Paid Members Devon Malcolm Posted September 14 Paid Members Share Posted September 14 Surprised there isn't a thread about this already but this could be a thing. Quote  After a successful All In 10 days ago and a looming All Out this Saturday, the momentum has hit a bump in the road. The Wrestling News reported on Wednesday morning that former AEW announcer Kevin Kelly and The Tate Twins (Brandon and Brent), also known as The Boys, have filed a lawsuit against All Elite Wrestling, CEO and Owner Tony Khan, and ring announcer Ian Riccaboni. The suit filed on Aug. 30 in the Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas by the plantiffs attorneys Stephen P. New and Benjamin Baer, says they are looking to void the arbitration clause of their AEW talent contracts. They also ask the court to certify a class-action lawsuit against the wrestling organization by stating AEW is misclassifying the wrestlers as independent contractors instead of employees. "I am proud to represent Kevin Kelly and the Tate Twins in this lawsuit," New said in an email statement to The Takedown. "I am looking forward to them having their day in Court and the truth coming out about their situations. Finally, I hope this lawsuit is the genesis of a change in the pro wrestling industry wherein we can make pro wrestlers the employees they are instead of “independent contractors” which they are not and never have been." "AEW does not comment on pending litigation," an AEW spokesperson told The Takedown. Riccaboni hasn't responded for comment at the time of publication. After stints in WWE, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Kelly started with AEW in June 2023 as part of the announcing team on AEW Collision alongside Nigel McGuiness and eventually Tony Schiavone. However, Kelly was fired by the company in March allegedly because of comments he made on social media about Riccaboni and AEW on social media. Kelly claims Riccaboni was libelous after Riccaboni said Kelly was part of QAnon. The Wrestling News also reports Kelly is looking for monetary damages from AEW and Riccaboni as he claims AEW breached his contract and caused him to being unable to find work along with the QAnon accusations defamed Kelly. The Tate Twins were released by AEW in April. The crux of the defamtion allegation from them against Khan is because he said in a media call to promote ROH Supercard of Honor that the brothers missed multiple events and stood by those comments after The Tate Twins denied Khan's allegation.  Stephen P. New thinks he's My Cousin Vinny. This could be as funny as it is potentially important.   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Hannibal Scorch Posted September 14 Paid Members Share Posted September 14 My understanding of the Tate Twins was they didn’t want to drive to a different airport to get a direct flight and consequently missed a show. They may have a case depending on if it was a one time issue, or if there were other violations.  Kevin Kelly however is a fucking moron. He was publicly posting about QAnon conspiracies on his twitter. If anything it’s a shock he hasn’t been offered anything at NXT, but he must have really burned bridges at WWE because he’s never been brought back in any capacity since he left. However the legal document with his arguments included this gem at least. What the actual fuck? Why would he think he would be asked to call the Sting match? Also he didn’t get a severance package when they fired him, which would be a strong argument he could have used for his case, if he then didn’t say he didn’t get it because he didn’t sign the paperwork for it to be released. There is nothing I’ve seen which could be credible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 (edited) I think one of the claims (of many) on the lawsuit from Kevin Kelly is that he didn't get to call Sting's final match (didn't see Hannibal had just posted that, sorry pal) He's underated for what a weird fucking twat he is. Edited September 14 by Chili Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Your Fight Site Posted September 15 Paid Members Share Posted September 15 I didn’t get called to announce Sting’s final retirement match either. Class action how? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Supremo Posted September 15 Paid Members Share Posted September 15 The only thing this will achieve is reminding everyone that Ian Riccaboni isn’t on our screens nearly enough. Love that guy. I want it to go to court, just for someone to quote Exhibit A and it’s a supercut of Kelly’s rubbish, lifeless commentary, mumbling and whispering through everything. “Your honour, the defence rests…over here, where everyone wants to be, in The RiccaboneZone.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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