WWE settled with MLW over their $10M anti-trust suit.
The original suit was amended to include tampering.
MLW argued WWE was engaging in unfair practices, including blocking ROH and AEW events. MLW also stated that WWE's Stephanie McMahon interfered with a MLW deal with FOX-owned streaming service Tubi.
WWE agreed to pay $20M prior to the case going to discovery.
So WWE apparently paid DOUBLE to avoid going to discovery. What were they worried about that would show up in discovery!?
"Always listen to the crazy scientist with a weird van or armful of blueprints and diagrams." -- Vibranium
I find it hard to believe the WWE would have been pushing Drew so hard, World Title match at Wrestlemania and constantly trolling CM Punk IF there wasn't an undercover agreement on a contract extension if not a signed contract just kept under wraps. Making Drew this big right before leaving? That defies logic. In fact I'd wager a deal was in place right before this new "attitude" Drew appeared. IF Drew were about to leave the WWE soon for another promotion whomever is booking him now should be sued for malpractice against the WWE.
R.I. P Virgil.
The gimmick he was put in was DOA on arrival really. The whole varsity team deal is passe unless you play it up for comedic value at times really...like the WWE has done with Alpha Academy.
Had they went complete comedic with it , having Pillman Jr and Garrison act like absurd , 80s style jocks. Taunting Tony and others as NERDS and having them dress etc that way in 80s prep fashion....Tony Khan could have had something. He had the elements there...he just well....he failed both men. And the only one who got over was the valet who went on to be a star in Julia Hart.
Those guys deserved better than what they were given.
Sad news....as much crap as Virgil gets for how he tried to make money , he struggled and we really have to feel for the old guys like him. Who didn't know about how to handle money or savings.
2 possible reasons....
- The 1st is this case likely could have cost them way more and uncovered years of dealings where they squashed companies from getting TV deals. Opening them to more lawsuits and money.
- The other theory is , with them facing huge backlash over Vince McMahon , TKO decided its best to pay money and settle things before it blows up more.
Either way MLW has an influx of cash and that should help them going forward.
"The story so far: As usual, Ginger and I are engaged in our quest to find out what the hell is going on and save humanity from my nemesis, some bastard who is presumably responsible." - Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
“ Well hell just froze over. Because CM Punk is back in the WWE.” - Jcogginsa.
“You can take the boy outta the mom’s basement, but you can’t take the mom’s basement outta the boy!” - LA Knight.
"Revel in What You Are." Bray Wyatt.
If there was a comic con, toy show, grand opening of a Giant Eagle, etc, Virgil would be there selling autographed pictures. I remember years ago, he was at a Home and Garden show at my local mall. He was sitting at a table in front of Payless shoe store with the Million Dollar Championship and a bunch of 8 x 10's. No one was around him, I felt kind of bad for him.
Was watching Bobby Roode discuss his neck injury and retirement. Roode claims his neck 1st went bad back years ago during his 1st World title run in TNA. He never told anyone but he hurt his neck in a spot against Rob Van Dam.
He never blamed RVD and knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Well his neck seemingly healed up on its own.
Fast forward years later , he’s in the ring working against someone and after a bump he knew…that his neck was messed up again. So he finally had to go do the fusion surgery.
"The story so far: As usual, Ginger and I are engaged in our quest to find out what the hell is going on and save humanity from my nemesis, some bastard who is presumably responsible." - Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
“ Well hell just froze over. Because CM Punk is back in the WWE.” - Jcogginsa.
“You can take the boy outta the mom’s basement, but you can’t take the mom’s basement outta the boy!” - LA Knight.
"Revel in What You Are." Bray Wyatt.
AEW wrestlers write their own creative FYI.
It's not a place to go if you just want to do what someone tells you.
Swerve has his own writer and Moné does, too.
The booking team just books the winners and long term plans.
The grapplers have to fill in the gaps or get help to fill in the gaps.
Bringing in writers is a relatively new thing for AEW.
Pillman couldn't cut it because he was creative in matches, not on anything else. WWE is probably the better fit for him.
They just got nearly 20x their annual revenue, lol.
Battle Riot is gonna have 100 guys this year, lol.
"Always listen to the crazy scientist with a weird van or armful of blueprints and diagrams." -- Vibranium
AEW and WWE have worked out a deal via WBD to share and air clips of Sting during WCW and NWA as part of the lead up to Revolution.
Sapp seems to think WWE will be doing a shout out during Smackdown or the following RAW about his retirement.
Also, CMLL announced an AEW talent is coming in for an excursion. There's speculation it is Jericho. But no one knows who it is yet.
"Always listen to the crazy scientist with a weird van or armful of blueprints and diagrams." -- Vibranium