Fans have blamed TKO Group Holdings for the recent mass WWE releases. Nevertheless, reports indicated that Triple H and Nick Khan were the first decision-makers behind the April 24 wave of cuts.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently defended the business logic behind the cuts on his “Grilling JR” podcast. He explained that no WWE contract is really guaranteed unless explicitly negotiated otherwise. The veteran commentator claimed that WWE is “not silly” and includes “outs” in multi-year deals to guard the corporate. Ross said,
“I believe probably most of them (the recently released talent) probably got a 90 day trip, meaning they receives a commission for 90 days and so they’re free to go where the hell they need. So essentially if you sign those five-year deals, lots of them have outs, all of them have outs of some sort, and in the event that they don’t? You’re silly…and WWE just isn’t silly.”
“Simply because you bought a five-year deal, it doesn’t mean you bought five guaranteed years to pay at this particular rate. If I’m a talent, I just like the five-year deal, cause it gives me a little bit little bit of security. Nevertheless it’s not guaranteed unless you negotiate that in your deal, that ‘I got five years guaranteed and my contract ends in 2032 or something.’”
Ross Believes Former WWE Star Did Not Like His Time In AEW
During a unique episode of his “Grilling JR” podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer reflected on Aleister Black’s time in AEW. Jim Ross said,
“If I were counseling him, I’d say take some break day. Step away for a couple of months. I might encourage my wife to get back within the ring. She’d be a very good hire for AEW. Aleister Black is one in every of my favorite competitors. He’s compelling. Possibly it’s his look or the proven fact that he uses kicks loads and is proficient at it. I like Aleister Black. I believe he could do himself a favor by simply stepping away for some time. He’s got a 90-day no-compete anyway. How will you improve in 90 days? That’s my query to you.”
“What are you able to do to make your game higher? I believe the guy has a very good upside and is a principal event level talent. He’s a keeper. He seems to run afoul of the establishment every so often. I don’t know why that’s. I don’t work with him in that regard. Whatever it’s, my advice to him could be ‘recover from it.’ Don’t be so critical of things. Just be critical of your individual work and make it higher.”
“I don’t think he wanted [his AEW run] to work. I don’t think he was comfortable there. And I believe he checked out it as a step down. Prefer it was the minor leagues or some s***. That’s a WWE mentality rubbing off on you.”