How Much Money Do WWE Wrestlers Make?
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Find out how much WWE wrestlers make in a year. Salaries may vary based on experience and location.
WWE Salaries
The WWE is a publicly traded company, and therefore must release compensation numbers for their top performers. In 2019, the highest paid WWE wrestler was Brock Lesnar, who made $10 million dollars. The second highest paid wrestler was Roman Reigns, who made $5.5 million dollars.
Main Eventers
Main eventers are the top superstars in the WWE. They are the ones who headline the biggest shows and pay-per-views, and they are usually the ones who win the biggest championships. Not all main eventers are created equal, though. Some are definitely more popular than others, and that popularity usually corresponds to how much money they make.
The WWE does not publicly release salary information, so it is impossible to know exactly how much any wrestler makes. However, some wrestlers have admitted to their salaries in interviews, and other wrestlers have had their salaries leaked online. Based on this information, it is possible to estimate the salaries of some of the WWE’s biggest stars.
The following is a list of estimated salaries for some of the WWE’s top main eventers:
-Brock Lesnar: $5 million
-John Cena: $8 million
-Roman Reigns: $5 million
-Randy Orton: $4 million
-Seth Rollins: $4 million
Upper Midcarders
While WWE does not release the salaries of their wrestlers, it is widely believed that the company pays their superstars based on their position on the card. The wrestlers at the top of the card, who are typically the main eventers, are thought to be paid the most money. The wrestlers in the middle of the card, who are known as upper midcarders, are thought to be paid less than the main eventers but more than the lower midcarders. Lower midcarders are typically paid even less than upper midcarders, and jobbers (wrestlers who regularly lose matches) are often paid very little.
Midcarders
Midcarders are the guys and gals in the WWE who are not quite main event material, but are still good enough to warrant regular TV time and pay-per-view matches. These wrestlers typically make between $500,000 and $1 million per year.
Lower Midcarders
While the top WWE superstars make millions of dollars, the lower midcarders make a more modest salary. These wrestlers are often featured on WWE programming, but don’t have main event or championship aspirations. According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, lower midcarders make an annual salary of $500,000.
Tag Team Wrestlers
Tag team wrestlers are typically paid less than singles wrestlers. The reason for this is because there are two people in the ring, meaning that the company can get away with paying them less. While there are some tag teams that are paid very well, such as The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz, most tag teams earn significantly less than singles wrestlers.
Women’s Division
The average salary for a WWE wrestler is $500,000, but the top wrestlers can make over $1 million. In 2020, the minimum salary for a WWE wrestler was $250,000. The women’s division has a different pay scale than the men’s division. The women are paid a base salary of $80,000, with the top earners making $300,000.
Bonuses
WWE wrestlers can earn a lot of money, especially if they are main eventers or top superstars. However, wrestlers also get paid bonuses for certain matches or accomplishments. For example, wrestlers can get a bonus for working a certain number of days, or for winning a match.
Main Eventers
Main eventers are the wrestlers who headline WWE’s Pay-Per-Views and are featured most prominently on WWE’s flagship shows, Monday Night Raw and Smackdown. These are the guys (and girls) that fans pay to see, and as such, they are the highest paid superstars in WWE. The top main eventers can make upwards of $1 million per year, with some of the bigger stars making closer to $5 million.
Upper Midcarders
While the average WWE wrestler make around $500,000 per year, the top earners bring in considerably more.
Wrestlers who are considered to be in the upper midcard range earn between $1 million and $2 million annually. This is still a substantial amount of money, but it pales in comparison to what the top dogs in the company make.
Some of the wrestlers who are considered to be upper midcarders include:
– Braun Strowman
– Samoa Joe
– The Miz
– Jeff Hardy
Midcarders
While it’s true that the majority of a wrestler’s income comes from things like house shows and merchandise sales, WWE does offer annual bonuses to wrestlers based on factors like PPV buys and TV ratings. These bonuses can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a couple hundred thousand, and they’re generally given out at the end of the year.
Midcarders are generally the wrestlers who are featured prominently on WWE programming, but who aren’t quite main event stars. These wrestlers typically make between $500,000 and $1 million per year, with some exceptions. For example, someone like Kofi Kingston might make closer to $1.5 million per year due to his role as a member of The New Day.
Lower Midcarders
The lower midcarders are the wrestlers who are not quite main eventers, but are still considered to be above average in terms of in-ring ability and microphone skills. These wrestlers typically make between $500,000 and $1 million per year.
Tag Team Wrestlers
While most WWE superstars earn a base salary, many also receive bonuses for various accomplishments and appearances. For example, wrestlers who main event (headline) a show may receive a $500 bonus, while wrestlers who wrestle in the opening match may get $250. Bonuses are also given out for various accomplishments, such as winning a championship match or delivering a particularly memorable promo (speech). In addition, wrestlers may receive “up-front money” for signing a contract with WWE, as well as royalty payments based on merchandise sales and a percentage of pay-per-view revenues.
While superstar salaries and bonuses vary widely, tag team wrestlers generally make less than singles wrestlers. This is due in part to the fact that there are fewer opportunities for tag teams to appear on WWE programming. In addition, WWE places less emphasis on tag team wrestling than it did in years past. As a result, tag team wrestlers typically earn lower base salaries and fewer bonuses than their singles counterparts.
Women’s Division
In 2019, the WWE had their first ever all women’s pay-per-view event called Evolution. This was a huge moment in wrestling as it showed how far women have come in the industry and how much they are worth. The top stars in the women’s division make a base salary of $250,000 per year, with some making upwards of $1 million when you factor in bonuses and merchandise sales. The women’s division has come a long way from being an afterthought, and they are now one of the most popular parts of the WWE.
Endorsements
In addition to their base salary, WWE wrestlers can make extra money through endorsements. These deals are usually negotiated by the wrestler’s agent and are separate from their contract with WWE. For example, John Cena is sponsored by Gillette, Mattel, and Tapout. These deals can bring in a lot of extra money for the wrestlers.
Main Eventers
WWE superstars who main event WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest show of the year, can make upwards of $1 million dollars for appearing. The main event generally features the WWE Championship match, as well as a high-profile grudge match or returning legend. For example, at WrestleMania 34 in 2018, Brock Lesnar earned $5 million dollars for his WWE Universal Championship bout against Roman Reigns, while The Undertaker was paid $2.5 million dollars to compete in a match against John Cena.
Upper Midcarders
Upper midcarders are the wrestlers who are one step below the main event scene. They might have a chance at winning titles, but they are not featured on television as much as the main eventers. There are usually only a few upper midcarders at any given time, and they can make very good money.
Wrestlers in this category can make between $500,000 and $1 million per year. The top earners in this group are usually long-time upper midcarders who have built up a large fan base.
Midcarders
While the guys on the main event scene are pulling in serious money, the majority of WWE’s roster is not so fortunate. Most wrestlers are signed to developmental contracts that pay them $50,000 per year, and while that may sound like a lot to most people, it doesn’t go very far when you’re living on the road and paying for your own travel expenses.
Wrestlers who are able to break through to the main roster can expect to see a significant raise, with most superstars making at least $500,000 per year. But even then, it’s not all glamour and glitz. Wrestlers are required to pay for their own travel expenses (airfare, hotels, rental cars, etc.), and they are also responsible for paying for their own health insurance. So while they may be making more money than most people, they are also spending a lot more money too.
Lower Midcarders
Those in the lower midcard level usually make between $500,000 and $1 million per year. These are the wrestlers that are not quite main eventers, but are still featured on television and pay-per-views on a regular basis. While they may not be headlining WrestleMania, they still play an important role in the company.
Tag Team Wrestlers
Tag team wrestlers are paid per match, similar to singles wrestlers. However, since tag team matches generally don’t last as long as singles matches, tag team wrestlers usually make less money per match. The average tag team match lasts about 10 minutes, while the average singles match lasts about 15 minutes. This means thattag team wrestlers make, on average, about $6,000 per year.
Women’s Division
The women’s division in WWE is referred to as the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Divisions. There are currently nine women signed to each brand, for a total of eighteen women across WWE. Each brand has one women’s champion, who is determined by a singles match at WWE’s annual pay-per-view event, WrestleMania.
In 2019, Forbes estimated that the top ten female wrestlers in WWE earned a combined total of $3 million. This is up from $2.7 million in 2018 and $1.5 million in 2017. The highest-paid female wrestler in 2019 was Ronda Rousey, who earned an estimated $1.5 million.
