Key WWE Player: "Contracts Are 90 Days, Renewing At WWE's Discretion"
WWE higher-up points out that when you sign a contract, it isn't REALLY for X years...
This week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter contains a quote from somebody identified as a "key player" in WWE, who lays the reality of the promotion's contract terms bare.
The quote comes as part of a write-up on Kevin Owens' new WWE contract. As reported earlier this week, the 37-year-old has agreed to a new three-year deal with the promotion, without a "no cut" clause protecting Owens from WWE ending the contract before its agreed expiry date.
Dave Meltzer's source said the following on KO's deal, confirming the previously-reported $2-3 million annual salary:-
“It's in line with what I heard. Someone in his position, who can come in and out of the main events, upper mid card, will make that level at this time. But he won't get the 90-day clause waived. He wasn't going to get more money.”
The "key player" continued, saying that the high dollar amount on these contracts often blinds people, who sign them without considering that on any given day, WWE can release them with 90 days' notice (via non-compete clause):-
“The 2-3 million a year range is so blinding to people, they sign, not realizing it's a 90 day contract that renews every day at WWE's sole discretion. It's how they `got’ Windham Rotunda. He was going to get 3 mil, 3 year term. They went to a 5 year term. He held. They inched up towards 4. He jumped at it. But it's still a 90 day contract. And with the higher number, it takes less and less to trigger the release.”
WWE has released a total of 80 wrestlers in 2021, attributing most to "budget cuts." Some, like Hit Row's B-Fab, were let go within weeks of signing new contracts with the company.