Wrestling in high school gyms and shyt, can't be more then a $100, you got some wrestlers you used to wrestle at wrestlemania to a crowd of 50
How much these wrestlers get paid for these indie shows?
- Thread starter Da King
- Start date
The Great One
Swag Surfin
VERY few get $100, MOST get like $50 or $20, and some don't get paid at all.
The bigger stars (i.e. Recently released WWE stars) get money based on how much the promoter thinks he can book and their deal usually includes a flight and hotel room stay.
For example, Sid has gotten shyt on lately about him canceling last minute on indy shows. So that promoter is out the plane flight fee (non-refundable), and the promoter than usually offers to give refunds to the audience based on the no show. Oh and a promoter almost always pays up front and never sees that money back if they no-show.
If you check my indy wrestling posters thread, you can see how much these true Indy shows (the ones in gyms, YMCAs and like bars) are each, usually like $15-$20, and if they get like 100 people, its a HUGE win. That's like $2,000 minus probably $500 to use the facility for the night, paying every wrestler who wrestled that night (another $500 - if it's just indy guys and not a WWE star there), plus money to make up the fliers and pass them out ($50) and other Misc fees (chair rental for the audience, ring upkeep, cleaning up after the show) so the promoter maybe walks away with $400-500 when it's all said and done, and that's IF he owns the ring they used and isn't renting. A new good ring is like $4,000.
The bigger stars (i.e. Recently released WWE stars) get money based on how much the promoter thinks he can book and their deal usually includes a flight and hotel room stay.
For example, Sid has gotten shyt on lately about him canceling last minute on indy shows. So that promoter is out the plane flight fee (non-refundable), and the promoter than usually offers to give refunds to the audience based on the no show. Oh and a promoter almost always pays up front and never sees that money back if they no-show.
If you check my indy wrestling posters thread, you can see how much these true Indy shows (the ones in gyms, YMCAs and like bars) are each, usually like $15-$20, and if they get like 100 people, its a HUGE win. That's like $2,000 minus probably $500 to use the facility for the night, paying every wrestler who wrestled that night (another $500 - if it's just indy guys and not a WWE star there), plus money to make up the fliers and pass them out ($50) and other Misc fees (chair rental for the audience, ring upkeep, cleaning up after the show) so the promoter maybe walks away with $400-500 when it's all said and done, and that's IF he owns the ring they used and isn't renting. A new good ring is like $4,000.
Beautiful Bobby Eatin
SWEEEEEEEEEETNESS!
how you know all this breh?
My man was in the biz for a bit.
I know back in the day guys like Styles and Daniels used to get $700. Generally theyre brought in to job due to not being able to afford them every month. Some guys dont get paid at all and sell tickets for the promoter to get booked.
These independent wrestlers must really think they're going to make it 
Everybody wanna be PunkThese independent wrestlers must really think they're going to make it
And Punk's still alive 
you gotta pay your dues..all the greats started out that way..damn near all of the indy guys have regular jobs to make money
Willy Waffle
Willy Da Waffleman
you got alot of these dumb fuks doing all these crazy spots and a whole bunch of stupid shyt, for FREE!
you got alot of these dumb fuks doing all these crazy spots and a whole bunch of stupid shyt, for FREE!
that's why im not the biggest fan of the majority of indy workers today...alot of them are spot monkeys..doing all types of dangerous shyt to get over..just like the cat in that video who broke the base of his skull in his debut match doing high flyer stuff...they need to work smarter
Scottie Drippin
Should Never Mention Me
In the peak of the indy movement (2004-2006) you had the tops guys making solid money, though. There was an AmDrag interview where he was asked why he hadn't chased a spot in the WWE yet, and he said at his current rate he was earning more in a year than lower level E guys with a better schedule. When you're working 2-3 Indies regularly and touring Japan a few times a year, that $500-$1000 a show begins to add up.
The indies are down across the board, though. Davey is probably the only guy earning near the level that Punk, Aries, Joe, AmDrag, Styles, Daniels, and Low Ki were making at the peak.
And low key, but Rocky Romero has made a nice ass career for himself.
The indies are down across the board, though. Davey is probably the only guy earning near the level that Punk, Aries, Joe, AmDrag, Styles, Daniels, and Low Ki were making at the peak.
And low key, but Rocky Romero has made a nice ass career for himself.
Project Downtime
All Star
Not much per show per say.
The real (quick) money is in the merch/gimmick sales.
The real (quick) money is in the merch/gimmick sales.
soulytrack
Rookie
ThatKidBlackHippy
thekid
Yuh.
People were shytting on Low Ki for going back to work Japan shows ... but most dudes wrestling in Japan are eating really well. Tensai was making good money too, and MVP currently.
Even dudes down in Mexico were doing fine. Jindrak went from a semi-jobber on WWE to a top guy in Mexico.
Not sure if those really qualify as indy but wrestlers do have choices other than WWE and TNA, even in the current monopolized wrestling scene.