AEW Stars Charging $30,000 A Shot For Indie Bookings (AEW News)
Recent reports say that independent promoters "know what they're doing" by booking AEW stars.
Fightful Select has revealed that "people in AEW at the top of the card" tell them they "don't even leave their house for outside bookings less than $30,000". That comment came when answering a fan's question about how much input independent promoters have in Mercedes Mone's recent belt haul outside Tony Khan's bubble.
According to Fightful's sources, independent companies "know what they're doing", and the number of title wins Mone is stacking up isn't a power play on her behalf. In fact, it appears that many feds actually want her to hold their prizes so they get some easy exposure out of it.
Mercedes reportedly charges $25,000 for many of her appearances outside All Elite, but others on the roster rake in as much as 30k for matches away from Dynamite, Collision and ROH. Fightful didn't name names there, but their wording ("at the top of the card") is very interesting. Fans will draw their own conclusions here, probably.
It's obviously expensive to put on a pro wrestling show in 2025, so that $30,000 is a hefty asking price. Only those promoters know whether or not they're selling enough tickets, shifting enough merchandise and earning attention on the backend from booking AEW stars on their lineups.
Some fans on socials have pointed out that Mone's belt collection likely dilutes most of them. They're interchangeable, because it's not as though people pick out individual titles other than her AEW TBS strap or a few other select choices.
There you have it - if you're running an independent show and want one of All Elite's top names, then you'll have to stump up 30k to get one of the wrestlers available.