Samantha Irvin’s WWE Non-Compete Set to Expire in October

Samantha Johnson, the ring announcer better known to wrestling fans as Samantha Irvin, is reportedly nearing the end of her post-WWE non-compete clause, clearing the way for her to sign elsewhere — including, potentially, AEW.

Johnson departed WWE in October 2024 after building a strong reputation as one of the company’s top ring announcers, a run that included high-profile duties on shows like WrestleMania and SummerSlam. Like most performers who exit WWE, she was bound by a standard non-compete period that barred her from working for rival promotions for a set window of time. According to the latest report, that clause is set to run out this October, two years after her departure, officially making her a free agent.

What she does next is the real question. Johnson has largely stayed out of the public wrestling spotlight since leaving WWE, and no deal with AEW or any other promotion has been confirmed. But the timing alone is notable: AEW has increasingly leaned into presentation and in-arena production values as it competes for eyeballs against WWE, and a recognizable, well-regarded ring announcer could be an appealing addition for Tony Khan’s roster of on-air talent.

Ring announcers rarely generate this level of buzz, but Irvin built a genuine following during her WWE tenure — fans took notice of her presence, her delivery, and the way she carried herself on some of the promotion’s biggest stages. That kind of visibility doesn’t always translate to a bidding war, but it does mean her next move will be watched closely by a fanbase that doesn’t often pay this much attention to who’s holding the microphone before the bell rings.

It’s also a reminder of how non-compete clauses continue to shape roster movement across the industry. WWE’s standard practice of attaching these windows to departing talent — on-air performers and wrestlers alike — has become a familiar storyline in recent years, with fans and insiders tracking expiration dates almost like free-agency countdowns in mainstream sports. Johnson’s situation is just the latest example of that dynamic playing out in real time.

For now, nothing is official. There’s no confirmed contract, no announced appearance, and no indication of exactly when or where Johnson might resurface. But with her non-compete reportedly set to lapse, the door is open for her to re-enter the wrestling world wherever she chooses — and AEW is the name most frequently attached to the speculation.

Whether that speculation turns into an actual signing remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say plenty of fans will be listening closely for her voice the next time a major show kicks off.