Brian Myers, known as Curt Hawkins in WWE, is now part of IMPACT Wrestling, and he was among the WWE Superstars released at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in a series of cost-cutting measures by the company. Recently, he was a guest on David Penzer's "Sitting Ringside" podcast, and Myers opened up about those now infamous five-year contracts.
"Yeah, it was astronomical," he said of the money WWE offered talent to ensure they didn't sign with All Elite Wrestling. "Once someone said no, then it went up for everybody. It kept happening. It wound up being what it was, which was too good to be true. It was more money than I ever imagined making in this business."
However, the downside to that was being locked in. For a long time. "The big thing for them was the years," Myers explains. "Everybody’s contract was 5 years. The boys were calling it the 'Please don’t go to AEW contract.' I was thinking I’m very comfortable here. I enjoy it. I’m set up for post in ring stuff. I’m more than fine with signing this."
That last part is a reference to the fact WWE used Myers as a producer for a time, so he was obviously taken aback when WWE decided to release him. "I was shocked," he admits. "I think one of the things that messed my head up was literally the day before in one of my group chats we were talking about it. One of my friends, and I don’t need to say his name, but he’s very involved, said that will never happen. They will never let anyone go during a pandemic because that would look so bad."
"Fast forward to now, 90+ days later, and they are the only wrestling company letting people go during this pandemic," Myers continues. "It’s still baffling to me. I’ve moved on. I don’t care anymore and I’m excited to be with Impact."
Are you looking forward to seeing what sort of impact Myers makes in, well, IMPACT?