I don't see how this would hold up in court, but unfortunately most of the current WWE wrestlers would be too scared to challenge Vince in court.
How the fuck you gonna tell someone they can't use their own birth name outside of WWE?
I can understand WWE banning guys from using their on-screen name elsewhere.
I think WWE has the legal standing not allow talent to use trademark names or promote themselves outside of WWE using the WWE.
I think as long as the talent use their real names and dont mention WWE they'll be straight in court if it ever came to that
But this is a way to discourage talent from creating their own identity and making money outside of the WWE. WWE wants all the power and wants to hold em by the balls. If talent doesnt comply as independent contractors WWE can fire em at any time (the indpendent contractor designation is a fucking joke)
They see things like being the Elite
They see Austin Creed doing his thing own his own
They see all the wrestling podcasts
And they want in
Hopefully someone like AJ Styles stands up to Vince.
He owns his name, he was a name before the WWE and is a legit main eventer