Steve Carrier on March 22, 2026
Gail Kim’s legal battle with TNA parent company Anthem isn’t heading straight to trial just yet, as both sides are now scheduled to meet for mediation in an attempt to resolve the dispute before things escalate further.
New court details show that Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC — the parent company behind TNA — and TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim are set to enter mediation on June 24, with Kim receiving an extension on her response deadline until after that session takes place. The move suggests both sides are at least open to settling the matter outside of court before the case moves deeper into litigation.
The lawsuit itself dates back to January, when Anthem filed legal action following Kim informing the company that she believed she had potential claims tied to the Florida Private Whistleblower Act after her departure from the company in March 2025. While the specific allegations were not outlined in the filing, Anthem moved quickly to challenge her position, arguing that any disputes tied to her role should be governed under Tennessee law rather than Florida statutes.
Court filings outline that Kim originally signed a Services Agreement in September 2022, where her responsibilities included talent relations, match production, performer services, and helping identify new revenue and growth opportunities for the company. That agreement expired at the end of 2024, but the relationship continued on a month-to-month basis until the company made what it described as a “strategic decision to restructure.” That restructuring led to Kim and two other independent contractors not having their contracts renewed, along with the termination of five employees.
Anthem’s legal position centers heavily on Kim’s status as an independent contractor. The company claims her Booking Agreement specifically defined her as not an employee, stating she would not participate in employee benefit programs and maintained the freedom to work on outside projects. According to the filing, Kim worked primarily from home, was issued a 1099 for payments, and remained involved in other ventures, including appearances on reality television shows such as The Amazing Race Canada and The Traitors Canada.
Anthem is now asking the court to formally declare that Kim cannot pursue claims under Florida statutes, including the Florida Private Whistleblower Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The company is also seeking reimbursement for legal fees and court costs tied to the case.
Despite the legal fight, Gail Kim remains one of the most important figures in TNA history. She helped establish the Knockouts division as one of the promotion’s defining features and became the first woman inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2016. Following her departure, Kim thanked fans publicly and made it clear that her time in wrestling is far from finished.
“Just wanted to say thank you to the fans, friends, and especially my peers for all the support you have given me over the last few days… This will not end my passion or my love for wrestling, and this is not the end of Gail Kim in the wrestling world.”
With mediation now scheduled and legal deadlines pushed back, the next major step will come in June, when both sides sit down to determine whether a settlement is possible — or if this dispute will continue to play out in court.
Do you think Gail Kim and Anthem will settle this dispute during mediation, or is this situation headed toward a longer courtroom battle? Let us know your thoughts.
1 hour ago
Disqus Comments Loading...