Guaranteed Title Reigns in Contracts

[One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs]

Aug 29, 2021 0:21:27 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

Aug 28, 2021 23:01:48 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Yeah, really do get the impression his issue is more, "I get to be world champion here, or I can go somewhere else where they will probably not make me world champion", and his priorities are pretty set.

Dude's so bland he makes Mike Bennett look like John Cena.

Nick "1% oat milk" Aldis

[polarbearpete]

Aug 29, 2021 10:09:55 GMT -5 One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs said:

Aug 29, 2021 9:55:30 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Sorry but there’s just about no chance at all that WWF/WWE has put guaranteed title reigns in their actual contracts.

I can't find it at the moment, but I remember seeing a copy of HHH's contract in 1999 and it including a guaranteed title reign.

Memories are funny sometimes so I’d have to see a legitimate contract to ever believe that’s true. I can maybe see WCW having something like it in their contracts but not WWF. I don’t think any of Triple H’s contracts prior to him being an executive are available anywhere. Here’s a list of some of the contracts that are out there: sites.google.com/site/chrisharrington/mookieghana-prowrestlingstatistics/wwe_contracts

[One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs]

Aug 29, 2021 10:13:23 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Aug 29, 2021 10:09:55 GMT -5 One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs said:

I can't find it at the moment, but I remember seeing a copy of HHH's contract in 1999 and it including a guaranteed title reign.

Memories are funny sometimes so I’d have to see a legitimate contract to ever believe that’s true. I can maybe see WCW having something like it in their contracts but not WWF. I don’t think any of Triple H’s contracts prior to him being an executive are available anywhere. Here’s a list of some of the contracts that are out there: sites.google.com/site/chrisharrington/mookieghana-prowrestlingstatistics/wwe_contracts

This was 15 years ago, I'm gonna end up following a rabbit hole on this later this week.

[polarbearpete]

Aug 29, 2021 10:16:26 GMT -5 One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs said:

Aug 29, 2021 10:13:23 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Memories are funny sometimes so I’d have to see a legitimate contract to ever believe that’s true. I can maybe see WCW having something like it in their contracts but not WWF. I don’t think any of Triple H’s contracts prior to him being an executive are available anywhere. Here’s a list of some of the contracts that are out there: sites.google.com/site/chrisharrington/mookieghana-prowrestlingstatistics/wwe_contracts

This was 15 years ago, I'm gonna end up following a rabbit hole on this later this week.

From Ask411 Wrestling:

Back in late 98/early 99, Triple H resigned with the WWF, with the rumour going around on the newsboards being that his contract guaranteed a WWF world title run. This appeared to be true when he won the title on August 23, 1999, although you could easily argue he was on that path without any stipulation added in his contract.
Do you believe there is any truth behind this old rumour and is there any known cases of where a wrestlers contract has guaranteed a title or other “in product” object/title, rather that the real world stuff, such as tour buses and private jets?

There’s a difference between “We think you’re very good and we would like to give you a contract and we intend to give you the World Title soon” and “Clause 12, Subclause 3a) Performer will be given One (1) Reign as WWF World Heavyweight Champion (or agreed upon equivalent as laid out in Belt Appendix (iii)) within the term of this contract”. Certainly I believe that they were very high on Triple H when he agreed to the new contract, and I have no doubt they promised him a reign, but I don’t think it was in the contract, and in fact at the time I believe WWF actually addressed the rumor on their website, saying that they’ve never given a title reign in a contract before and weren’t starting now.

After all, what if, the day after Triple H signs, he’s hit by a meteor driving a car on top of a cruise ship and is in a coma for the length of the contact? Do they carry his comatose body to the ring and dump him on the champ? Or do they have to give him a huge payday? Too many legal issues.

That said, the rumor has been around for a while, attached to various people. Lex Luger’s week as WCW Champion at the height of the nWo was seen by many as proof of a contractual obligation, Jericho’s final offer from WCW supposedly had a guaranteed run with the US belt, Bad News claimed Vince said he’d get Hogan and be the first black world champion if he gave up his Japan dates, stuff like that. Big Show got a title reign to jump to WWF, Jericho got three reigns to come back in 07, Sid got a main event with Hogan at WM… There’s plenty of rumors and such, but I don’t really buy any of them. The Luger one, the most ‘obvious’, has a simpler explanation: The Nitro Luger won the belt on was a special episode, a three hour event (at that point, Nitro was just two hours) to celebrate Nitro’s 100th episode. Having a face win the big one there makes sense, especially as you can just switch the belt back straight after. Not saying that’s a GOOD idea, just one that has sense.

As for stuff written into contracts, supposedly Triple H’s current contract, or at least the one attached to that list of what everyone made in 2012 or whatever year it was, he had 10 flights on the WWE private jet, and Big Show had first class flights and stuff, I can see top guys having travel costs paid for and such, that could happen.

But the only major case of a contract having that sort of stip that has something resembling authentication was the contract between WCW and Kiss for the Kiss Demon character, and that the character would wrestle a Main Event match. This was supposed to happen at a special 1999 New Year’s Eve PPV against Vampiro, but instead happened fourth from the top at Superbrawl 2000.

411mania.com/wrestling/ask-411-wrestling-was-triple-h-guaranteed-a-title-reign/

[One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs]

Aug 29, 2021 10:29:58 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Aug 29, 2021 10:16:26 GMT -5 One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs said:

This was 15 years ago, I'm gonna end up following a rabbit hole on this later this week.

From Ask411 Wrestling:

Back in late 98/early 99, Triple H resigned with the WWF, with the rumour going around on the newsboards being that his contract guaranteed a WWF world title run. This appeared to be true when he won the title on August 23, 1999, although you could easily argue he was on that path without any stipulation added in his contract.
Do you believe there is any truth behind this old rumour and is there any known cases of where a wrestlers contract has guaranteed a title or other “in product” object/title, rather that the real world stuff, such as tour buses and private jets?

There’s a difference between “We think you’re very good and we would like to give you a contract and we intend to give you the World Title soon” and “Clause 12, Subclause 3a) Performer will be given One (1) Reign as WWF World Heavyweight Champion (or agreed upon equivalent as laid out in Belt Appendix (iii)) within the term of this contract”. Certainly I believe that they were very high on Triple H when he agreed to the new contract, and I have no doubt they promised him a reign, but I don’t think it was in the contract, and in fact at the time I believe WWF actually addressed the rumor on their website, saying that they’ve never given a title reign in a contract before and weren’t starting now.

After all, what if, the day after Triple H signs, he’s hit by a meteor driving a car on top of a cruise ship and is in a coma for the length of the contact? Do they carry his comatose body to the ring and dump him on the champ? Or do they have to give him a huge payday? Too many legal issues.

That said, the rumor has been around for a while, attached to various people. Lex Luger’s week as WCW Champion at the height of the nWo was seen by many as proof of a contractual obligation, Jericho’s final offer from WCW supposedly had a guaranteed run with the US belt, Bad News claimed Vince said he’d get Hogan and be the first black world champion if he gave up his Japan dates, stuff like that. Big Show got a title reign to jump to WWF, Jericho got three reigns to come back in 07, Sid got a main event with Hogan at WM… There’s plenty of rumors and such, but I don’t really buy any of them. The Luger one, the most ‘obvious’, has a simpler explanation: The Nitro Luger won the belt on was a special episode, a three hour event (at that point, Nitro was just two hours) to celebrate Nitro’s 100th episode. Having a face win the big one there makes sense, especially as you can just switch the belt back straight after. Not saying that’s a GOOD idea, just one that has sense.

As for stuff written into contracts, supposedly Triple H’s current contract, or at least the one attached to that list of what everyone made in 2012 or whatever year it was, he had 10 flights on the WWE private jet, and Big Show had first class flights and stuff, I can see top guys having travel costs paid for and such, that could happen.

But the only major case of a contract having that sort of stip that has something resembling authentication was the contract between WCW and Kiss for the Kiss Demon character, and that the character would wrestle a Main Event match. This was supposed to happen at a special 1999 New Year’s Eve PPV against Vampiro, but instead happened fourth from the top at Superbrawl 2000.

411mania.com/wrestling/ask-411-wrestling-was-triple-h-guaranteed-a-title-reign/

Fair enough, I was 50% sure that it was a fake contract anyway. I'm sure that it was part of the negotiations though, HHH fought like hell to get a 7 figure deal

[Deleted]

Possibly RVD in TNA, he won it fairly quickly, lost it (due to worked injury) because of not having enough booked dates in his contract to defend it and never won it again. If not in the contract itself then it would have been part of contract negotiations going in. I think some underestimate how seriously wrestlers can take these things, for everyone who dismisses titles as a prop there's scores who are very proud about their kayfabe accomplishments and tbf they may have one eye on post wrestling life "former xx champion" makes you a little more marketable in a crowded indie and convention circuit.

[chrom]

Wasn't there a rumor Adam Bomb had it in his contract?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Aug 29, 2021 19:04:55 GMT -5 chrom said:

Wasn't there a rumor Adam Bomb had it in his contract?

That clause really bombed.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Aug 29, 2021 10:00:17 GMT -5 WoodStoner1 said:

Not a title, but the KISS Demon "had" to be in a main event per year.

Then Russo, with his attention span, forgot about that when he decided to not book him as a main eventer. So, as a “compromise “, they started hyping his random lower and mid card matches as “special main events.”

All as a part of a massive contract with KISS to use Gene Simmons’ likeness. Real geniuses in Atlanta at that time.

[Mozenrath]

Aug 29, 2021 21:01:13 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Aug 29, 2021 10:00:17 GMT -5 WoodStoner1 said:

Not a title, but the KISS Demon "had" to be in a main event per year.

Then Russo, with his attention span, forgot about that when he decided to not book him as a main eventer. So, as a “compromise “, they started hyping his random lower and mid card matches as “special main events.”

All as a part of a massive contract with KISS to use Gene Simmons’ likeness. Real geniuses in Atlanta at that time.

Reminds me of Lance Storm and Kevin Nash on a cruise, I think it was, where they sat down and tried to determine who their boss was, if any one person could be called their boss. They determined it to be the attorney woman whose job it was to go over contracts to decide what disciplinary measures could be taken with any given person because their contracts all varied so wildly.

[XaviersSS2015hair]

A few days ago I listened to Jeff Jarrett's Podcast about Bash at the Beach 2000 and the giant cluster involving Jarrett, Booker, Hogan, Russo and Bischoff. Jarrett said that Hogan used his creative control clause and demanded to be world champion coming out of that event. So Russo had Jeff lay down for Hogan and Hogan walked out (with a replica of the Big Gold belt) so it wouldn't be a breach of contract and then Russo proceeded to do what he actually wanted to do in the first place.

Scott Hall has said numerous times that Bret Hart took less money for guaranteed world title reigns in the WWF in the 90's. Scott has referred to Bret several times as "the $400,000 champion."

[Deleted]

Aug 30, 2021 5:10:29 GMT -5 XaviersSS2015hair said:

A few days ago I listened to Jeff Jarrett's Podcast about Bash at the Beach 2000 and the giant cluster involving Jarrett, Booker, Hogan, Russo and Bischoff. Jarrett said that Hogan used his creative control clause and demanded to be world champion coming out of that event. So Russo had Jeff lay down for Hogan and Hogan walked out (with a replica of the Big Gold belt) so it wouldn't be a breach of contract and then Russo proceeded to do what he actually wanted to do in the first place.

Scott Hall has said numerous times that Bret Hart took less money for guaranteed world title reigns in the WWF in the 90's. Scott has referred to Bret several times as "the $400,000 champion."

With the Bret Scott thing, it wasn't that he was guaranteed title reigns. Its just that as long as we was being booked on top, Bret was happy and wasn't inclined to ask for more money. This impacted Scott's ability to earn more as the ic champ wasn't going to earn more than the world.

[noobeast]

Yeah, they don't put title reigns in contracts. Never have, never will. There are so many ways that could go wrong for both sides, from injuries etc.. not allowing it to happen to simple manipulation of the wording leading to legal issues later.

Look through any contract you want, you'll never find it.

[Deleted]

Vince has a way to promise things or owe you one.

So why things aren’t in contacts. I seriously believe Big Show was promised a wrestlemania main event. Which is how we got the fatal fourway at 2000. He also got shoehorned into Edge vs. Cena when he came back in the late 00s. While not the main event was promised a title match at mania. This is also have we had Jericho returns that had mania title matches vs. Edge and Punk. Hell even the original plan for mania was Owens vs. Jericho for the world title when it was switched to US. That’s one of the straws that broke the camels back between Jericho and Vince, you can’t convince otherwise.

[Renslayer]

Aug 29, 2021 0:04:04 GMT -5 One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs said:

HHH's first major deal in 1999 included a guaranteed title reign, which was fulfilled almost immediately when he beat Foley the day after SummerSlam (and only because Ventura refused to put a heel over because it'd hurt him as politician because people are dumb)

HHH's 1999 was so odd. He was just a guy when he came back from his knee injury all the way up to Mania 15, and next thing you know a month later he's throwing the rock and stone cold off a raw stage and solidly in the main event.

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2021 10:00:17 GMT -5 WoodStoner1 said:

Not a title, but the KISS Demon "had" to be in a main event per year.

Not only that but he had to be "THE" main event which led to them promoting crap matches like Kiss Demon vs The Wall as a "special main event"

God WCW in 2000 was f***ing awful.

[ianriccaboni]

Aug 30, 2021 8:54:31 GMT -5 noobeast said:

Yeah, they don't put title reigns in contracts. Never have, never will. There are so many ways that could go wrong for both sides, from injuries etc.. not allowing it to happen to simple manipulation of the wording leading to legal issues later.

Look through any contract you want, you'll never find it.

Having seen a few contracts myself, this is the correct answer.

A handshake for anticipated plans? Sure. That in a contract? No way.