WWE’s massive talent cuts following WrestleMania 42 shocked fans, but the releases were primarily about roster management rather than performance issues.
Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer revealed that nearly all WWE talent can be released at any time, regardless of their contract length.
The cuts affected wrestlers in the middle of multi-year deals, leaving many surprised despite the standard contract language. The New Day’s subsequent departure from the company added to the upheaval.
No-Cut Contracts Extremely Rare in WWE
Meltzer explained the contract reality on Wrestling Observer Radio.
“I believe that there may be one or two guys with no cut contracts in WWE, but it’s very, very few,” he said. “I know top guys who tried to get no cut contracts and they were told no, and they’re also told ‘we’re never going to cut you,’ but they still wouldn’t put it in writing.”
It was further noted that most wrestlers sign contracts believing they have job security for the full term.
“You think you got a contract for five years, and then a year into it they cut you. It sucks,” Meltzer stated.
“But it’s also something that you have to know when you sign that contract that they could do unless you sign a no cut contract.”
Roster Size Management Strategy
According to Meltzer, the releases follow a familiar pattern.
“The cuts are more roster size than anything else and Vince McMahon did the exact same thing,” he explained. “Most of the cuts are people in the middle of contracts. There may be one or two no-cut contracts but for 99 percent of the talent they can be cut at any time.”
Meltzer highlighted that contract restructuring mid-term also occurred under previous WWE leadership.
“Restructuring of contracts in the middle was not common, but it did happen under McMahon many times,” he said. “Nothing is new here.”