The best thing that can happen to John (aside from somehow winning) is that his lawyers no-show on April 22nd.

If his lawyers don't show up, the case gets dismissed. Duh. But it's dismissed because a technicality.

If things were to play out the way it would have, where Shuli and Karl explain to the court why their material is fair use and doesn't violate John's Right To Publicity, and the court sided with them, John will have to admit he lost. He could blame the court, the judge, etc., but he lost based off the merits of the case put fourth by the defense.

But if it gets dismissed because his lawyers bailed, then there's nothing stopping him from saying Karl and Shuli violated his Right because the court didn't say otherwise. He lost because his lawyers, not his argument. And because of this, John can keep beating the same drum, saying his rights were violated, he lost "but not really", etc.