Update on Lucha Bros.-AEW situation
Added 2024-09-27 21:15:42 +0000 UTCLucha Bros will still be under AEW contract for a bit longer.
Fightful Select reported this summer that the contracts of Penta and Rey Fenix were set to expire this year, with WWE interested in bringing them aboard. Beyond this, Penta had told numerous sources back in June and since then that he'd been in contact with WWE and stated that he and his brother were a package deal and that they wanted to go to the WWE main roster as opposed to NXT. We're told that AEW became aware of this, and saw evidence of at least one of the talent discussing their plans to move to WWE this Summer.
AEW had offered the Lucha Bros a contract this Summer and were hoping to retain the duo for years to come, and had immediate plans to put the Trios Titles on they and PAC at AEW All In. However, Penta and Fenix didn't sign those new deals, but sources that we spoke to in AEW claimed they had not discussed or communicated plans to leave.
Wrestling Observer reported that a few months had been added to Penta's deal due to injury time by AEW, and Fenix had substantially more. This matches up with what Fightful heard was likely to happen, as sources within WWE had been made aware as of last week that Fenix wouldn't be imminently joining the company. Fenix missed over six months between October 2023 and June 2024, well over three months from January 2022 to April 2022, and three months in 2021 as well.
When time was added to Penta's deal, we're told that was around the time he publicly tweeted that "his present was AEW," as he was hoping that the situation didn't result in Fenix being held to the injury time on his deal, as there's much more that can be added. We've not yet heard if AEW plans on having them work in the future or if they're on ice, but it was confirmed to us if they're under contract, they're still being paid. We didn't get a straight answer as to the motivation of extending the deals, outside of AEW wanting to get the contracted amount of time out of the duo that they were signed for per the terms of the contract. It is expected by talent that they'll be asked to put talent over at the very least if they're planning on leaving.
When discussing contract tampering, there's no oversight or league that could do much about "contract tampering," so to speak., and is not a law in sports, as opposed to a rule in leagues. However, tortious interference with contract that causes a breach is, and is largely what is actually discussed when bringing up "contract tampering," in wrestling. This is why if you ever listen to a Bruce Prichard podcast, he'll reference asking about talent's contract status when they would inquire about work with WWF/E in the past. For those wondering, adding injury time has been common within AEW, WWE, and TNA.
Contrary to reports, Penta and Fenix are not signed by WWE in any capacity, and WWE has never acknowledged any reports or rumors about them in an official capacity.
Comments
This, very underdiscussed
Allyssa Golden
2024-09-29 02:21:04 +0000 UTCOr, more appropriately, don't allow your friends to start blasting to anyone that can read/hear that you've already signed a contract and merch is being made as we speak when you still have several months left on your current contract....especially if what your friend is saying turns out to be conjecture and not actual fact.
Josh Howard
2024-09-28 17:40:21 +0000 UTC100%. If anyone wants to overlook these facts and think that it’s okay to contract tamper, then that’s their business. But if I were Fénix, I wouldn’t be as mad at Khan as I would be at my own brother, for not being able to keep his big mouth shut honestly.
Todd Silvers
2024-09-28 16:43:09 +0000 UTCSo you're just making excuses now for wwe?
slick
2024-09-28 14:05:42 +0000 UTCThere was plenty injury time wwe could’ve added to Lashley’s
Stephen Bradley
2024-09-28 10:02:04 +0000 UTCSo has Fenix’s
Stephen Bradley
2024-09-28 10:01:44 +0000 UTCAnd wwe ended up using Ali quite a lot after that, Will AEW be using Fenix?
Stephen Bradley
2024-09-28 09:54:01 +0000 UTCTrue but Fenix clearly wants out so….
Stephen Bradley
2024-09-28 09:52:42 +0000 UTCWhy is everyone forgetting he kept getting paid the whole time. If you got hurt at work, your work wouldn’t pay you if you’re lucky you might get some sick days or if you’re insurance had some type of coverage but if you were out for six months and that coverage on the car are due for three months. Your job is not gonna cover the other three months.
Stalla
2024-09-28 04:33:32 +0000 UTCThese companies add injury time because they keep paying the talent while they are out, therefore they need to recoup that time. I am sure WWE will be adding injury time to punk and Alexa Bliss will get time added for what she missed while pregnant. They should be happy. They got paid while they were gone if you’re or I miss telling him while we were at work injured our job wouldn’t pay us.
Stalla
2024-09-28 04:29:34 +0000 UTCLashley’s contract had expired.
Stalla
2024-09-28 04:25:26 +0000 UTCDid they free Ali? Or kept him until they didn't want him anymore?
slick
2024-09-28 02:16:56 +0000 UTCThe contract tampering rules aren’t actually because of the unions, it’s because most professional sports leagues are cartels that operate as legal monopolies. The tampering rules are so that members of the cartel won’t screw each other over.
Benjamin Howard
2024-09-28 01:43:04 +0000 UTCUmm, nothing stopping a company from making graphics and videos ahead of time. Just like if WWE is starting trademarks and merch design for the Lucha Bros. If you're 90% sure you'll sign that talent, why not have your people work on that stuff ahead of time? Even the part of Copeland driving the car could've been done the night before, no problem
Mike Wall
2024-09-28 01:27:19 +0000 UTCWhy are people upset he's forcing them to honor their contracts? That's what a BOSS does. Neither company is obligated to let talent walk just because the talent doesn't want to be there anymore. They signed their contracts so they're at the discretion of their employer. That said, I have no issue with TK letting them walk if the Lucha Bros are willing to put over a few teams on their way out. There are ways to do this where both sides get what they want. Letting the LB go for nothing in return is bad business.
Tito
2024-09-28 00:29:20 +0000 UTCThey have to breach the contract first, and then AEW would have to prove that WWE told them to breach their contracts. For example WWE telling them to no show to get a release, or straight up showing up on WWE TV.
Brady Livingston
2024-09-28 00:20:47 +0000 UTCThe moral of this story is, don’t say you’re going to WWE when your contract ends on the internet…..
Chris Cobb
2024-09-28 00:16:08 +0000 UTCThere is no such thing as contract tampering, it’s in the article too. If you cause a breach that’s when it’s illegal. You can talk all you want.
Brady Livingston
2024-09-28 00:15:20 +0000 UTCNo because both companies do this
Collin Ingram
2024-09-27 23:59:50 +0000 UTCNo WWE fans like this shit lmao. You are actually dumb
Collin Ingram
2024-09-27 23:59:31 +0000 UTCWonder if the people who tweeted #FreeAli will go with this
Stephen Bradley
2024-09-27 23:33:32 +0000 UTCOnly because there isn't a wrestlers union like pro sports. Also, contacting someone 6 months before their contract is up is very different than contacting someone after their contact expires. Unless you have actual proof of AEW contacting someone before their contact expires, you're engaging in "whattaboutism" and talking out your ass.
Forceofwilliam
2024-09-27 23:22:45 +0000 UTCNo such thing as contract tampering in Wrestling. Wrestlers don't walk away from lucrative contracts without having discussions with the competition either directly or through an agent. Ricochet and Lashley were both known to be heading to AEW before their deals were up, Edge too.
Kevin Flannery
2024-09-27 23:00:29 +0000 UTCNo such thing as contract tampering. People like Ricochet and Lashley were reported to be heading to AEW before their contracts with WWE ended. Do people really think wrestlers would walk away from WWE without having had discussions about what was on offer from the competition.
Kevin Flannery
2024-09-27 22:55:11 +0000 UTCAEW tribalists are proving to be just as bad as WWE tribalists today If this was HHH extending Lashley’s they’d be fuming Should never support the company over the wrestler
Stephen Bradley
2024-09-27 22:52:24 +0000 UTCWrong, Edge contract was expired a week before he debuted
Adrian Carpenter
2024-09-27 22:44:55 +0000 UTCSo you’re telling me AEW managed to film a promo video and get all the graphics for Edge done in ONE day? Because his debut was one day after his WWE contract ended.
Daniel Beesley
2024-09-27 22:43:05 +0000 UTCAs a matter of fact, Adam Cole told Shawn Micheals he was signing with AEW once he made the decision
Adrian Carpenter
2024-09-27 22:42:33 +0000 UTCAll false, Adam Cole said in interviews he didn't make the decision to sign with AEW until a week before he actually debuted, which was after his contract expired. Same thing with Moxley, he signed with NJPW first before he signed with AEW. He wanted to go to NJPW after he left WWE. Edge wanted to work with Christian. Where Christian went was were he was gonna go. AEW never needed to talk to Edge. Once Christian signed his extension to stay, Edge was gonna come. If Christian went back to WWE, Edge would've stayed. I just shot all 3 down
Adrian Carpenter
2024-09-27 22:35:10 +0000 UTCMy bigger systemic question is why are so many AEW talent confused or unaware of their contract status/when their contract ends? That seems to be a reoccurring theme.
Benjamin Howard
2024-09-27 22:27:50 +0000 UTCHere the thing & I appreciate your response. Both companies talk to talent underhandedly contract tampering ain’t a real thing. Look at the Edge & Jade Cargill situations when they left WWE & AEW reports where coming out saying they where heading to the other company & the weak there deals expired they both showed up in WWE & AEW that same week. My point on Punk & Andrade was both of those relationships turned toxic & it didn’t benefit anyone to keep them around. Andrade wanted out when Trips took over his release was turned down & his last 18 months in the company where just him being passive aggressive. I Tony should of just released him at the time because he wasn’t a big draw or needle mover & just slotted into an upper mid card role when he returned to WWE but at least he’s happy. Punk should of been fired after Brawl Out he even asked for his release & Tony refused instead doing Collision & a brand split didn’t help anyone divided the locker room & then Brawl in happened. That situation was Punk & AEW fault. My point is more it feels like an unnecessary headache is being created when there is no benefit. It’s how I felt when Vince wouldn’t release Ali or added a year of injury time to Brodie when the guy wanted to leave. It’s why I praised the Triple H regime for not adding injury time to Bobby Lashey deal & letting him leave. I praised Tony back in 2022 for not picking up Cody option years & letting him leave. Both of those examples the right thing was done a shame it didn’t happen here
Matt Hennessy
2024-09-27 22:25:01 +0000 UTCIt would genuinely be so difficult to prove. You’d have to not just establish that they were in communication, but that WWE was actively encouraging them to violate the terms of their contract. It would need to be something like telling them not to show up to try and force their release.
Benjamin Howard
2024-09-27 22:20:24 +0000 UTCIt can benefit AEW if they actually put some teams over.
Josh Savory
2024-09-27 22:15:08 +0000 UTCLol he just named 3 for you waiting on your reply
Ryan Martins
2024-09-27 22:10:12 +0000 UTCAs someone else said, this is a big example of Tony Khan being a boss rather than a friend. Sure Penta and Fenix won't be happy that the move they want to make will be stalled out, but contractually they have to fulfil the terms of their contracts, and for various reasons, a lot of it injury related, they haven't done so yet. It's not new with them either, I seem to recall Jeff Hardy at one time having to stay somewhere longer than he wanted because of injuries, and I think Rey Mysterio at one point too. Hope they put over THE OUTRUNNERS~!.
MB
2024-09-27 22:02:54 +0000 UTCI get your point, maybe you can correct me if I’m wrong, could AEW technically says it’s tortious interference if they could prove it from an economic loss standpoint? Personally, I don’t believe they could. WWE is likely not instructing Fenix or Penta to do anything
Rob Wilkins of Fightful.com
2024-09-27 22:02:35 +0000 UTCI agree with most of what you said, but Punk and Andrade, by most accounts, were not easy to work with towards the end. With Punk, I think Tony really wanted to try to mend fences. Adding injury time to guys that want to leave sucks, but I have as much of a problem pushing folks to honor their contracts. Especially since Tony could have cut plenty of guys during Covid, but choose to continue to pay them to the end. I will say it is crappy that WWE was pursuing signed talent. Tony has made it clear that has been an issue in the past and that he will never talk to talent signed elsewhere. I do like your idea of having them put over the GYVs on the way out. I really hope Tony changes his tune and lets the Bros go on their merry way.
Lynchman
2024-09-27 21:59:03 +0000 UTCBoth companies doing this isn't good. Can't do anything about it though unfortunately.
Tucker
2024-09-27 21:59:02 +0000 UTCMoxley, Cole, Edge. There’s three.
Daniel Beesley
2024-09-27 21:58:19 +0000 UTCName one time AEW did that, I'll wait
Adrian Carpenter
2024-09-27 21:56:02 +0000 UTCso it’s just a coincidence that Tony was talking with Mox three months before his WWE contract ended?
Daniel Beesley
2024-09-27 21:55:21 +0000 UTCIf They were willing to do business and put people over on the way out, I'm thinking this would not have happened. Also if all of this wasn't so public, it probably wouldn't have happened. People always shit on TK for being a friend first and not a great boss, well this was a decision he made as the boss. You can't have it both ways. This seems fair given the situation, and I don't think there's a one answer solves all for something like this. In some cases, maybe it wouldn't be a big deal to let them go without having them fulfill the time they signed on for in their contracts. I hope people understand that "extending" the contracts isn't really adding time, but rather they're requesting the talent fulfill their end of the agreement. They were paid for the time they were injured for, and I'm guessing they will continue to be paid throughout this time as well. If they don't want to make the best of this situation it's on them in the end. Things will work out the way they need to be, and everyone can move on once business has been handled.
Vain Valor
2024-09-27 21:54:01 +0000 UTCGuess will wait next year for Lucha Bros to WWE
John Cena
2024-09-27 21:52:14 +0000 UTCTell me when then
Adrian Carpenter
2024-09-27 21:48:03 +0000 UTCif you’re acting like AEW hasn’t done these same things in the past when it came to signing WWE guys, you’re insane.
Daniel Beesley
2024-09-27 21:46:11 +0000 UTCDon't get why Tony Khan should be nice. Don't get why WWE should be nice. Each do everything in their best interests, they have no obligation to be kind or empathetic, this is business. Those surpised or feeling let down, should be asking why a union doesn't exist to protect talent, instead of being mad at billionares acting like billionares.
BSK
2024-09-27 21:45:44 +0000 UTCExactly, WWE does this all the time. Now all of a sudden they mad, lol
Adrian Carpenter
2024-09-27 21:44:43 +0000 UTCI don’t wanna make this a WWE vs AEW thing my opinion is more based on the talent & human being side of the situation sincerely this situation sucks & it doesn’t benefit anyone. It doesn’t help AEW it doesn’t hurt WWE & all it does is hurt the talent because you choose to be spiteful. Sucked back in the day when Vince added nearly a year of injury to Brodie Lee deal when he wanted to leave WWE it sucks Tony adding nearly a year worth of injury time to Rey Fenix deal when he wants to leave & his deal was up this month. WWE could have added injury time to Bobby Lashey deal & choose not to do because in that case your spiting the talent not the competition. It’s how I feel on this situation. They gave you 5 years Tony Khan & where important to the company they wanted to move onwhy not leave on good terms & leave the door open. By adding injury time your keeping Penta around for another 2 months guys going to be gone by November & signed by WWE & your keeping Fenix for nearly another year when there is no benefit. What do you do bench him for the rest of his deal like your doing to Ricky Starks or do you put him on tv & just job him out for a year. It feels you created a headache for yourself that wasn’t need. Rather than holding talent hostage who don’t want to be there why not just let them leave & take whatever money they where going to get & try to convince someone like Danny Garcia to stay. I’d have gotten them to put GYV over on the way out & let them leave. I would of tried to have had an amicable split with them in a similar way you had with Cody & Jade. Rather then take the approach of burning a bridge & ruining your relationship with then like we saw with Punk & Andrade
Matt Hennessy
2024-09-27 21:39:38 +0000 UTCI really hope they at least put some younger tag teams over
Rachael
2024-09-27 21:36:12 +0000 UTCI believe this can be classified as "fuck around and find out". If WWE wanted to engage in contact tampering, they can't be surprised when TK adds injury time to keep them away from WWE.
Forceofwilliam
2024-09-27 21:32:03 +0000 UTCThat lollipops and rainbows fantasy land image tk tried to portray is phony, there no better than anybody else and what make this more damaging is there day one originals with aew, they put there bodies on the line to put the company on the map and just cause they want to move on with there careers you wanna be a dick for what, WWE didn’t even do that with lashley knowing him and mvp were going there and they let them go no harm or foul
Said Amadu-Suka
2024-09-27 21:31:25 +0000 UTCJust like every wrestling company in existence, including current WWE management* FYP
rocksolid124
2024-09-27 21:30:02 +0000 UTCHow is it being petty when it's known that WWE contacted these guys 6 months before their contract expires??? Plus Konnan told the world on social media that Luchas were going to WWE. All this while being under contract. Swerve said in an interview that WWE contacted him THIS YEAR about returning. All that's cool with yall, but yall mad about this?? AEW had to draw a line in the sand when it comes to this. WWE has to respect AEW's contracts
Adrian Carpenter
2024-09-27 21:30:01 +0000 UTCI dunno man I think there's a few very key differences between those two.
Brent Randel
2024-09-27 21:29:46 +0000 UTCLet’s be clear: tortious interference is absolutely not what people are discussing when they say contract tampering. They mean it the way it’s used in pro sports. Good god it’s awful when people use legal language out of context.
Benjamin Howard
2024-09-27 21:29:18 +0000 UTCA great example of two sides being wrong.
David Majors
2024-09-27 21:28:30 +0000 UTCAll the drones are pissy tk finally gave wwe a taste of their own medicine. Cry!
Charles Lee Ray
2024-09-27 21:27:46 +0000 UTCdisappointing seeing Tony be so adamant about “if people aren’t happy they can leave” and constantly claiming how they don’t do this sort of thing, only to go right ahead and do it.
Daniel Beesley
2024-09-27 21:24:08 +0000 UTCSounds like a case of FAFO
R
2024-09-27 21:23:45 +0000 UTCAs always, yall are so thorough.
K B
2024-09-27 21:22:51 +0000 UTCI’ll be very disappointed if they’re just on ice. Either bring them in to do the job or cut them loose.
David C
2024-09-27 21:22:14 +0000 UTCSo AEW could technically sue over tortious interference?
A
2024-09-27 21:22:03 +0000 UTCSucks for the bros, but this is a good lesson in restraint. Exercise caution in your business dealings!
Alex Sabo
2024-09-27 21:21:57 +0000 UTCPetty Tony khan just like Vince McMahon
Marcos
2024-09-27 21:21:31 +0000 UTCBe very interesting to know how this has gone down in the locker room, and to see how this could affect negotiations with renewals, free agents etc.
Edjr13
2024-09-27 21:21:08 +0000 UTC
