Gail Kim’s fight with TNA’s parent company is still very much alive — and both sides are heading back in front of a judge again.
Nashville Chancery Court records show a new status conference is set for November 20, marking the third one since July. That’s a pretty big sign this mess still hasn’t been cleaned up. Kim and Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC were expected to enter mediation on June 24 in an attempt to settle things privately. Kim was even given extra time to respond to the lawsuit until after mediation, giving both sides a chance to work something out before the case moved any further.
So far, there’s no official indication that happened. Anthem filed the lawsuit against Kim in January 2026 after Kim told the company she believed she may have legal claims stemming from her March 2025 departure under the Florida Private Whistleblower Act.
The lawsuit never revealed exactly what Kim believes Anthem did wrong.cInstead, Anthem went straight to court asking a judge to decide what rules this fight gets played under. The company argues that Kim was an independent contractor — not an employee — and that any dispute between the two sides should be handled under Tennessee law instead of Florida law. Anthem pointed directly to the language in Kim’s contract.
“[Kim] will at all times be an independent contractor (and not an employee or agent of [AWE]); therefore, [Kim] will not participate in any benefit plans or programs that [AWE] provides or may provide to its employees, including, but not limited to, pension, profit-sharing, medical, dental, workers’ compensation, occupational injury, life insurance, and vacation or sick benefits.”
Anthem says Kim worked in talent relations, production, performer services and business development under a Services Agreement that began in September 2022. That deal expired at the end of 2024 before continuing month-to-month until the relationship ended.
The company has also been piling up details it believes prove Kim was working as a contractor. Anthem says Kim worked from home, didn’t have a company office, received 1099 forms and was able to take outside gigs, including The Amazing Race Canada and The Traitors Canada.
In Anthem’s eyes, all of that adds up to one thing — she wasn’t an employee. The company also says Kim’s departure wasn’t some one-off decision aimed at her. Anthem claims it came during a larger restructuring that also affected other contractors and employees. And this is where the legal fight gets serious.
Anthem wants the court to declare that Kim can’t bring claims under the Florida Private Whistleblower Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on the working relationship the company says they had. Anthem is also asking for attorney’s fees and court costs. Kim still hasn’t publicly explained exactly what claims she believes she may have against the company. What she has made clear is that leaving TNA wasn’t going to end her wrestling career.
“The KO division is and will always be my heart, and all the women who were a part of it. Thanks to the incredibly hardworking and passionate TNA talent and crew that I have had the pleasure of working with. This will not end my passion or my love for wrestling, and this is not the end of Gail Kim in the wrestling world.”
She later revealed in December 2025 that she had also turned down an offer from WWE. At this point, the biggest takeaway is pretty simple — mediation didn’t make this go away, and Gail Kim and Anthem are still stuck in court months later. With another status conference now set for November 20, this legal fight clearly still has some legs.
Do you think Gail Kim and Anthem eventually settle this, or is this headed for a much uglier courtroom battle? Let us know what you think in the comments.
