Kevin Kelly Files Lawsuit Against AEW for Breach of Contract

Kevin Kelly, known for his work with wrestling promotions like WWE, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, found himself amidst controversy following reports of his departure due to contentious rant just before AEW Revolution. With that said, it now appears that he has filed a lawsuit against AEW for breach of contract, alongside two other former talent.

Speculation grew when Kevin Kelly abruptly disappeared from AEW, only to return later, which sparked mixed reactions from fans. Tensions increased when Kelly publicly criticized Ian Riccaboni before the AEW Revolution pay-per-view, accusing him of defamation and revealing his own importance to the company.

“But the idea of what I bring to the table is lost there because Ian libeled me. So I sit on the bench, valued by my peers, waiting to get my number called.“

It was then reported that Kevin Kelly’s absence was tied to legal matter as well and Kelly is currently doing other pro wrestling-related work now that he is no longer with AEW.

According to Wrestling News, three former talents who were terminated by AEW have filed a lawsuit against the company and other parties. The plaintiffs—announcer Kevin Kelly and wrestlers Brandon and Brendan Tate—submitted the lawsuit on August 30 in the Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. The legal action, represented by attorneys Stephen P. New and Benjamin Baer, seeks to invalidate the arbitration clause in their talent contracts and requests the court to certify a class-action lawsuit against AEW. The core of their claim is that AEW is misclassifying its wrestling talent as independent contractors rather than employees.

The lawsuit follows the April release of the Tate Brothers, known in the wrestling world as “The Boys,” from their Ring of Honor contracts, allegedly due to budget cuts. However, ROH owner Tony Khan asserted during media events that the release was because the brothers missed several scheduled events, an accusation they strongly deny. This dispute is now central to the defamation claims the Tate Brothers have brought against Khan.

Kevin Kelly, whose real name is Kevin Foote, is also pursuing monetary damages. He alleges that AEW breached his contract and interfered with his ability to find other employment opportunities. Additionally, AEW announcer Ian Riccaboni is named in the lawsuit, with Kelly accusing Riccaboni of defaming him on social media by suggesting he was affiliated with QAnon.

Attorney Stephen P. New released a statement praising the plaintiffs for their courage in challenging what they argue is a misclassification of professional wrestlers as independent contractors instead of employees. He acknowledged the difficulty of the case but expressed confidence that justice would ultimately prevail.

“I applaud the bravery of these Plaintiffs in bringing this long-overdue action, challenging the mis-classification of pro-wrestlers as independent contractors instead of employees. We know we are in for a long, hard fight, but in the end, I believe justice always prevails.”

Kevin Kelly also claimed AEW took back his severance packaging after firing him. Therefore, we will have to wait and see how the case will progress in the coming months, as Tony Khan will certainly not take this lying down.

What do you think of this lawsuit filed by Kevin Kelly and the other former ROH stars? Do you feel they have a good case? Let us know in the comments section below!