TNA Files A Lawsuit Against Gail Kim

TNA parent company Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC filed a lawsuit against TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim before The Nashville Chancery Court in Tennessee on January 10.

According to PWInsider, the lawsuit stems from Kim informing the company that after she was let go in March 2025, “she believes she holds legal claims against AWE for violations of the Florida Private Whistleblower Act.” The alleged violations are not listed in the lawsuit.

Anthem is bringing the lawsuit forward as they are alleging that based on the nature of Kim’s contract with the company, that all issues between the two would be governed by Tennessee law.

The lawsuit states the following things:

• Kim entered into a Services Agreement contract in September 2022 that included “talent relations, match production, and performer services. Kim also agreed to identify and support new revenue, business, and growth opportunities for AWE.” The agreement expired at the end of 2024, at which point the two sides agreed to continue on a month to month basis.
• The Booking Agreement for Kim was non-exclusive and that she had the right to provide wrestling and other entertainment services “to other customers” based on certain limitations, including an agreement not to provide wrestling services to any competitors.
• The Booking Agreement stated that 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.”
• Kim worked primarily in talent relations and production, but did wrestle on one occasion, worked from her home, was not provided an office space and did not work for the company full-time, as she continued to engage in other “independent projects”, including The Amazing Race – Canada and The Traitors Canada reality series. They also stated she received a 1099 for all payments and would receive another for her work that ended in 2025.
• Kim’s working relationship with the company ended after a “strategic decision to restructure”, which led to Kim and two other independent contractors not having their contracts renewed as well as the termination of five employees. It also noted, “In connection with AWE’s restructuring, the former President of the Sports Group for AWE Sports & Entertainment, Anthony Ciccione, stepped down from his role in May 2025.”
• They are also stating that since Kim was an independent contractor, she does not have any “legally cognizable claims” against them based on Florida law.

Anthem is asking the court to declare that Kim was indeed an independent contractor, which would negate any of her claims that she ” has threatened to bring under the Florida Private Whistleblower Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964″ and that their company “has a real legally protectable interest at stake, namely its rights under the Services Agreement and the Booking Agreement which it negotiated and for which it paid Kim.”

TNA is seeking an award of “reasonable: attorneys’ fees and court costs. Court records do not yet indicate whether Kim has been served with the lawsuit, nor are there court dates listed.