WWE Feared Buddy Murphy's Non-Compete Clause Was Only 30 Days

Buddy Murphy has revealed he received a panicked phone call from WWE the day after his release because the company believed they had messed up his non-compete clause.

Main roster Superstars usually have a 90-day non-compete clause following their releases, but it recently emerged this wasn't the case with Malakai Black as a clerical error meant WWE didn't change his NXT 30-day non-compete clause after he was moved to the main roster. This allowed Black to make his AEW debut on the July 7 edition of Dynamite, just over one month after his WWE release.

In an interview with Fightful, Buddy Murphy revealed WWE thought he might have been the Superstar with the 30-day clause.

"I received a phone call from the office the day after I was released saying that they received an email that they messed up and my contract was only 30-day non-compete and that if I wanted to prolong it to the 90 days that they would do that for me. I thought that was weird as I was a budget cut, but you're still willing to pay me another two months, but it wasn't me. I had my letter, which says 'August 31.' August 31 is my day. When it comes to the visa situation, the more time I have, the better so I can get prepared. Even if they gave me an out, I would have to take it for my life," Murphy noted.

"They thought it was me (who had a 30-day non-compete). I informed them that it wasn't because I received a letter with (August 31). It turned to relief. It went from panic to relief on the voice (on the phone call). Then they moved on. I think they panicked and obviously they got the name mixed up. It was someone, but it wasn't me. Maybe Buddy and Aleister got mixed up. Buddy or Black, they are both B's. They called me, not me. You hear all the things like the trash bag thing and I'm a pretty open-minded person and don't get affected by it. I try and see both sides of the story. I don't think there was any malice behind the garbage bag, but it's not a good look, I get it. Do I believe there was actual malice to upset (talent)? No, I don't. Definitely a sh*tty thing to do once you've been released and your life is being changed."