WWE Main Roster Minimum Salaries Raised To $350,000, Up By $100,000 (WWE News)

WWE pay increases as minimum wrestler salary now up $100,000 to $350,000

WWE Raw Penta
WWE

According to a recent report from Fightful Select, the minimum salary for WWE main roster talent on Raw and SmackDown has seen a substantial increase in recent years.

Per the reporting, the baseline pay for main roster talent has moved up $100,000 from $250,000 to $350,000 per year. This updated figure was revealed during a recent Q&A session hosted by the outlet, where the topic of financial security for WWE talent was discussed. Following the session, numerous WWE talent and individuals involved in negotiating contracts reached out to confirm that the current minimum salary has indeed been elevated to $350,000.

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While this increase in guaranteed pay provides more financial stability for talent, it's important to note that not all expenses are covered by WWE. Although airfare is included for main roster talent, costs for hotels and rental cars are typically the responsibility of the wrestlers themselves, taking a sizeable chunk out of that annual sum. Contract details can vary, with some talent negotiating specific provisions into their deals to cover these additional expenses, and the prevalence of reduced date deals and even customised methods of transport have become normalised over the past decade or so.

This increase in minimum salary at very least highlights WWE's continued investment in its talent, ensuring competitive compensation as the company navigates the ever-evolving landscape of the professional wrestling industry. As several major names have proven over the last few years, having two billionaire-backed organisations competing for contracts has opened the door for wrestlers to get a wage far closer to what they deserve. As WWE continues to boast about record gates and increased global reach, this shouldn't be the only time in the near future that such a raise is discussed.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett