How Much Do WWE Superstars Get Paid?

It’s no secret that WWE superstars are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world. But just how much do they make? We’ve done the research to find out.

WWE Salaries

Superstars in World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) are paid differently than other professional athletes because WWE does not consider itself a traditional sport. The wrestlers are classified as independent contractors and are paid per appearance or event. For example, according to public filings, Brock Lesnar was paid $5 million for his appearance at WrestleMania in 2019. In addition to their base salary, superstars receive a share of the company’s pay-per-view revenue and merchandise sales.

Base Salary

WWE superstars get paid a base salary of $250,000 per year, according to Forbes. This is more than twice the average salary for all professional wrestlers, which was $101,000 in 2019, according to Sokanu.com. However, WWE superstars make most of their income from other sources, such as merchandise sales and appearance fees.

Bonuses

In addition to their base salary, WWE superstars receive bonuses for a variety of reasons. For example, if a superstar wins a championship, they may receive a bonus. Similarly, if a superstar appears on multiple episodes of WWE programming in a week, they may receive a bonus for each appearance. Bonuses are also given out for things like merchandise sales and public appearances.

Merchandise Sales

WWE superstars get a base salary, but the real money is in merchandise sales and pay-per-view appearances.

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the average WWE superstar made $500,000 annually as of 2017. However, that number is skewed by the fact that a handful of top superstars make multi-million dollar salaries.

The top tier WWE superstars can make upwards of $5 million dollars a year. The Rock, for example, made $3.5 million for just six days of work at WrestleMania 32. Brock Lesnar is said to have made $6 million for his appearance at WrestleMania 34. And John Cena made $8 million for his match against The Rock at WrestleMania 28.

The base salary for a WWE superstar is $250,000 per year, but that number can increase based on appearance fees and bonuses. For example, a superstar who works more than 200 days per year will receive a bonus of $500 per day. A superstar who appears on more than 500 live events per year will receive a bonus of $1000 per event. And a superstar who appears on more than 1000 live events will receive a bonus of $2000 per event.

Pay-Per-View Bonuses

In addition to their base salary, WWE superstars also receive bonuses for appearing on pay-per-view events. For example, if a superstar is in the main event of a PPV, they will receive a higher bonus than someone who wrestles in an early match. WWE does not release specific numbers for PPV bonuses, but reports suggest that main eventers can make an extra $500,000 per year just from appearing on PPVs. In addition to their base salary and PPV bonuses, WWE superstars also receive royalties for merchandise sales and a share of pay-per-view revenue.

WWE Superstars’ Salaries

WWE superstars get paid a lot of money for what they do. In fact, some of them are among the highest-paid athletes in the world. However, there is a lot of variation in how much superstars get paid. This is because WWE has different tiers of superstars, and each tier has a different salary.

John Cena

WWE superstar John Cena is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, earning a reported $10 million a year. That’s more than double what the average WWE superstar makes, and it’s not even close to what top superstars like Brock Lesnar and The Rock earn. Cena’s massive salary is a reflection of his status as one of the biggest draws in professional wrestling. He is regularly featured on WWE programming, including “Monday Night Raw” and “Smackdown Live,” and his matches are always highly anticipated. He also earns money from appearances and merchandise sales.

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current WWE Universal Champion. He is one of the most popular and highest-paid WWE superstars. Lesnar has a base salary of $5 million per year, but his pay per appearance is $500,000. Lesnar also receives a percentage of merchandise sales.

Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is an American professional wrestler and former professional gridiron football player. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. Reigns is a three-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, a one-time United States Champion, a one-time Universal Champion, and a one-time Intercontinental Champion.

Salary: $5 million

AJ Styles

AJ Styles was signed by WWE in January 2016 and made his debut that April. He quickly became one of the top stars in WWE, winning the WWE Championship in his first year with the company. His current contract with WWE is rumored to be worth $700,000 per year.

WWE Divas’ Salaries

The WWE is a publicly traded company, so their wrestlers’ salaries are public record. In 2007, the average WWE superstar made $500,000 a year. The top WWE superstars made over $1 million a year. But what about the WWE Divas? How much do they make?

Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair is one of the top WWE superstars today. She is a former WWE Divas Champion and has held the title for a total of four times. She is also a former NXT Women’s Champion. In addition to her in-ring accomplishments, Charlotte has also gained popularity for her appearances on reality television shows such as Total Divas and Miz & Mrs.

Charlotte Flair’s salary has not been made public, but it is believed that she earns a six-figure salary from WWE. This puts her amongst the highest-paid women in the company.

Sasha Banks

Banks is one of WWE’s top female performers and has held the WWE Women’s Championship on four occasions. She is currently one of the stars of the women’s division on Raw.

Banks’ 2017 salary was $60,000, according to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. However, that figure does not include payments made for merchandise sales or other bonuses. Based on those factors, it’s likely that Banks earned significantly more than $60,000 last year.

Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch is an Irish professional wrestler currently signed to WWE. She is one of the top stars in the company, and her salary reflects that. Becky Lynch is reported to be making $1.5 million per year with WWE. This puts her at the top of the women’s division in terms of pay, and puts her on par with some of the top male superstars in WWE.

Conclusion

In conclusion, WWE superstars get paid a lot of money. They are able to live very comfortable lifestyles and earn a great income. While some wrestlers may be worth more than others, all of them are still high-earners. If you are looking to become a professional wrestler, then you can expect to earn a good wage.