Ever wondered what WWE contract actually looks like? The business behind wrestling is usually shrouded in mystery, but someone on Reddit stumbled upon a copy of a circa-2000 then-WWF talent contract. One interesting note? ‘wrestling’ appears more times than ‘sports entertainment’ does. Also of note is how WWE defines appearances and how talent is paid based on their appearances.
Here are the first few paragraphs, you can read the entire contract here:
This World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. Booking Contract
("Agreement"), dated this Fifteenth (15th) day of February, 2000, and made
effective as of January 1, 2000, by and between World Wrestling Federation
Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of
business at 1241 East Main Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06902 (hereinafter
referred to as "COMPANY"), and Vincent K. McMahon, an individual residing at 14
Hurlingham Drive, Greenwich, CT 06831 (hereinafter referred to as "TALENT").
PREMISES
WHEREAS, COMPANY is duly licensed, as required, to conduct professional
wrestling exhibitions and is actually engaged in the business of organizing,
publicizing, arranging, staging and conducting professional wrestling
exhibitions throughout the world and of representing professional wrestlers in
the promotion and exploitation of a professional wrestler's name, likeness,
personality and character; and
WHEREAS, COMPANY has established a nationwide network of television
stations which regularly broadcast COMPANY's wrestling programs for purposes of
publicizing COMPANY's professional wrestling exhibitions and COMPANY has
established a network of cable television organizations which regularly
broadcast COMPANY's professional wrestling exhibitions on a pay-per-view basis;
and in addition thereto, COMPANY has developed and produced certain other
television programs, which are also used to publicize, display and promote
COMPANY's professional wrestling exhibitions; and
WHEREAS, COMPANY's business operations afford TALENT opportunities to
wrestle and obtain public exposure which will increase the value of his
wrestling services and his standing in the professional wrestling community and
entertainment industry; and
WHEREAS, TALENT is duly licensed, as required, to engage in professional
wrestling exhibitions and is actually engaged in the business of performing as a
professional wrestler; and
WHEREAS, TALENT is a performing artist and the professional wrestling
exhibitions arranged by COMPANY constitute demonstrations of wrestling skills
and abilities designed to provide athletic-styled entertainment to the public,
and such wrestling exhibitions constitute entertainment and are not competitive
sports; and
WHEREAS, TALENT desires COMPANY to arrange wrestling matches for TALENT and
to assist TALENT in obtaining public exposure through live exhibitions,
television programs, public appearances, and merchandising activities, or
otherwise;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements as
set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties intending to be
legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
1. BOOKING
1.1 TALENT hereby grants exclusively to COMPANY, and COMPANY hereby accepts,
the following worldwide rights:
(a) During the term of this Agreement as defined below, the right to engage
TALENT's performance in wrestling matches at professional wrestling exhibitions,
as well as appearances of any type at other events, engagements or entertainment
programs in which TALENT performs services as a professional wrestler,
entertainer or otherwise directed by COMPANY in its sole discretion
(collectively the "Events"), whether such Events are staged before a live
audience, in a television broadcast studio, on location (for later viewing or
broadcast) or otherwise.
(b) During the term of this Agreement as defined below, the right, in
perpetuity, to sell or otherwise distribute tickets of admission to the general
public for viewing any or all of the Events, as well as to view the Events on
any closed circuit television, pay-per-view television, video exhibition or any
other medium now known or hereinafter discovered.
(c) During the term of this Agreement and thereafter, as provided for in
this Agreement, the right to solicit, negotiate, and enter into agreements for
and on behalf of TALENT for the exploitation of Intellectual Property (as
defined hereinbelow) for merchandising, commercial tie-ups, publishing, personal
appearances, performances in non-wrestling events and endorsements.
1.2 In consideration of TALENT's granting of rights, license and other
services, as set forth herein, and provided TALENT shall faithfully and fully
perform all obligations hereunder, COMPANY shall endeavor to book TALENT as an
individual or as a member of a group, which determination shall be made in
COMPANY's sole discretion, in matches at various Events.
2. WORKS
2.1 If COMPANY books TALENT to appear and perform at Events, TALENT hereby
grants to COMPANY and COMPANY hereby accepts, the exclusive right during the
term of this Agreement to video tape, film, photograph, or otherwise record, or
to authorize others to do so, by any media now known or hereinafter discovered,
TALENT's appearance, performance, commentary, and any other work product for any
or all of the Events. (These recordings by tape, disc, film, or otherwise are
collectively referred to herein as the "Programs".)
2.2 Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement for any reason, and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, COMPANY shall have the
right to produce, reproduce, reissue, manipulate, reconfigure, license,
manufacture, record, perform, exhibit, broadcast, televise by any form of
television (including without limitation, free, cable, pay cable, closed circuit
and
2
pay-per-view television), transmit, publish, copy, reconfigure, compile,
print, reprint, vend, sell, distribute and use via any other medium now known or
hereinafter discovered, and to authorize others to do so, the Programs, in
perpetuity, in any manner or media and by any art, method or device, now known
or hereinafter discovered (including without limitation, by means of videodisc,
videocassette, optical, electrical and/or digital compilations, theatrical
motion picture and/or non-theatrical motion picture). All gags, costumes or
parts of costumes, accessories, crowns, inventions, championship, title or other
belts (if applicable), and any other items of tangible property provided to
TALENT by COMPANY and/or containing New Intellectual Property as defined in
paragraph 3.2 (a) shall be immediately returned to COMPANY upon termination of
this Agreement for any reason. More About:Ringside Intel Sports Wrestling