WWE let go of quite a few talent last week, and a lot of those names were Superstars that fans never thought would have been released. With that in mind, it appears that some talent are under no-cut deals.
According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Triple H made the final decision on the recent WWE releases. Its not clear whether he was given a specific number of people to let go, a financial target to hit, or if the choices were entirely up to him. Even then, Meltzer noted that the logic behind it is simple: when you add new talent to the main roster, you often have to release others, just like in sports.
Meltzer also noted that WWE is extremely profitable. In one recent quarter, the company had $194 million in expenses and made $188 million in profit, nearly a 50% margin. Despite that, WWE contracts allow the company to release talent at any time, while most wrestlers must stay until their contracts end. He added that a few wrestlers have no-cut deals right now and said that this system can feel unfair.
Many wrestlers make big life choices, like buying homes, based on the expectation that a multi-year deal will provide steady income. While top stars are usually told not to worry, even they can be released in rare cases. For lower-paid talent, the sudden loss is even tougher and Meltzer compared this situation to how contracts often work in the NFL.
We have previously reported that WWE viewed the main roster talent who were released as dead weight. As WWE keeps changing under Triple Hs leadership, the way it treats talent is getting more attention, so well have to wait and see how WWE will continue to book their talent and if more releases will be made in the future.
Should WWE standardize more protective contracts for its talent, or is the current system a necessary part of staying competitive? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
