Analyzing Forbes's List Of WWE's Highest Earners
6. AJ Styles - $2.4 Million
There can be no debate over who was WWE's MVP in 2016. While Roman Reigns headlined the most shows and Chris Jericho and The Miz both reinvented themselves to great success, AJ Styles was head and shoulders above all the competition, bringing the exact same skill and style that made him IWGP Heavyweight Champion to WWE at long last.
Styles debuted at the Royal Rumble, and though originally he was meant to be a midcard star, the reaction he received and his subsequent performances forced the company to re-evaluate the set plans. He got the best out of Roman Reigns in a post-WrestleMania feud, then beat up John Cena in a program that put Styles among the company's upper echelon.
In September, he captured the WWE Championship, and even though he had only been in the company for eight months, it felt overdue. While fall saw him involved in some less-impressive storylines alongside the likes of James Ellsworth, he still stole every show he was on and proved just how phenomenal he is.
Was he worth it? Yes, and then some.