10 Most Shocking Revelations From WWE In 2019

9. Extending The Contracts Of Injured Stars

Back in January, a small story broke about a legal loophole WWE had been exploiting to extend the contract duration of its talent. It didn't really pick up much traction until the wrestlers concerned began to acknowledge it publicly but, when it did, people were shocked. In the last three years alone, the company had frozen the contracts of The Revival, Finn Bálor, Bayley, Tommaso Ciampa, Samoa Joe, Asuka, Braun Strowman, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, the Bludgeon Brothers, Fandango, and Goldust. It was also revealed that both Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan had been impacted by this policy in the past.

While WWE does, to their credit, financially cover most treatment and rehabilitation costs during these injury layoffs, the cost of that is that wrestlers have the time added to the end of their existing contract. It wasn't until The Revival's requests for their release were made public did the extent of this become apparent.

They'd signed three-year deals when moving up from NXT, putting their expected release dates at April 2020. However, owing to Dawson's five-month absence for a bicep injury, and Wilder's two months out with a fractured jaw, both had found their contracts extended. This meant any potential move to another company as a tag team wouldn't be until the end of next year at the very earliest.