Working for the WWE can be the chance of a lifetime for a professional wrestler, but you’ll want to have all of your legal documents in order first. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), Mae Young Classic competitor Nicole Matthews has been banned from entering the United States for five years. The situation is said to be like indie wrestler Mike Bailey’s current situation, where he was banned from the country for working shows on a travel visa instead of a work visa.
That’s clearly a legal no-no, but it’s one that many smaller independent professional wrestlers knowingly partake in anyhow. Clearly the ramifications aren’t worth it, as now Matthews, who is a Canadian resident, can’t work any U.S.-based indie shows for the next five years (including major shows like SHIMMER), let alone sign with the WWE or compete in future Mae Young Classic events. The timing is also unfortunate, as she’ll be 36 when the ban is up.
