Vince McMahon and WWE used a ratings loss to AEW as proof they’re not a monopoly in a new lawsuit with MLW, who are suing them for allegedly being a wrestling monopoly.
In the WWE's response to the MLW lawsuit, besides the written response they provided an exhibit. The exhibit was the October 18, 2021 issue of the Observer that covered WWE losing the 30 minutes head-to-head with AEW as evidence they weren't a dominant monopoly.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) March 16, 2022
WWE’s counter to MLW’s lawsuit states, “MLW styles itself to be an “innovative startup” in the professional wrestling world with “cutting-edge storylines,” but the complaint tells a very different story. Since 2017, MLW has attempted to sell “broadcast rights” for professional wrestling content to television broadcast networks, cable networks, and streaming services.1 In that time, MLW alleges that a new entrant, All Elite Wrestling, exploded onto the scene and quickly captured a contract to sell broadcast rights for its professional wrestling program, Dynamite, to WarnerMedia for $43.8 million annually.
Further, at that same time, MLW alleges that market incumbents WWE secured contracts with NBCUniversal and Fox to sell its US broadcast rights for two of its programs for a combined average annual value of $470 million, and Impact Wrestling (“Impact”) secured a contract to air on the cable channel AXS.
But not MLW. Despite some potential opportunities with the cable channel VICE TV (“VICE”) and streaming service Tubi, MLW is yet to sell broadcast rights for its wrestling program. Hundreds if not thousands of other potential buyers of broadcast rights exist, but MLW does not allege that it attempted to sell its content to any of them. MLW could start its own streaming service and reach consumers directly— as it acknowledges that WWE and Impact have done—but it does not allege to have tried that, either.
MLW has given up competing in the ring and chosen instead to compete in the courtroom. MLW brought claims for monopolization, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair competition against WWE in a vain hope to shift blame for its failures away from itself. But MLW’s failings are it’s own. Its claims are meritless and should be dismissed as a matter of law.”
