Samantha Irvin came aboard to WWE as a ring announcer in 2021. Just three years into her WWE career, though, she then surprisingly left the company, with a lengthy non-compete clause attached to her.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that non-compete clause is finally set to expire next month. “Her contract allowed her to quit at any time provided she gave two weeks notice, but if she quit before the end of her three-year deal, as she did, there was a 24 month non-compete period written into the deal,” the report read. “Unlike with talent who are paid their salaries during the non-compete period, which lasts either 30 (for NXT contracts) of 90 (for WWE contracts) days when the company decides to let someone go, for an employee deal, if you are let go, there is no paid non-compete period.”
Irvin (real name Samantha Johnson) announced her WWE departure on October 21, 2025, later citing lack of upward mobility as one of the reasons behind her decision. Irvin noted that she wanted to take on a bigger on-screen role for WWE, such as a manager or General Manager for one the company’s TV brands. WWE, however, was firmly set on her remaining a ring announcer.
Since her exit, Irvin has focused on her budding music career once more. In 2025, she released four singles, including “Make Me,” a song originally written during the COVID-19 pandemic. Irvin also confirmed her aforementioned non-compete clause last year, proclaiming that she had one year left on it at the time.
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