WWE and 2K Get Extension in Bloodline Lawsuit as Indie Promoter Claims Sequence Was Copied

WWE’s latest legal battle just hit a new procedural milestone, and the focus is now squarely on the court timeline.

In an update to the lawsuit filed by Arkansas independent promoter Nathaniel Tatha‑Nanandji, court records show that both WWE and 2K have officially requested and received extensions to respond to the complaint. They were originally required to answer the lawsuit by this week, but the new deadline has been moved to February 20.

The lawsuit accuses WWE, TKO, 2K Games, and related entities of allegedly lifting intellectual material created for WCWA Wrestling and repurposing it for The Bloodline’s presentation on WWE television and within the WWE 2K video game series. Tatha‑Nanandji claims he developed a distinctive audiovisual sequence for WCWA’s faction Tier 1 beginning in 2019 and that WWE later introduced a substantially similar presentation in 2021.

The filing stresses that he is not claiming ownership over a single pose or gesture, but rather the structure and sequencing of the full presentation.

“[He] is responsible for the creative direction, booking, staging, filming, and publishing of WCWA's events and audiovisual content.”

He alleges that the Tier 1 presentation involved deliberate camera framing, a choreographed pause, a lead performer initiating the moment, staggered arm raises with a single finger extended, and a held visual tableau meant to communicate hierarchy and dominance.

The complaint further claims WWE had access to WCWA content through public platforms and internal scouting channels.

“Through these direct and indirect channels, including internal scouting review and publicly accessible WCWA content on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, WWE and its affiliates had a reasonable opportunity to view, study, and copy the Tier 1 Audiovisual Sequence…”

According to the lawsuit, after WCWA used the sequence publicly, WWE introduced a similar visual structure for The Bloodline on television.

“Beginning in or around September 2021… WWE introduced a visually and narratively similar ritualized audiovisual sequence for its ‘Bloodline’ faction.”

The complaint also alleges that the same sequence was later licensed for use in the WWE 2K video game franchise, and that despite being notified in October 2025 of the claimed rights, the defendants continued using the material.

Now, with the extension granted, WWE and 2K have additional time to craft their formal responses before the case moves further. Legal battles like this can take unexpected turns, especially when they involve billion‑dollar companies and intellectual property claims tied to creative presentation. Whether this case gains traction or gets shut down early remains to be seen, but the next key date on the calendar is now February 20.