WWE is facing a new legal challenge. The company submitted a response to an amended plagiarism lawsuit against them and All Elite Wrestling on May 3, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Youngstown. In their response, WWE requested that all claims made by Anthony Duane Wilson be dismissed, arguing that they have no legitimate basis under Ohio State law and denying all allegations against them.
PW Insider reports that in their legal response, WWE chose not to address Wilson’s current incarceration for assaulting a corrections officer or his unusual demand to return “all ships and plunder.”
Previously, WWE and AEW urged the court not to delay Wilson’s lawsuit while he is incarcerated and facing sentencing. They argued that his criminal proceedings should not halt the civil trial.
Wilson has been in jail since late March after being convicted of harassing an inmate by throwing urine at a corrections officer. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but was declared competent for trial.
In his lawsuit, Wilson alleges that WWE and AEW unauthorizedly used his creative ideas, including wrestling gimmicks, names, slogans, and likeness. He claims he intended to launch his own wrestling promotion and had discussed this with members of the Bullet Club, accusing them of taking his ideas without giving him credit or compensation.
