WWE was issued with a cease and desist letter from a top independent promotion.
Ahead of Raw’s 30th anniversary celebration, it was announced that every generation of The Bloodline would be in attendance for an Acknowledgment Ceremony featuring Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Rikishi, who is the father of both The Usos and Solo Sikoa, was meant to be in attendance, as were Afa and Reigns’ father Sika.
However, days ahead of the special broadcast, the segment was changed and advertised as the Trial of Sami Zayn instead of the generational celebration. It was later reported that the change was made as Afa and Sika were unavailable for the show and Rikishi was unable to attend after falling ill.
MLW Sent A Cease And Desist Letter After WWE Contacted Contracted Performers
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that Major League Wrestling sent a cease and desist letter to WWE after the sports entertainment giant after they attempted to contact MLW contracted performers to appear on Raw’s 30th anniversary special. The independent promotion wasn’t necessarily against the idea of their performers appearing on Raw, but promotion owner Court Bauer wanted all discussions to go through him instead of talent being contacted directly.
“MLW sources have said that they have sent a cease and desist letter to WWE after the promotion attempted to contact some of its contracted talent to appear on the Raw 30th anniversary show. One would think it would have been members of the Anoa’i and Fatu family for the planned family acknowledgment ceremony, which ended up falling through.
MLW sources have said Court Bauer told the talent to have WWE reach out to them directly, and didn’t say he wouldn’t allow them to appear, just to go through him. They never did and the segment ended up being canceled for the reasons noted earlier. WWE didn’t respond to questions regarding the cease and desist or the claim.”
Current MLW star Lance Anoa’i recently discussed his 2019 debut on Raw being cut short due to an iconic Brock Lesnar segment.