Booker T is/was great. But when he signed that contract in 1999, he wasn't even close to main event level. It was clear from 1998-on that he had potential as the next babyface to be elevated to the main event/world title level. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x46rez_nitro-22-02-1999-bret-hart-vs-booke_sport Having said that, WCW didn't push him at that level until about 17 months after he signed this contract, and it came out of nowhere without any buildup: He was at the TV championship level when he signed this deal. That's the third tier heavyweight singles title. Later on, in 2000, when Stevie Ray took the letter T from him, he was repackaged as G.I. Bro, basically a comedy gimmick that he had used as a rookie in Texas. How is that worth $700,000 or more per year guaranteed? Cynics suggested that his and Stevie's pay was inflated to somehow help combat the ever-present threat of racial discrimination lawsuits, if just because there weren't many good explanations. For comparison, fellow TV Title level star Fit Finlay made $250,000.