According to a new report from Fightful Select, there are several AEW talent that are working without non-compete clauses in their current contracts.
Fightful said that when asked about AEW’s lack of non-compete clauses, a source told them the company generally does not release their talent, unless there is a special request or a disciplinary action, which is the main reason AEW does not have non-compete clauses.
The report specifically says that a non-compete clause within AEW would extend the contract. However, this must be agreed upon by talent. It was also said in this matter that AEW does this, for the most part on a case-by-case basis. AEW sources told Fightful Select that it is believed if CM Punk were to be released from his current contract early, it would be based soley on the condition that he does not appear in WWE for a certain amount of time.
Fightful Select concluded by saying that AEW released now WWE Vice President of Global Talent Development William Regal late last year so that he could return to WWE in January. At this time he is only allowed to work behind-the-scenes. Regal’s conditional release keeps him off WWE television until January 2024. Regal was said to have told AEW that he no longer wanted to be a character on television and wanted to go back to WWE, specifically NXT to work behind-the-scenes and with his son Charlie Dempsey who is currently on the NXT roster.
WWE’s non-compete clauses are 90-days for main roster talent and 30-days for NXT.