What’s the story?
As reported by PWInsider, production company Audience of One has won its lawsuit against Impact Wrestling (formerly known as TNA). Impact Wrestling and the promotion’s legal team have accepted before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, that they breached their agreement with Audience of One.
Impact Wrestling will now have to pay $336,602 to AO1- an amount that includes their pending balance as well as the interest on said balance.
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AO1 filed a lawsuit alleging non-payment of the aforementioned dues against TNA in September of last year and had claimed that the pro-wrestling promotion’s Chief Financial Officer Dean Broadhead and Impact Ventures tried to hire them, promising them make AO1 TNA’s full-time production company.
However, when the two parties began working with one another, Impact failed to pay AO1, which in turn led to a payment plan being established. Audience of One received the first instalment from said plan but was not paid thereafter.
The heart of the matter:
In a legal filing this April 14th, Impact Wrestling admitted their failure to pay AO1 the amount that had been agreed upon prior to their venture, besides pleading guilty to the fact that they had also failed to follow the guidelines of the following payment plan.
Also read: Alberto Del Rio officially signs with Impact Wrestling
The pro-wrestling organisation also accepted that their Repayment Agreement with Audience of One was “valid and enforceable”, and went on to accept the settlement offer that will have them pay $336,602 to AO1, effective immediately.
Furthermore, the court has closed the lawsuit with prejudice, which in other words, means that AO1 cannot file another lawsuit against Impact Wrestling.
What’s next?
Audience of One had initially demanded $223,000 plus interest as well as post-judgement costs for a breach of contract and violating Virginia Code. Both parties have reached a final settlement of $336,602.
Since the lawsuit was filed before Anthem Sports and Entertainment took over TNA, it’s not clear whether the new owners will pay the amount in its entirety or would they split up the compensation with a certain percentage coming in from the old owners TNA Entertainment LLC.
Author’s take
Impact Wrestling had blatantly disregarded their promises to AO1 and I, for one, am extremely happy to see the production company get paid their dues. Now, if only Impact can also start paying their wrestlers some good dough, all will be well in the wrasslin’ world.
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