WWE wrestlers are a hard working bunch. The likes of John Cena are pretty much on the job 365 days a year, as well as wrestling the world over 3 to 4 times a week. A WWE wrestler can also be expected to do 7 to 8 promotional / media / charity appearances a week. When you consider that these dates are spread across the east and west coast of America, and internationally, you realize that wrestlers have almost no down time. They may get the odd day with 24 hours before the next event, but then just travelling to that event can at times mean a 12 hour journey. As Big Show recently revealed in a radio interview about John Cena's workload as a main eventer, it really is punishing for those guys.
"He was like 77 or 78 days in a row without a day off. Like he did something every single day. "We'll fly 16, 18 hours to Australia to the Middle East, Abu Dhabi or something like that - John hits, right away he goes to the gym. No matter how little sleep he's had, he goes to the gym everyday."
So, are WWE wrestlers handsomely rewarded in their pay for the hectic hours of being on the job? In the past it has been a criticism of WWE that they do not pay talent enough. After all, there are road and health costs which talent must make. It has been such a problem that some wrestlers are said to have worked through injuries because they need appearance royalties and can't afford to live off just the downside guarantee. Further controversy on WWE contracts are the fact that WWE employs its talent as outside contractors. Wrestlers are essentially self employed and working for the WWE, rather than being employed by WWE itself. Here we take a look at the reality in the modern day, having a look at WWE wrestler salaries that were accurate as of the last financial year (which means the likes of Daniel Bryan will be on significantly more now, so we will leave him and a few other talent out and focus on the workers who will have not had any major fluctuation)...
