MLW claim that WWE are contract tampering their talent

[Steveweiser]

MLW UNHAPPY WITH WWE ALLEGED CONTRACT TAMPERING
by Mike Johnson @ 5:02 PM on 2/15/2020

Major League Wrestling attorneys engaged WWE attorneys this week, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple MLW sources, who alleged that WWE are attempting to tamper contracted MLW talents.

When asked if this was in relation to Davey Boy Smith Jr (Harry Smith) appearing this past Wednesday on WWE's The Bump online series, we were told it was not in regard to Smith's appearance but regarding "multple talents."

Since the advent of MLW signing talents, the language in the contracts specifically forbids them from working WWE dates, so any communication with signed MLW talents would be seen as a breach of contract by MLW management, although discussion via third parties has gone on in pro wrestling since the days of Frank Gotch and will always happen.

One MLW source claimed that the promotion has an "abundance" of evidence should the matter need to go to court, but hoped that would not happen.

Note from Mike: My gut feeling is that a courtroom showdown won't happen. There was a time period several years back where Ring of Honor pushed back on WWE, feeling they were reaching out to contracted ROH talents, which led to WWE waiting 90 days past ROH deals expiring before they would even talk to former Ring of Honor talents. I assume something similar would happen here. It should note that WWE sources downplayed the potential of any such "tampering" when asked by PWInsider.com.

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

Maybe Killer Kross with this one as MLW was advertising him heavily

[Deleted]

Between WWE, AEW, and ROH, I believe they’ve taken everyone from MLW not named Tom Lawlor.

[Deleted]

Woah. Not good.

[Mozenrath]

Bet it's Jacob Fatu.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Feb 15, 2020 17:26:42 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Bet it's Jacob Fatu.

I’d be more likely to look at names currently under WWE contract.

Timothy Thatcher was an MLW regular up until his recent signing, for example.

[Perd]

Wrestlemania, live from Tamper, Florida.

[Mozenrath]

Obviously, big accusation, but certainly not impossible. Hell, Big Show in one of his Austin podcast appearances joked about his jump from WCW and that talks began before they should have. (Granted, not that it mattered, Bischoff had already blown of Big Show when he pointed out he probably should be making more than the midcard with how he was used. I think his mind was made up to leave.)

[XIII]

This is the same company that once had Vince cut a face promo about how the legal system was designed for guys like him where he can just keep stretching the case out until the other guy doesn’t have any money so I wouldn’t really expect anything to come of this.

[Facetious]

They did the same to ROH a few years ago, so I believe it. It was why guys like O'Reilly couldn't sign for awhile.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Feb 15, 2020 17:58:53 GMT -5 XIII said:

This is the same company that once had Vince cut a face promo about how the legal system was designed for guys like him where he can just keep stretching the case out until the other guy doesn’t have any money so I wouldn’t really expect anything to come of this.

When some cable runner sued Jericho for 9 million, Vince said he takes everything to court. He’d rather spend a few hundred thousand in court than pay out a dime in out of court settlements.

[Bub (BLM)]

Feb 15, 2020 17:39:26 GMT -5 Perd said:

Wrestlemania, live from Tamper, Florida.

Tazz?

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Feb 15, 2020 17:53:57 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Obviously, big accusation, but certainly not impossible. Hell, Big Show in one of his Austin podcast appearances joked about his jump from WCW and that talks began before they should have. (Granted, not that it mattered, Bischoff had already blown of Big Show when he pointed out he probably should be making more than the midcard with how he was used. I think his mind was made up to leave.)

He had Corny and a lawyer go through WCW contracts to try and find any way he could to break them. He only cares about contracts when they benefit him.

[A Platypus Rave]

Last tamper lawsuit I remember was after the WWE told impact one of their new hires was offering to tell them Impact contract status. WWE immediately canned them.

Impact used them telling them that to try and sue... when WWE legally had no incentive to actually tell them their exemployee was willing to leak confidential materials.

[Deleted]

MLW is one of my favorite hours wrestling ever week.

But the contacts they do offer have been reported to be low in the past, and with the competition with ROH, WWE, AEW, and Impact it’s hard for them to keep anyone.

But if there’s a bright side it keeps the product fresh.

I’m sure wwe will back off for a little while.

[Welfare Willis]

[carter 15]

Sucks for the wrestlers