The legal showdown between AEW, Tony Khan, and Ian Riccaboni versus Kevin Kelly and the Tate twins just got a major update.
According to Post Wrestling, a federal judge in Pennsylvania has ruled to move the case to Florida, siding with AEWs argument that their contracts require disputes to be handled in Duval County, where the company is headquartered.
Judge Mia R. Perezs decision on Thursday rejected the plaintiffs claims that the contract clauses were unfair or unreasonable. The forum selection clauses are standard within the professional wrestling industry, and the contracts were primarily negotiated, executed, and administered from Jacksonville, Florida, Perez wrote. She also noted that most evidence and witnesses are based in Florida, making the move logical.
Kelly and the Tates, who live in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, argued that litigating in Florida would create undue hardship. However, Perez ruled that their circumstances didnt meet the legal threshold to invalidate the contract clauses. Enforcement in Florida would not be so seriously inconvenient as to be unreasonable, she explained.
Now, the case moves to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, where a new judge will decide another critical matter: AEWs motion to compel arbitration. If approved, this would require the plaintiffs to resolve their issues privately, outside of court, as outlined in their contracts.
The lawsuit, originally filed in Philadelphia state court in August, accuses AEW of defamation, breach of contract, and misclassification. Kevin Kelly claims Ian Riccaboni wrongly labeled him as a member of QAnon after a post about The Sound of Freedom, which Kelly says led to his termination. Meanwhile, the Tate twins allege Tony Khan made damaging remarks about their reliability after they were cut from AEWs roster earlier this year.
Steve New, attorney for the plaintiffs, said, We respect the judges decision and look forward to litigating the issues in Florida. AEW has yet to comment on the ruling.
he legal battle between Kevin Kelly, the Tate twins, and AEW is shaping up to be a pivotal case for the wrestling industry, with implications that could impact how talent contracts are enforced and disputes are handled in the future. As the case heads to Florida, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely to see whether arbitration will move forward or if the claims will proceed in court.
Stay tuned to Ringside News as this high-stakes legal fight unfolds.
What do you think about the latest development in this legal battle? Should AEWs arbitration clauses be enforced, or should the case play out in public court? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
