Independent Wrestler Files $250M Lawsuit Against WWE and AEW for Intellectual Property Theft
An independent wrestler from Trumbull County, Anthony Duane Wilson, has taken legal action against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), filing a federal lawsuit alleging intellectual property theft. Wilson claims that this infringement has cost him work opportunities and is seeking $250 million in damages.
According to the lawsuit filed on August 2 in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, Wilson accuses both wrestling companies of various infringements including plagiarism, market damages, product damages, personal damages, and financial damages. However, responses from WWE and AEW regarding the lawsuit have not yet been received.
In his handwritten lawsuit, Wilson, who wrestles under different monikers such as Phantom Infinity, Demon Legion, and Tony D, claims that the WWE, its contractors, and employees have utilized his creative works without obtaining permission. These alleged infringements relate to his wrestling gimmicks, names, slogans, and likeness.
Wilson’s accusations against AEW center around a business relationship he formed with a professional wrestling group called Bullet Club approximately five years ago. He stated that he had been laying the groundwork for his own wrestling company and connected with Bullet Club due to their prominence in the independent wrestling circuit. At this point, Wilson asserts that he had already been creating characters and writing storylines for his idea, which would have utilized the same AEW acronym that he claims to have partly created from his own initials.
According to Wilson, Bullet Club allegedly appropriated his plan, taking control of the social media pages and collaborating with an investor to develop the business venture, all while sidelining Wilson. If he succeeds in federal court, Wilson expressed his intention to gain full control of AEW, secure a board member seat, and obtain stock options within the WWE. His plan is to bring AEW and its roster under the WWE umbrella.
In his suit, Wilson emphasizes that both companies are infringing upon his works and wrongfully claiming credit for his ideas, which he believes will continue to impact his career negatively. He stated that the infringements have not only affected his professional wrestling pursuits but have also cost him fans, income, and work opportunities outside of the wrestling industry. Wilson asserts that some of these infringements were deliberately done to tarnish his reputation and career, either by embarrassing him or wasting his time. He emphasizes that his creative works, as a writer and professional wrestler, are his livelihood.
Anthony Duane Wilson’s lawsuit against WWE and AEW sheds light on the ongoing issue of intellectual property protection within the wrestling industry. As the legal process unfolds, the implications of the case may have far-reaching consequences for both companies and the independent wrestling scene.
