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The once dismissed lawsuit filed against both WWE and AEW before the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Youngstown by Anthony Duane Wilson, accusing each company of "plagiarism, market damages, product damages, personal damages and financial damages" whas been served upon both wrestling promotions, court records indicate.
AEW has requested and received the permission of the court to extend their time to respond and must do so by 2/23. WWE has gotten permission to not respond until 3/7.
Wilson's lawsuit was re-filed on 1/10, just a few weeks after the initial lawsuit was dismissed on 11/3/23. His new lawsuit is pretty much identical to the original lawsuit. Although the specifics were never specifically explained in the original filing, much of which was hand-written, Wilson alleges that "WWE, its contractors, and employees have on multiple dates used my creative works without permission, infringing on my wrestling gimmicks, names, slogans and likeness."
Wilson also alleges that he was going to start his own promotion and spoke with "members of the Bullet Club to join me in the venture of starting my company." Instead, without breaking down specifics, Wilson alleges, "They stole the plans from me and my social media pages and cut me out without giving credit or the portion I am entitled to as the creator."
In the lawsuit filing, Wilson claims the situation has caused him "market damages, product damages, personal damages, financial damages. WWE an (sic) AEW are still using infringing works of mine, claiming they created these things and are not crediting me or paying for them, Many of which are not for sale. This will follow me my entire career. This has cost me work outside of professional wrestling and inside professional wrestling. These things have cost me fans an (sic) income. Several of these infringements were done maliciously to damage my reputation an (sic) career, attempting to embarrass me or waste my time. I'm a writer an (sic) professional wrestler, my creative works are my livelyhood (sic). From my research, I was informed if you cut out an original partner or the creator control of the company belongs to the exiled party. I'm seeking control of AEW an (sic) removal of stolen works, a public apology an (sic) a financial settlement for damages, my works an (sic) career will see until I retire. WWE Board Chair, WWE Stock for freelance work an (sic) business tactics of mine. Return all ships and plunder."
Wilson is seeking $250,000,000 in damages, as well as, apparently all ships and plunder.
The December 2023 dismissal by Judge Benita Y. Pearson cited that neither defendant had been served within 90 days of the lawsuit being filmed back in August 2023. At the time, the dismissal was without prejudice, which technically meant that Wilson could re-file and attempt to move the case forward once more. He did that and this time around, AEW and WWE were each served.
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