wrestle Kenny. I have a lot of special moves that I want the world to see. Some I’ve already mastered, and I want to show those off, and I want to show off some moves that people have never seen before. I am very nervous. I am coming to Kenny’s home in AEW. I am nervous to represent Mexico. But those nerves won’t get in front of me. It will only add to my excitement and fire. I am fighting for all the luchadores that came before me. I am going to bring that Aztec fighting spirit. This is going to be a fight like you’ve never seen before.”

Tony Khan Comments on Goldberg’s Free Agency Status

As noted before, Goldberg’s contract with WWE expired at the end of 2022 and he is currently a free agent.

The Bet Las Vegas & The Sporting Tribune held a recent interview with AEW CEO Tony Khan. One of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts on his level of interest of potentially signing Goldberg to a contract with AEW.

“I have a lot of respect for Bill. I think Bill Goldberg is a great professional athlete and has had a great career in pro wrestling and is a very nice person. He actually has a lot of ties around the Jacksonville community, his family is from Jacksonville and they’ve done so much great work in the community. There is a great hospital, the Wolfson Children’s Hospital, and Bill is related to the Wolfson family. They have done so much great work in this community and that’s partially how I’ve gotten to know Bill. He’s a household name in pro wrestling and certainly, that’s interesting to hear that he is a free agent. It’s something to follow and he’s one of the biggest names in wrestling and certainly will be something else to keep an eye on for us. We have so many great wrestlers in AEW and so many exciting things happening in AEW week to week, that it’s always an exciting time. Bill is an exceptionally exciting name and one of the biggest names in the sport. Certainly, it’s a big thing for us to pay attention to. I would take notice of that and it is interesting.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Luchasaurus Mask Lawsuit Update

As noted before, AEW and Luchasaurus are currently dealing with a lawsuit filed against them over allegations of copyright infringement involving Luchasaurus’ mask design.

Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston reported that the court granted AEW’s motion on February 21st requesting for an extension of time to file an official response to the lawsuit by Composite Effects based on recent court documents. Thurston reported that AEW also recently filed a motion to dismiss five out of the six counts in the lawsuit claiming that these counts fail to make a viable claim or are preempted by the Copyright Act. In regards to the sixth count, AEW stated in their filing that they would make a response after a court decision had been made over their dismissal request.

Defendant All Elite Wrestling, LLC (“AEW”) respectfully moves the Court to dismiss Counts II (unfair competition under the Lanham Act), III (unfair competition under the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act), IV (conversion under Louisiana law), V (unjust enrichment under Louisiana law), and VI (liability for causing damages under LA. Civ. Code 2315) for failure to state a claim under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).1 As set forth in greater detail in the Memorandum in Support that is filed contemporaneously herewith, with regard to each of these counts, Plaintiff Composite Effects, LLC has either failed to assert a viable claim and/or attempted to plead a claim that is clearly preempted by the Copyright Act. Accordingly, these Counts of the Complaint should be dismissed.
WHEREFORE, AEW respectfully requests that the Court grant its Motion to Dismiss Counts II, III, IV, V, and VI of the Complaint, and for all other just and proper relief.

By way of Counts II, III, IV, V, and VI of the Complaint, Composite Effects, LLC (“CFX”) purports to assert claims for unfair competition under the Lanham Act, unfair competition under the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act, conversion under Louisiana law, unjust enrichment under Louisiana law, and liability for causing damages under LA. Civ. Code 2315. With regard to each of these claims, CFX has either failed to assert a viable claim and/or attempted to plead a claim that is clearly preempted by the Copyright Act. As such, Defendant All Elite Wrestling, LLC (“AEW”) respectfully requests that these Counts be dismissed.