WWE Does Not Require Talent To Sign Nondisclosure Agreements

WWE has seen a lot of talent turnover recently. The company has performed several mass purges of wrestlers, office workers, and creative employees. The list of released superstars has grown to staggering proportions.

WWE typically employs non-compete clauses in a wrestler’s contract. That means that they can’t work anywhere else for a fixed period if they are released while they are still signed with the company. Wrestlers whose contracts simply expire are not subject to those terms.

With the non-compete clauses well-known, one might feel safe to assume that WWE also makes wrestlers sign non-disclosure agreements. Those would be separate legal documents that would keep talent from saying anything about the internal workings of WWE once they are finished with their deal. According to Mike Johnson in a recent PW Insider Q&A, WWE only advises wrestlers to stay quiet.

“I know the top execs have NDAs but I don’t believe talents do officially.  They are all advised not to speak out against the company when they are released, but once they are free, they can do whatever they want.”

Advertising

Advertising

WWE could choose to have released talent sign an NDA that would outlast the length of their contract. That is standard practice in many industries. For now, it appears that is not the case.

That would explain the litany of released WWE wrestlers who have spoken out about their time in the company. Whether it’s sour grapes or legitimate gripes, there is not much WWE can do to stop them without an NDA. WWE simply asks them to play nice when parting ways.

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments!