Kayfabe Contracts

[Xero]

I don't know why they don't include special clauses in WWE kayfabe contracts. It would add to the sense of competition between RAW and SmackDown!.

For example, let's say that RAW is trying to sign Dolph Ziggler, but eventually signs a new deal with SmackDown! allowing him to have immunity to count outs.

It's obviously not a gimmick to be overdone, but I think if they sprinkled things like this in instead of the old "you get a title shot for signing" stipulation it would spice things up a bit.

Discuss.

[Next Big Thing]

I think it would get old quickly and would probably be overused like all the gimmick PPVs they've been putting on these last few years.

[JEPW]

I'd like to see more of RAW trying to 'sign' Smackdown stars and vice versa... but I don't like the idea of silly gimmicky things in the contracts.

Maybe more of a UFC-style shoot-style thing would work, with wrestlers being tempted away by the potential money/fame/prestige to be earned out of a 'big fight' with some guy.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I liked the idea of guys being signed away early on in the brand extension. Now with the yearly draft it just seems to be a bit silly. Whenever they want to move guys between shows, they just have their contracts expire. I'd almost rather make it so that contracts never expire. The employee can quit, be fired, etc. but this random "my contract expired so here I am" shit is dumb.</font>

[JEPW]

In order for this to work, both shows would need extremely strong, pro-active and 'over' show runners in order to have genuine and interesting competition going on.

I'd like to see the rosters merge and see a lot of the deadwood fired... titles united etc.

But, failing that, I'd like to see a lot more differentiation between SD and Raw. A sense of real competition within WWE has often been hinted at and flirted with, but never achieved. Offering contracts to big talent could be a nice kayfabe way to get closer to this.

[bigslimjj]

I still dont think they have used the brand split to their full advantage. They could do a very good storyline,very easily that has SD fighting RAW for months,leading to a head at Bragging Rights. They did this with Bischoff and Long(God he's had that job for awhile.lol) but kind of half assed the story. After they announce the new Gm for Raw would be a perfect time. Then you could add in the "Perks" aspect with each gm trying lure the talent over to their show.

[MoFo]

It would help if the brands were strictly seperate and they didnt borrow each others wrestlers often, then the idea would probably work well.

[Nicky Fives]

I like the idea, but I don't think it'll work in the PG-13 era..... A bunch of guys with special stips might be too hard for a 10-years old to follow......

[Lord-Of-Darkness]

I loved the 'jumping ship' deal they had between Raw and SD when the GM's were Steph and Bischoff. They had the whole 'professional rivalry' going, and always trying to one up each other with talent and matches etc.

It also gave you a reason to watch both shows, to see how things played out, even though there were seperate rosters.

[Lord-Of-Darkness]

But yeah, on topic, I think 'free agents' negotiating deals and being signed every now and again would be cool. Like how there were negotiations between Raw and SD over who would get Scott Steiner. Or how we were constantly reminded at the beginning of MVP's career that he was the highest paid superstar in Smackdown history.

So yeah, kayfabe contracts with stipulations/ hype are good, but just infrequently.