Wrestler Claims WWE Bullied Their Way Into Negotiations With Contracted Talent
Claims that WWE ‘bullied’ their way into negotiations with contracted talents
WWE found themselves in hot water in 2022 when All Elite Wrestling accused the sports entertainment giant of alleged contract tampering, with similar allegations thrown at WWE at various points in their history.
Outside of AEW’s allegations, WWE were sued by Court Bauer’s Major league Wrestling for monopolistic business practices (mainly with regards to broadcasting deals) before settling out of court for around the $20 million mark. Per a report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, an unnamed wrestler alleges that WWE have a history of bullying their way into negotiations with contracted stars, with the source saying the following:
“I’m glad they settled out of court and good for Court (Bauer). WWE deserved it, and did tamper with guys’ deals and bully their way into negotiations, me as an example years ago.”
Whilst no evidence of contract tampering has been revealed by AEW or other promotions from throughout history, it is believed that WWE attempted to reach out to the likes of Swerve Strickland, Adam Cole, and William Regal amongst other names in AEW. The company entered a period of unforeseen growth in the 1980s due to Vince McMahon’s ruthless dismantling of the territory system, with McMahon often ‘poaching’ the best talents from promotions across America.