Ric Flair and Mike Tyson have cleared an important hurdle in their legal battle with former business associates, after a federal judge allowed their lawsuit seeking more than $50 million to move forward.

According to TMZ, a judge in Illinois rejected a motion to dismiss the case brought by the WWE Hall of Famers and their fellow plaintiffs. The ruling keeps the racketeering lawsuit alive, although it does not establish that the defendants are liable or award any damages.

The lawsuit was filed in December 2025 and centres on alleged financial misconduct at Carma, the company behind the Tyson 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip cannabis brands.

Flair, Tyson and the other plaintiffs accuse former executives and associates of misusing company money, entering into unauthorised business arrangements and receiving undisclosed kickbacks. The defendants strongly deny the allegations.

Among those accused are former Carma executives Chad Bronstein and Adam Wilks. The lawsuit alleges that they treated company funds as a personal bank account, spending more than $1 million on private jet travel, yacht expenses, home renovations, mortgage payments and entertainment.

Other allegations concern kickbacks allegedly paid through business deals arranged without the plaintiffs’ knowledge. Bronstein, Wilks, Nicole Cosby, James Case and Christopher Volo were named among the defendants involved in the dismissal motion.

A representative for Tyson 2.0 welcomed the judge’s decision, describing it as a significant step in the plaintiffs’ pursuit of justice. The company said they were ready to pursue evidence and seek the remedies available under the law.

The defendants continue to dispute the claims. Lawyers for Bronstein and Cosby previously characterised the lawsuit as fiction, while Wilks’ attorney argued that the allegations lacked substance.

With the dismissal attempt rejected, Flair, Tyson and their fellow plaintiffs can continue pursuing their claims. The allegations remain contested, and the outcome of the case has yet to be decided.

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