AEW has taken the producers behind Queen of the Ring to court, claiming the company behind the wrestling movie still owes more than $105,000 under a sponsorship agreement.
According to POST Wrestling, AEW filed a lawsuit against Ring Productions LLC, alleging the company failed to pay the remaining balance of a deal that saw the promotion heavily advertise the film across its television programming and social media. Court documents state the two sides signed the agreement in January 2025.
Under the deal, Ring Productions agreed to pay AEW roughly $350,000 in exchange for extensive promotion. That included sponsored matches on AEW programming, members of the film’s cast appearing at ringside during broadcasts, arena screenings of the movie’s trailer, and AEW talent promoting Queen of the Ring across their own social media platforms.
According to the lawsuit, Ring Productions ultimately paid $250,000, but allegedly missed a February 28 payment deadline and still owes $100,000 in sponsorship fees, along with more than $5,000 in talent travel expenses. AEW is also seeking contractual interest on the unpaid balance.
The lawsuit further alleges AEW repeatedly tried to resolve the matter before heading to court. According to the filing, AEW contacted Ring Productions by email four separate times between September and December 2025 without receiving a response. The promotion’s attorneys then sent a formal demand letter in March 2026, giving the company seven days to pay.
The filing claims Ring Productions COO Paul Leighton later acknowledged the company owed $105,262.51, but no payment followed.
Ironically, the sponsorship deal itself reportedly contains an arbitration clause requiring disputes to be handled privately rather than in open court. That has raised questions about why AEW chose to file the lawsuit publicly in Duval County, Florida, instead of pursuing arbitration. Neither AEW nor Ring Productions has publicly explained that decision.
The film itself featured several familiar wrestling names, including Toni Storm, Britt Baker, Kamille, Mickie James, Jim Cornette and Trinity Fatu. Starring Emily Bett Rickards as legendary women’s wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke, Queen of the Ring was released in March 2025 but struggled commercially, grossing just $657,718 at the box office.
As of now, Ring Productions has not filed a response to the lawsuit. Court records indicate the company has not yet been formally served, meaning its 20-day deadline to respond has not started.
What do you think of AEW taking legal action over the alleged unpaid sponsorship deal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
