Most WWE talent no longer have downside guarantees

[Kidd Dibiase]

Report: Most WWE Talent No Longer Have A Downside Guarantee
A Change To The Pay Structure

• By Aidan Gibbons
• 11 December, 2021 1:00 PM

Throughout much of the company's long and storied history, WWE has paid talent using a downside guarantee system whereby talent are guaranteed a set amount each year, but they can earn more money on top of that through merchandise sales, working house shows, pay-per-view bonuses and other avenues.

That is no longer the case for most WWE talent, though, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Most WWE Superstars now are simply paid a salary and they no longer receive extra money from merch, working house shows or pay-per-views. The guaranteed money talent earn, though, is higher than it ever has been. The pay structure remains different for top talent, Meltzer noted.

The update on WWE's pay structure comes after Meltzer reported Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar were WWE's top earners, making more than $5 million per year from their guaranteed contracts. An unnamed top star makes close to $4 million while other top Superstars receive between $2 million and $3 million annually.

 

[FaTaL]

Be a wrestler breh

u get robbed and die a early death

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

i'd have to see an actual list of each person before i say anyone is underpaid..

 

[Jello Biafra]

Most WWE Superstars now are simply paid a salary and they no longer receive extra money from merch, working house shows or pay-per-views.

That is crazy that they don't give them anything from merchandise sales.
Working at WWE is like working at Target now.

 

[8WON6]

"according to Dave Meltzer"

take this with a grain of salt. Obviously, no offense to OP.

 

[Max.]

Why are people on reddit are saying this is a good thing??

 

[Jello Biafra]

Why are people on reddit are saying this is a good thing??

Because a good chunk of Reddit is full of CACs who think having a job is a privilege and people should be happy even if they are being screwed out of benefits.

 

[Max.]

Because a good chunk of Reddit is full of CACs who think having a job is a privilege and people should be happy even if they are being screwed out of benefits.

well if u know reddit cacs they shyt on wwe 99% of the time…so im confused

 

[drifter]

Why are people on reddit are saying this is a good thing??

Depends on the talent but this part is pretty important

The guaranteed money talent earn, though, is higher than it ever has been.

What you would have to have to say this is a positive or negative is the breakdown of pay on previous talent. This seems like lesser talent are bringing in way more for doing lesser work (don't have to worry about house shows) than lesser talent from earlier eras. No merch, bonuses etc seems like it would screw over the top guys more than anything but it says the structure is different for them so who really knows. Dave doesn't know either or he would've said it.

 

[Finn Baller]

if Zack Ryder is out here buying $10,000+ vintage action figures, I think all the WWE main roster talent are making more than enough bank

 

[JohnStarksMiddleFinger]

Dave Meltzer say a lot of bs that’s doesn’t get checked.


I’ll believe when a WWE veteran confirms

 

[HipHopStan]

We can sit back and look from afar and say, "Damn, that's fukked up." but if the actual individuals aren't going to do anything about it, then why should I feel sorry for them? And there's also this to boot:

if Zack Ryder is out here buying $10,000+ vintage action figures, I think all the WWE main roster talent are making more than enough bank

I've just really stopped caring.

 

[Thavoiceofthevoiceless]

We can sit back and look from afar and say, "Damn, that's fukked up." but if the actual individuals aren't going to do anything about it, then why should I feel sorry for them? And there's also this to boot:


I've just really stopped caring.

This^^^^^^^^

If they're really fed up with things, then they should take the stand on their own instead of fans having to do it on their behalf.

 

[KFBF]

I’ll believe when a WWE veteran confirms

Yeah wrestlers are known for being honest people

 

[MightyHealthy]

That is crazy that they don't give them anything from merchandise sales.
Working at WWE is like working at Target now.

Shane Douglas has a Legends contract now