Karl Anderson: "If You Want Something, Get It Put In Your Contract Or Stop Complaining" (WWE News)

Karl Anderson chimes in on contract perks.

by Andrew Pollard
Karl Anderson
NJPW

Following Damian Priest's recent comments on What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast about having first-class travel in his latest WWE contract, former WWE man Karl Anderson has chimed in on such matters.

Speaking during an appearance on Stories with Gerald Brisco and Bradshaw (via Fightful), Machine Gun said that talents either need to request certain perks in their contracts or stop complaining about their situation.

As Anderson put it:

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"I've heard people complain about contract stuff, complain about merch, complain about plane flights, or complain about money. As I've gotten older and grown, I've realized that if you want something, you have to get it put in your contract or you gotta stop complaining about it. I remember one time we were on a flight with Roman [Reigns] and someone was bitching about a flight, and Roman literally said at the baggage claim, 'Either get it written into your contract or quit bitching.' Damn. Good point, Roman."

In the case of Damian Priest, his sit-down with Cody Rhodes last month saw the Punisher discussing his most recent contract renewal. There, Priest revealed how he requested first-class travel, noting how he's a big guy - billed at 6'5" and 250 lbs - and that he struggles to get comfortable in the regular 'economy' seats.

To the former World Heavyweight Champion's surprise, he was informed that he should've had this already written into his prior contract. As Priest himself explained, he "didn't know the rules" on politicking or asking for certain perks. Either way, first-class air travel was included as part of his new deal, with last year's Elimination Chamber PLE in Perth, Australia marking the first time that the former Judgment Day man got to ride in the posh seats.

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As Karl Anderson puts it, if you want something in your contract, either ask for it outright or stop complaining. Of course, it's not always quite that easy, with it very much dependent on your position on the food chain in terms of what perks may or may not be given the green light.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.