Memphis wrestling promoter Corey Maclin's lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE was dismissed today by United States District Judge Bernice B. Donald as the two sides came to an out of court settlement that was not publicly disclosed.
Maclin filed the lawsuit last January, stemming from WWE's decision to pull Jerry Lawler from an event that Maclin had booked in Memphis for April 2007, headlined by Lawler vs. Hulk Hogan.
At the time, Lawler claimed during a press conference that he had to pull out due to his WWE announcer's contract not allowing him to work the match since footage would be shot for Hogan's VH-1 reality show. Of course, at that time Hogan and McMahon were not on good terms due to a falling out before WrestleMania 23 in Detroit over Hogan's worth to the show.
Big Show took Lawler's place as he was in between WWE runs at the time. Hogan won the bout, which drew in the area of 4,000 fans. As it turned out, the Memphis footage was never used on "Hogan Knows Best."
Maclin claimed in his filing that World Wrestling Entertainment had violated section two of the federal Sherman Anti-Trust Act and that McMahon used his influence with other wrestlers to keep them from working for Maclin, due to his feelings toward Hogan.
Credit: Mike Johnson @ www.pwinsider.com
