More Details Around Robert Roode's TNA Contract Expiration
Posted by Jeremy Thomas on 03.13.2013
How did it all go down?
- As you no doubt saw over the weekend, it was reported that Robert Roode's TNA contract had expired due to an oversight in Talent Relations, which caused concern that Roode would miss Lockdown. TNA worked out a new deal with Roode in time for him to appear at Lockdown. The contract also caused some issues with Roode's work visa. It is being reported that the reason for the expiration was the new contract structure that the company instituted four years ago that saw most of the long-term contracts include an opt-out for both sides near the end of the contract.
Roode signed his most recent contract in 2009, which was a five-year deal. The opt-out clause hit when the end of the contract's fourth year arrived in February and was overlooked, causing the expiration. Although the new deal was worked out, it cost TNA monetarily because Roode had leverage as a free agent.
This is not the first time that the opt-out clauses have caused a talent's contract to expire, but Roode is the most high-profile wrestler to have it happen to.