WWE's nasty New Year's surprise for superstars.

[Tired]

With morale being at an all-time low in WWE, they have just become worse. Management have added a new stipulation to all performer contracts.

The new stipulation basically makes the infamous "No Compete Clause" more restrictive. If the superstar is released for "disciplinary reasons", the no compete clause prevents them from signing with any wrestling or MMA company for one full year... anywhere in the world. As an added insult, the released superstar would forfeit all merchandising rights and royalty payments.

This is a direct response to CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio succesfully overcoming their No Compete Clauses. Both men challenged the stipulation in court. Both were hired as "independent contractors", so the WWE has no right to tell former employees not to accept bookings anywhere. Punk successfully sued for back-pay owed from merchandising. He also signed a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship as MMA companies were not previously off limits. Del Rio signed with AAA in Mexico as it is not in the US and did not violate the old No Compete Clause. He successfully challenged the clause in court and has since signed a deal with Ring Of Honor. Del Rio's no compete clause also prevented him from doing any interviews or talking about his release in the US.

Buff Bagwell recently explained the reason why WWE "released" talent was so that Management had time to change their minds and would not have to re-negotiate a superstars contract. As far as we know, if a superstar is released for any reason other than "disciplinary reasons", they are still subject to the old No Compete Clause stipulation. They cannot compete for any wrestling company that holds television broadcasts, pay-per-views or iPPVs for 90 days. They will still be owed merchandise royalties.

 

[Deleted User]

Assholes. Seriously.

 

[Maximo]

This is ridiculous, they hired about 50 indy guys and girls,
CHANGED THEIR NAMES so they don't get the same recognition and now added this clause, fucking assholes.

 

[AKI Man]

They obviously fear competition or are just butthutt assholes. Actually both apply to WWE.

 

[Maximo]

Imagine if companies in other businesses pulled that? there would be riots.

"Oh this contract you've just signed means that you can't work in any other company similar to us, in the world for a year, even though it is your specialized field and will lower you chances of future employment by 90%...by the way YOU'RE FIRED."

 

[Deleted User]

Wrestle Kingdom 9 is happening this Sunday. I've never really watched a whole ton of Puro beyond my FMW tapes and the 1rst two Super J Cups. Did I mention Good Ole J.R. is commentating with Matt Striker?

I'm gonna. Sorry if it's off topic, but I figure we should start here. I love WWE, don't get me wrong, but this is just plain silly what they are doing, and I I can see a lot of repercussions from it in the long term for a lot of guys.

 

[stylesismilo]

Imagine if companies in other businesses pulled that? there would be riots.

"Oh this contract you've just signed means that you can't work in any other company similar to us, in the world for a year, even though it is your specialized field and will lower you chances of future employment by 90%...by the way YOU'RE FIRED."

There is a similar contract clause in the business world for some industries. Remember studying it in University.

Can't exactly remember the full clause, though.

 

[Maximo]

There is a similar contract clause in the business world for some industries. Remember studying it in University.

Can't exactly remember the full clause, though.

I understand it in some companies such as electronics, so they don't sell prototypes to rival companies, it's a safety measure.


But to do that in the wrestling business is extremely restricting, most wrestling companies are published either on the web or have TV deals, so it's limiting them to local shows that pay close to nothing or ones that cost them more money to get to then what they make.


A year sounds like nothing when you're safe, but alot can happen it that time when you're on a knifes edge, one slip up and life can hit you harder then a freight train.
The thing is, for most of the people who leave WWE, it wasn't their choice, it was managements.

It's bullocks, they are doing it because they're worried about finances but they have no rivals, they don't lose anything if someone goes somewhere else, they will lose more money in court cases for fucking with peoples lives.

Oh, they get to keep merchandise sales, for products they will no longer sell or the wrestlers only got a tiny amount for being part of anyway.


On a related note, TNA just wasted their New Years Day TV time showing video clips of people beating up Aj Styles, just out spite.

 

[Tired]

On a related note, TNA just wasted their New Years Day TV time showing video clips of people beating up Aj Styles, just out spite.

Just to clarify what Maximo just said, this was not a 'Best of 2014' highlight show. Styles' only 2014 appearance was the beatdown, so it would kinda make sense. It was a 'Best of TNA' highlight show. And Magnus beating Styles ranked surprisingly high up on the list. In fact, more than quarter of the Top 20 moments centered around Hogan, with all but one of them bombing or being received badly when it aired.

The #2 moment was the first 3-way match with Styles, Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe (which Styles won). If I remember correctly, the #3 moment was Brooke and Bully Ray's wedding, and the #1 moment was Hogan launching the Immortal faction, which did bomb.

---

I am wrong. Those moments were #4-#2 in that order. The #1 moment was Bully Ray putting Dixie Carter through a table.

 

[agent47]

Fall of WWE starts here.