AEW is about to keep battling legal dramathis time at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kevin Kelly (legal name Kevin Foote), along with brothers Brandon and Brent Tatecollectively known to fans as The Tate Twinshave filed an appeal challenging the federal court decision that sent their lawsuit against AEW to private arbitration. The appeal was submitted Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, with the plaintiffs now seeking a formal review by the appellate court.
At the heart of the appeal is a June 11 ruling from Judge Harvey Schlesinger, who upheld the arbitration clauses found in the plaintiffs contracts with AEW. The judge determined that a delegation clause in the agreements meant all disputesincluding whether the case even belonged in arbitrationmust be handled privately, not in open court.
The original lawsuit, filed in 2024, includes allegations of breach of contract, defamation, and more. Kelly claims fellow commentator Ian Riccaboni falsely branded him as a QAnon supporter online, something Kelly says directly contributed to his AEW exit. The Tates, meanwhile, allege they were publicly defamed by AEW CEO Tony Khan during a press conference following their departure.
Critics of arbitration procedures argue they often lean in favor of large companies, giving them a shield from public accountability. Because arbitration is confidential by design, it remains unclear if proceedings have begun or how far theyve advanced.
In his ruling, Judge Schlesinger said the plaintiffs failed to challenge the delegation language specifically and instead offered generalized objections that did not hold up legally. The appeal now places the case in the hands of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees federal decisions from the Middle District of Florida. However, as of Friday night, the appellate court had yet to formally docket the casesomething that typically takes a few days.
As the legal mess plays out behind the scenes, this appeal could determine whether AEW continues fighting these claims in secretor if things finally go public.
Do you think AEW should have to face these accusations in open court? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
