New WWE Contract Clauses Under TKO Could Restrict Talent Freedom Long After Deals Expire

TLDR

New WWE contracts under TKO reportedly include a one-year non-compete clause for talent fired for cause or breach, which has become standard language according to multiple sources. Wrestling attorney Mike Dawkins revealed that TKO-era contracts also allegedly feature a nine-month "exclusive negotiation period" during the final portion of deals, preventing wrestlers from discussing their future with other promotions like AEW, TNA, or GCW during that timeframe. Dawkins described the nine-month restriction as potentially unreasonable and suggested some of the new contract language could lead to significant legal challenges.