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Leland Owens, who has filed several lawsuits against WWE and UFC before the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Washington last year, alleging that WWE and he entered into a verbal agreement in Yakima Lower Valley, Washington, but that he "never got paid" attempted to file a similar lawsuit against All Elite Wrestling and "Daniel Bryan" (Bryan Danielson's WWE ring name), PWInsider.com has confirmed.
Owens filed his lawsuit on 12/13 and claimed there was "intellectual property infringement" and "theft" of his ideas alleging he gave ideas to Bryan, including the AEW "Shockwave" name that was trademarked as a potential new AEW series last year. Owens' filing claimed "Shockwave" was going to be titled "an Engage PPV or PLE." How that title would connect to Shockwave in any, way, shape or form is never explained in the filing. Owens stated he had suffered "emotional stress" and was seeking "a reasonable offer or the rights to all my ideas."
The Court dismissed the lawsuit on 12/26, citing that Owens failed "to allege any federal jurisdiction" but left the dismissal without prejudice, meaning Owens could attempt to re-visit the matter.
AEW was never served and it is likely they had no idea the lawsuit even existed.
On 12/27, Owens then filed a lawsuit against the United States Government, alleging he gave the government film and television ideas as well as creating "inventions" for the government but never getting paid. In that lawsuit, he listed Daniel Bryan, Mercedes Mone, Vince McMahon and Donald Trump as being involved. He is citing "emotional stress" as well and is asking for "reasonable payments" and "credit for everything."
Previous lawsuits filed by Owens against WWE had been thrown out, noting that they did not properly address financial concerns. Owens' lawsuit against WWE included allegations that Stephanie McMahon allegedly made comments about Owens' daughter, leading to a "hush money" payment being offered to him by "WWE agents" Daniel Bryan (under that name) and Mercedes Mone (the former Sasha Banks, using her current in-ring name in AEW and elsewhere) In hand-written complaints, Owens also claimed he provided Vince McMahon ideas. Owens claimed the ideas included his own company, which was going to be titled PIE, an event called "Stomping Grounds" and idea for "my cage match, among other ideas." Owens was claiming $500,000,000 in damages in his last WWE lawsuit filing, which he filed back in October 2024.
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