8. Michael Cole, $549,000 Yearly Guaranteed, Weekly Commentary And Monthly For PPV, No Drawing Numbers, No Merchandise Sales
Michael Cole is a WWE veteran who has been with the company since 1997. Vince McMahon pays the commentator $549,000 a year guaranteed for weekly commentary on Raw, Smackdown and pay per views. In fairness to Cole he does quite a bit of work on WWE.COM and other WWE media as well - but is he really worth $549k? Especially when WWE could have the greatest play by play announcer of all time, Jim Ross, calling the action. Cole is bad value for money. Is commentary really such a hard job that Cole and Lawler should be paid more money than many low card talents who are getting beat up in the ring four times a week? It isn't an easy role, but it isn't compensation to the tune of over half a million dollars in my opinion. Cole often has Vince yelling in his ear and has to provide engaging narrative to WWE action, but the men in the ring are the real colour to WWE's product. At least we don't have to endure Cole being pushed as a heel competitor and angle man in 2013 and 2014, but his repetitive and lazy announcing is still an issue for many fans.