Rp

But at the same time the contract crosses it’s wording up by not allowing these so-called “independent contractors” contract themselves out to other places for work like every other independent contractor in every other profession can.

Because of the the exclusivity this contract expects, one can make a plausible argument that the rest of the contract is null and void on the basis that they are assigned independent contractor status but are then prohibited from such with contradictions in the language later on.

I think in these terms also that no-compete clause becomes void because when you hire someone to be an independent contractor and they decide to quit that job and all services that have been paid for have been provided that the named contractor has the right to withdraw his services and offer them to another bidder at any point.

Much smaller example but Newspaper carriers are considered independent contractors. If they quit they are asked to give notice but cannot be penalized if they do not nor is that newspaper going to go after compensation for any inconvenience caused by their choice to leave. Why? Not because of the lack of monetary repayment, but because hiring an independent contractor is essentially the same as a temporary employment gig. All benefits to the job that are offered in regular workplace environment are waived in exchange for immediate work and hassle free disconnect should either the contracted worker, the temp agency, or the hiring company choose to end the assignment.

This is why I truly believe Brock Lesnar, should he get proper, stringent representation, could challenge the no compete clause.

Wrestling doesn’t live under Baseball’s antitrust bubble and better yet is that this country has right to work laws that prohibit someone from being prevented to work in any way. Brock gave notice, has sat time out and was an independent contractor according to the WWE contracts. That alone gives him plenty of wiggle room to opt out of his contract at any time with minimal penalty.

And when Brock’s lawyers deconstruct the validity of these contracts in court, watch Vince and the WWE tremble because every wrestler will have more freedom to make a move and choose what’s best for them.

Such a decision would be a landmark opportunity for a wrestling union to form and level the playing field. A union would be neccesary since the wrestlers would be contracted workers then, employed by the WWE… not these fake independent contractors as the WWE tries to claim.

It also opens to doors to seriously long needed benefits to the wrestlers, benefits Vince has gotten away with not paying for too long.

Vince should be on the hook for all travel expenses for every show (airfare, rental cars, hotels) since the WWE, not the workers gets the gate of the show.

Vince should be on the hook for healthcare expenses. He asks the workers to physically risk themselves and since I have seen a RAW script and know how the road agents meticulously help plan what the wrestlers do in the ring, what they are asked to do is many times choreographed from the writing team down. Thus the wrestlers sometimes don’t even control what they are asked to do out there.

Vince should pay for accumulated retirement benefits. So many of these former wrestlers die off early or are dehabilitated from their years of abuse that they put forth for the company, Vince should reward them with a stable retirement plan based on time served with the company.

The challenge of these contracts opens up a pathway to all of this because I truly believe a team of really good litigators could break these contracts apart in front of a judge.

Rp