Booker T Considering Legal Action Against WWE

[Snitsky]

Former WWE World Champion and current TNA wrestler, Booker T posted a letter on his official Legends of Wrestling Fanfest website in regard to World Wrestling Entertainment pulling talents that agreed to appear on his event but later pulled out after WWE contacted them. Below is the complete letter:

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL PRO-WRESTLING FANS:

I want to take this opportunity to let the entire wrestling world understand both my frustration and anger, at what should be a momentous time for myself and those close to me. It was nearly two years ago when I made one of the toughest decisions in my life and decided not to re-sign a contract with the WWE. Several factors came into this decision, but at the end of the day I wanted to be able to prove to myself and to anyone with any doubts, that I was indeed a “self-made” man. I had achieved so much in this business that I love before the WWE, and I felt that with the help of my wife and beloved family and friends, that I could achieve so much more.

Many of you are aware of the labor of love to me that is the PWA (Pro-Wrestling Alliance). PWA has honestly been the culmination of hard-work, sacrifice and undying determination by several people. This organization continues to be a driving force in helping me to entertain and improve the community that I came from. The PWA is also the catalyst for my ultimate calling in life which is the Booker T. Fights For Kids Foundation. I, along with my wife have had several sleepless nights, as we’ve fought to build an organization that we can be proud of. We face the same challenges that many independent promoters around the world face, in bringing fans an alternative to experiencing professional wrestling.

Just as many fans are aware of the PWA, even more fans were excited to hear about the upcoming Booker T “Legends of Wrestling” Fanfest taking place this Friday (4/3/09) here in my hometown of Houston, Texas. The Fanfest is totally independent of TNA Wrestling, and is being produced solely by my wife, myself and the PWA staff. The Legends of Wrestling Fanfest will be the biggest and best ever event where fans can come face-to-face with some of the biggest stars (past and present) that this business has ever known. This event has been well- planned over the last year, with many of my peers (friends and foes alike) offering to donate their time and prized possessions in an effort to make this event a success for the benefit of the Fights for Kids Foundation.

We suffered a setback recently when the WWE unexpectedly pulled eight of the invited participants from our Fanfest. Each of these participants had already either gotten clearance from WWE or were not previously contacted to appear in any Wrestlemania weekend activities this year. It was only after we published the list of participants, that the WWE unlawfully interceded and deceptively worked to pull these talents from our event. As a side note, I have contacted legal representation about this deceitful tactics and will weigh my options. I do want to sincerely thank each of the pulled participants for their interest in helping to make this Fanfest the best ever, and I hold no malice towards them. It was instilled into me a very long time ago that the show must go on, so I want to formally announce that “The Hardcore Legend” Mick Foley is yet another recent addition to an already sensational Legends of Wrestling Fanfest Lineup!

I want to believe that the WWE, as large and as powerful as it is, would be beyond examples of such pettiness. This event, as well as the PWA, are supporting the Fights for Kids foundation so it consumes me with remorse to see the WWE act in this fashion. Make no mistake however, I have been an underdog my entire life, so I have no problem in taking on yet another Goliath. And we all know what happened to Goliath, and I know you can dig that...

Booker T

[Solid Stryk-Dizzle]

Ok....Good luck with that.

WWE has all the right to pull their talent if they see fit. It's wrestlemania weekend for christ sake.

[Johnny B. Decent]

My spidey-sense tells me that this won't end well for Booker.

[Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa]

It's not a legal matter, but it really is the principle of the thing. This was for charity and WWE pulled a gladhand.

[Snitsky]

Apr 2, 2009 20:14:11 GMT -5 Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa said:

It's not a legal matter, but it really is the principle of the thing. This was for charity and WWE pulled a gladhand.

this

i am glad Lita is still doing Bookers event- its not like she needs WWE money or publicity

[estrada]

Its not like its the first time WWE has pulled talent from an event. If im supposed to give a crap because it happened to Booker I dont.

[Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa]

Apr 2, 2009 20:51:22 GMT -5 estrada said:

Its not like its the first time WWE has pulled talent from an event. If im supposed to give a crap because it happened to Booker I dont.

But it's not just for Booker; it's for a charity, a worthy cause. And WWE did what they did not for charity, but for pure publicity.

That's why you're supposed to give a crap.

[domrep]

Apr 2, 2009 20:00:56 GMT -5 Solid Stryk-Dizzle said:

Ok....Good luck with that.

WWE has all the right to pull their talent if they see fit. It's wrestlemania weekend for christ sake.

What talent. None of these people are signed with WWE.

[Red Impact]

It seems to be a trend. Local groups schedule stuff to capitalize on Wrestlemania, WWE plays hardball. I don't see any real legal recourse for Booker here, unless he had a contract with the WWE, I'm not seeing what he could sue for. The fact that he's doing it for his charity makes it regrettable, I don't see any legal recourse there.

[GaTechGrad]

I'll have to see the list of people pulled from the show before I have an opinion on this. If it's guys like Hardcore Holly, Colt Cabana, D-Lo, Val Venis, Boogeyman, etc who have already been released, then it's pretty low of WWE to have a stink over them doing a charity event.

[comahan]

Apr 2, 2009 22:17:52 GMT -5 GaTechGrad said:

I'll have to see the list of people pulled from the show before I have an opinion on this. If it's guys like Hardcore Holly, Colt Cabana, D-Lo, Val Venis, Boogeyman, etc who have already been released, then it's pretty low of WWE to have a stink over them doing a charity event.

Torrie Wilson, Nick Bockwinkel, Tito Santana and Ron Simmons are the ones i remember.

And its a fanfest as far as I know, not an actual wrestling show at all.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

Apr 2, 2009 22:17:52 GMT -5 GaTechGrad said:

I'll have to see the list of people pulled from the show before I have an opinion on this. If it's guys like Hardcore Holly, Colt Cabana, D-Lo, Val Venis, Boogeyman, etc who have already been released, then it's pretty low of WWE to have a stink over them doing a charity event.

I remember seeing Torrie Wilson's name on a list of people that were pulled, so that's a name for you. I'm not sure who else it was.

[maniacmike]

Petty.

[Deleted]

If the talent received permission beforehand (which you have take Booker's word for), then WWE shouldn't go back on that. We're at 25 Wrestlemanias.... you would think that WWE would have a concrete policy about this sort of thing happening around this time. Either allow people or don't but be consistent and timely.

[@TenaciousBe]

Yet another reason to hate Vince and his little monopoly game.

What really gets me is that these events are happening on the same day in the same city -- Booker's LoW and WWE's Axxess. It's not like some of these talents couldn't appear at one for a few hours, jet across town and appear at the other.

Gah. f*** Vince.

[Joekishi]

Or maybe these guys wanted a bigger pay day by being at Axxess, anybody else consider that?

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

Good news.....from what I have heard, WWE has backed down.

Booker T posted the following on the website for his Legends of Wrestling Fanfest:

A few days ago I sent a letter to the wrestling world explaining my anger and remorse at how I felt the WWE handled the situation regarding their abrupt pulling of several invited guests to the Booker T. Legends of Wrestling Fanfest. Within minutes of the letter being posted, we received hundreds and hundreds of e-mails showing your support of the Fanfest. It appears that the WWE got the message as well, as they have since allowed a true living legend Jimmy “The Mouth of the South” Hart to rejoin the Booker T. Fanfest on tomorrow, Friday, April 3, 2009 here in Houston, Texas. This action restores my faith in the WWE and I’m grateful that they reconsidered. I want to thank everyone that has supported me and remember, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. Thanks again, and I’ll see you at the Fanfest!

Booker T.

[Ryushinku]

I'm sure it sucks for Booker, but on the other hand he specifically scheduled the event in hopes of leeching off some of the interest from Wrestlemania. He's not spotlessly innocent here either. He also seems to have gone on nothing but a verbal deal which, legally, gives you little to stand on.

I also question the use of the word 'pulled'. WWE made them an offer, a bigger offer, and they took it...the responsibility lies with those that accepted the offer. They were not stopped from doing Booker's event, they no longer work for the WWE. They're not going to be black-balled over something like this. Only thing stopping them was their bank balance. Those are the people Booker needs to be directing his frustration towards...on Wrestlemania weekend, did he truly expect anything different from the WWE?

He worked for Vince for like six or seven years. It's easy to play the little ol' me vs Big Bad Guys card but that the WWE did this should not have come as even the slightest bit of surprise to Booker at all. Trying to make out that the WWE stomps on the face of charity is purple hyperbole too far.

Bottom line - I'm offered cash to paint a picture, then someone else offers me bigger cash. If I take that offer up, why is that second company the Evil Empire? It's my decision.

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

Apr 3, 2009 4:30:53 GMT -5 Ryushinku said:

I'm sure it sucks for Booker, but on the other hand he specifically scheduled the event in hopes of leeching off some of the interest from Wrestlemania. He's not spotlessly innocent here either. He also seems to have gone on nothing but a verbal deal which, legally, gives you little to stand on.

I also question the use of the word 'pulled'. WWE made them an offer, a bigger offer, and they took it...the responsibility lies with those that accepted the offer. They were not stopped from doing Booker's event, they no longer work for the WWE. They're not going to be black-balled over something like this. Only thing stopping them was their bank balance. Those are the people Booker needs to be directing his frustration towards...on Wrestlemania weekend, did he truly expect anything different from the WWE?

He worked for Vince for like six or seven years. It's easy to play the little ol' me vs Big Bad Guys card but that the WWE did this should not have come as even the slightest bit of surprise to Booker at all. Trying to make out that the WWE stomps on the face of charity is purple hyperbole too far.

Bottom line - I'm offered cash to paint a picture, then someone else offers me bigger cash. If I take that offer up, why is that second company the Evil Empire? It's my decision.

It wasnt just WWE offering more money that was the issue. Supposedly, WWE was threatening certain legends to not appear at the show. They told certain guys to not appear or else their legend contracts will be null and void.

[Deleted]

Come on Booker we all know you did this on purpose. We all know that you saw WWE was going to be in Houston so you decided to have your fanfest at the same time. I have no doubt Booker had an idea WWE would offer some of these people more money to show up at Axxess, and he was banking on it to bring some sort of sympathy for his little organization.