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Former WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin is finally set to hit free agency.
After letting WWE know that she was choosing to leave the company, Irvin was slapped with a lengthy two-year non-compete clause that is set to expire later this month.
When wrestlers are told they are being released and given a 90-day period where they can't appear for other wrestling companies, many incorrectly coin the phrase a "non-compete" whereas it is technically a notice of termination where they are actually being paid by the company. In Irvin's case, she was actually under a valid non-compete that prevented her from appearing elsewhere and it is all but certain that she wasn't paid during that time.
Fightful Select reports that there has long been mutual interest between Irvin and AEW about having the former ring announcer appear there as she is married to AEW star Ricochet and discussions have taken place internally on that subject.
However, it was clearly noted that even though Irvin will officially be able to sign and appear for AEW immediately upon completion of her non-compete, it isn't expected that she will be AEW bound right away. Nonetheless, Irvin has appeared backstage at multiple AEW events (accompanying Ricochet) and has a "great relationship" with the promotion.
In the past and citing this reason as her WWE departure, Irvin expressed a desire to move into a non-announcing role within the wrestling industry even though she was lauded for her work in that role for WWE. If and when she does appear for AEW down the road, it remains to be seen in what capacity that would be in.