I doubt it does, One thing that Tito bought up is what the WWE is enforcing what is actually written into their contracts.
https://nodq.com/opinions/601286625.shtml
Quote:
The WWE wrestlers need to read the fine print of those "Independent Contractor" contracts that they signed. If you are a WWE wrestler, WWE essentially OWNS YOU for the length of that contract within the public. All media appearances should be cleared by WWE... Your likeness, not just the name but your look, is owned by the WWE and they can control when and where you should appear for the term of the contract.
The more difficult one is Cameo appearances, as many wrestlers are using their WWE trademarked names for personal benefit. Majority of the WWE talent have a stage name that is 100% owned by the WWE. If you appear anywhere as your stage name, WWE should not only approve that ahead of time, but they would receive the majority of the financial benefit. I know that times are tough during COVID, but again, read the fine print of the WWE contract.
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Where Vince probably decided to start enforcing this is a lot of the third party content that I've seen of heels and faces playing video games together, other wrestlers talking about booking and their characters and complaining about what Vince is doing with their characters.
So of course he's going to shut it down.
At the end of the day, the WWE wrestlers have the option of not signing contract extensions which might happen, but I doubt that AEW is going to be as active in signings going forward unless they start releasing dudes. Or not signing contracts in the first place.
There's also a reason why wrestlers have talked about unions but never done it, its because even with AEW and Ring of Honor and TNA and Japan there's just not a whole lot of seats for unemployed wrestlers now, and Vince still has a long reach. As well and again I don't think the argument is unionization of the WWE because Vince would probably just terminate contracts for cause. These guys are contractors and not employees, and if there's a problem its with their agents not making sure that the wrestlers understand the terms when they sign.
I do think tho that the WWE has to evolve interms of health care and doing more to help retired wrestlers who are struggling even though they are quietly paying for ex wrestlers to go back to school if they want, and also paying for rehab under the wellness policy, but they can certainly do a lot more for their workers.