Backstage News On WWE's Approach To New Contract Negotiations

How does WWE approach negotiations with talents over new contracts?

Aidan Gibbons smiling in front of a green screen in an Adidas hoodie

Aug 14, 2025

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A number of wrestlers have put pen to paper on new contracts with WWE in 2025, including the likes of AJ Styles and Lola Vice, while the company have held talks with CM Punk over a new five-year deal.

Two wrestlers that recently exited WWE, however, following the ends of their contracts were Karrion Kross and Scarlett. While there are lingering suspicions that the situation is an elaborate work, Karrion Kross has continued to insist it is genuine and he was offered a new WWE contract on August 5, just days before his deal expired on August 10. WWE did not offer Scarlett a new deal as they wanted to re-sign Kross first, according to the two-time NXT Champion.

Dave Meltzer has reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE's approach to contract negotiations ultimately depends on how much the company cares about the wrestler. If the talent is considered a star, negotiations will begin several months before the deal is due to expire. If WWE are less bothered about signing the wrestler, however, the contract offer will be take-it-or-leave-it at the last minute.

"If they see you as a star, they're going to try and sign you six months ahead. That's how it is. Sometimes doesn't work out that way. Drew McIntyre, obviously, they tried to sign him way early. He turned down offers, eventually signed, though....With Kross, they just made the mistake with Killings. Are they really going to make the same mistake again? Now, the idea is when it's somebody they don't care about, how do they do it? Before the thing started, I was absolutely told this is how if it's a marginal person they will wait until the end, and then they will make an offer, and they will give a timeframe, take-it-or-leave-it, this is your offer," Meltzer said.

WWE contracts that are believed to expire at the end of 2025 include those of The Miz and Dragon Lee.

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