WWE will have to handle the remainder of the lawsuit filed by MLW without Jerry McDevitt, who has made the decision to hang up his boots.
As you may already know, MLW is suing WWE alleging that the wrestling giant violated the Sherman Act regarding anti-trust practices and more.
McDevitt told Wrestlenomics that he will no longer represent WWE in the antitrust lawsuit and that lawyers from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Warton & Garrison LLP are instead taking over.
The law firm filed on Wednesday to represent WWE, with Walter Brown, Karen Dunn, William Michael, and Brette Tannenbaum listed as the attorneys.
McDevitt said via email,
“As you may know, since early 2022 I have been working towards retirement. I had hoped that the Court would again dismiss MLW’s lawsuit as it did the first time. When it did not, and it became obvious that the case would run into at least 2025 in all probability, I advised my client that I would be wrapping things up by year-end and that it would make sense for them to secure counsel who can go the distance on the case now that discovery will be starting. There is also the chance that I might be a witness given the allegations. I will be 74 this January and it just seems like the right time to make necessary transitions.
We have worked with Paul[,] Weiss on other matters and they are an excellent firm who I will be helping get up to speed.
It has been a great 36-year run with a great Company and Vince [McMahon], and I am very proud of all that we accomplished during that time, and I will continue to help them any way I can.”
McDevitt has represented Vince McMahon and WWE throughout the decades, since 1987.
MLW issued a brash response to the news, tweeting,
“MLW just won its first retirement match.”
MLW just won its first retirement match. 🎉✌️
— MLW (@MLW) July 6, 2023
In a recent interview with Piers Austin, Flip Gordon revealed that he hasn’t had any discussions about signing with AEW or ROH. In fact, Gordon isn’t interested in wrestling on television at the moment.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On hot having had discussions with AEW or ROH: “No, I haven’t had any conversations since I got released from Ring of Honor with AEW. But I haven’t asked either. I haven’t reached out to anybody to ask. I feel like if they think I’m good enough, they should reach out to me. Maybe that’s wrong for thinking that, but every other time in my career, the company’s reaching out to me. So I’m just doing what I’m doing. Honestly, I have zero interest in wrestling for TV right now. I’m still experimenting and trying new things and trying to figure out who I am as a wrestler, who I want to be as a wrestler, and I’m having a hell of a time doing it. I’m having so much fun.”
On if he’s interested in signing with a national company: “Not right now, but in the future, absolutely. Right now, I have a lot of goals that I want to do and some of those goals, I can’t do if I’m confined to a contract. Would I love to come in and tell a story, do a handshake deal for three-to-six months or however long the story is, absolutely. I’m 100% for that because I want to tell great stories and have great matches. But do I want to sign a two-or-three year deal, come in and then be off TV or not have many ideas? It’s like no, if I’m coming in, I want to have an idea. Have something for me. Because if not, I’m just gonna do my own thing on the independents, make my own schedule. I don’t want to just be flown in just to sit and chill and see other people doing what I want to do. I’d rather be out wrestling.”
On not being in a rush to sign anywhere: “I’m in no rush. I don’t have to go that route, straight to developmental and then maybe get released, and go through depression. I’m like, no, I’ll just do it my own way, have fun, wrestle, and get as good as I can get. If I get a great offer, I’ll take it. If not, no big deal. I’m having fun doing what I’m loving doing.”
