Report: WWE Paying Wrestlers Less Money On New Contracts
Plus the real reason NXT call-ups aren't being offered new deals...
WWE is currently offering new talent contracts with salaries and other forms of compensation "way, way below" what the promotion was paying out last year, reports Fightful Select.
This is in-line with the recent Rey Mysterio contract saga. The lucha legend had spent several months working without a contract after Vince McMahon reportedly turned down his request for a payrise, though he ended up signing a new multi-year deal in August, committing his future to WWE.
Fightful Select's report also states that WWE hasn't offered new contracts to wrestlers who have recently moved from NXT to Raw or SmackDown. Said wrestlers were told that they would enter discussions over new deals soon, though these talks are yet to commence.
WWE's reasoning? The ongoing global health crisis and holding all their shows in Orlando, Florida means the travelling schedule is a lot less chaotic than it would normally be, with the promotion also citing company-wide cutbacks. Dozens of independent contractors have been let go as part of this.
Professional wrestling was already an industry that grossly underpays its talent, with WWE dedicated only 8% of revenue to salaries. This pales in comparison even to underpaid UFC fighters, who earn approximately 20%, and is dwarfed by the 48-50% paid out in big sports leagues like the NFL and NBA.