How Much Do WWE Wrestlers Make?

A lot of people want to know how much WWE wrestlers make. The answer may surprise you – they can make a lot, but it varies widely. Here’s a look at what some of the top wrestlers make.

WWE Salaries

WWE salaries can range anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million per year, depending on a wrestler’s experience, popularity, and contract. The average salary for a WWE wrestler is $750,000. In this article, we’ll take a look at how much WWE wrestlers make, how their salaries are determined, and what factors can affect a wrestler’s salary.

Base Salary

WWE superstars make a good living. The company pays them well and they are able to earn additional income through merchandise, appearances, and other projects.

While WWE does not release salary information, there are a few sources that have reported WWE salaries. Based on these reports, it is believed that the average WWE superstar earns a base salary of $500,000 per year. However, the top superstars in the company can earn significantly more than this.

The following is a breakdown of WWE salaries based on reports from credible sources:

-WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon earns a salary of $2.2 million per year.
-WWE Executive Vice President Triple H earns a salary of $1.65 million per year.
-WWE Executive Producer Kevin Dunn earns a salary of $900,000 per year.
-WWE commentator John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) reportedly earns a salary of $600,000 per year.
-WWE commentator Jerry Lawler reportedly earns a salary of $550,000 per year.
-Former WWE Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey reportedly earned a base salary of $1 million during her time with the company. She also received bonus pay for main event appearances and PPV buys.

Bonuses

In addition to their base salaries, WWE wrestlers receive bonuses for appearing on television and pay-per-view events. The company also provides wrestlers with travel and medical insurance, as well as a retirement savings plan.

Wrestlers who appear on WWE programming more often receive higher bonuses. The amount of the bonus varies based on the show, but it is typically a few thousand dollars per appearance. For example, wrestlers who appear on Monday Night RAW often receive a $3,500 bonus for each show.

Pay-per-view bonuses are also given to wrestlers based on their participation in the event. The main event wrestlers typically earn the most, with bonuses ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. For example, Brock Lesnar earned a $20,000 bonus for his appearance in the main event of WrestleMania XXX in 2014.

Pay-Per-View Bonuses

In addition to their base salary, WWE wrestlers also receive bonuses for each pay-per-view event they participate in. The amount of the bonus is based on the wrestler’s position on the card, with the main event wrestlers earning the most. For example, in 2013, WWE wrestlers earned $500,000 for wrestling in the main event of WrestleMania 29.

Merchandise Sales Bonuses

In addition to their base salary, contracted WWE performers also receive a percentage of merchandise sales. The rate is not made public, but former WWE employee Chris Jericho stated in a 2013 podcast that the rate was 3%, down from 5% in 2005. Performances on WWE home video releases are also Bonus eligible. The revenue generated from these projects are split among the performers appearing on them and are in addition to their base salary and merchandise sales bonuses.

WWE Contract

Every WWE wrestler has a different contract. The amount of money a wrestler makes is based on a number of factors, including experience, popularity, and win-loss record. Some wrestlers make as little as $500 per match, while others can make millions of dollars per year.

Length of Contract

The average length of a WWE contract is 3-5 years. However, some wrestlers have contracts that are shorter or longer. For example, John Cena has a 5-year contract, while AJ Styles has a 1-year deal.

Escalation Clauses

An escalation clause is a rider that is added to a WWE contract that allows for automatic pay increases based on the success of the wrestler. The clause is designed to keep top talent from leaving the company for more money.

The clause typically kicks in after a certain amount of time has passed or when the wrestler reaches a certain milestone, such as winning a major championship. The amount of the raise can vary, but it is usually a percentage of the wrestler’s current salary.

Signing Bonus

When a new wrestler signs their first WWE contract, they are given a signing bonus. In 2018, the average signing bonus was $250,000. However, top stars can earn significantly more than that. For example, Roman Reigns reportedly earned a $500,000 signing bonus when he re-signed with WWE in 2014.

Independent Contractors

While WWE superstars are some of the most popular and highest-paid athletes in the world, their career trajectories and pay structures are far different from other sports. Most WWE wrestlers are independent contractors, which means they’re not employees of WWE. This means that WWE doesn’t have to provide them with health insurance, a retirement savings plan, or other benefits that employees receive.

Producers

In addition to base salary, WWE also pays producers a per-show fee. For Raw and SmackDown, each producer is paid $500 per show, while each producer for Main Event and Superstars earns $250 per show. Producers are also paid for pre-taped content, such as WWE’s YouTube shows, at a rate of $1,000 per shoot.

Announcers

While the majority of WWE’s on-air personalities are independent contractors, a few are considered employees. On-air announcers, however, are always considered employees.

WWE announcers make a base salary of $75,000 per year, but those who work main events or appear on television more frequently can earn up to $250,000 per year.

Referees

While WWE wrestlers are the main attraction and receive the biggest paychecks, they are not the only ones who make a living in the wrestling world. Referees are an important part of every match, and they are paid handsomely for their time in the ring.

The average referee in WWE makes between $500 and $1,000 per match, according to Pro Wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer. That means that a referee who works 50 matches per year could earn as much as $50,000. There are a select few referees who make more than that, however.

The highest-paid WWE referee is Charles Robinson, better known as “Little Naitch.” Robinson has been with WWE since 1995 and is one of the most recognizable referees in the business. He reportedly makes more than $100,000 per year.

Revenue Streams

WWE wrestlers make money from a variety of sources, such as salaries, merchandise sales, and appearance fees. In addition, many wrestlers earn a percentage of the pay-per-view buys for the shows they appear on. Let’s take a look at how these various revenue streams break down.

Television Rights

WWE’s primary source of revenue is the sale of television rights to various networks around the world. In the United States, WWE’s flagship television programs Raw and SmackDown air on the USA Network. While the company does not disclose how much it charges for these rights, industry experts believe that WWE receives between $15 million and $20 million per year from USA.

Live Event Ticket Sales

The revenue generated from ticket sales for WWE live events accounted for 26% of the company’s total revenue in 2018. This is down from 32% in 2017, likely due to the company’s increased focus on its network and television deals. WWE’s live event business was down 9% in 2018 compared to 2017. The company attributed the decline to “the postpone or cancellation of certain live events due to adverse weather conditions and lower ticket prices for certain newly launched events.”

Merchandise Sales

WWE superstars make a large portion of their income from merchandise sales. The company sells everything from t-shirts to action figures to replica championship belts. When a superstar is popular, their merchandise will fly off the shelves. WWE actually has a Marketing Department whose sole purpose is to come up with ideas for new merchandise.

Superstars are given a royalty percentage of 8-10% on all merchandise sold with their likeness on it. So, if a t-shirt sells for $25, the superstar would make around $2 in royalties. While this might not seem like much, it can really add up when you consider how many products are sold. If a superstar is really popular, they could easily sell millions of dollars’ worth of merchandise in a year.

Pay-Per-View Buys

WWE’s revenue comes from a variety of sources, the most significant being television rights fees, live event ticket sales, merchandise sales, and content licensing.

Additionally, WWE generates income from advertising, venue signage, and other sources. However, the company’s bread and butter is still pay-per-view buys. Although the company has a few hundred thousand subscribers to its streaming service (WWE Network), those subscribers generate a fraction of the revenue that pay-per-view buys do.

In 2019, WWE generated $ 344.6 million in Revenue from pay-per-view events. This was a decrease from 2018 when WWE generated $373.5 million in revenue from pay-per-view events. The decrease was due to one fewer big PPV event in 2019 (Wrestlemania) compared to 2018.