As previously reported, TKO is looking to restructure WWE talent contracts, with the parent company requesting multiple WWE talents to consider pay cuts. It has been reported that The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) were asked to modify the deals they signed last year, but they refused and instead requested their releases, which were granted.
Additionally, there are rumors that a star who is currently receiving a significant push in WWE was asked to take a 50% pay cut, which the wrestler accepted.
According to Bryan Alvarez in the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, he has been informed that several individuals were asked to take pay cuts, and some agreed to do so. Alvarez did not specify how many Superstars were approached or who accepted the pay cuts.
Dave Meltzer also noted that he is aware of one male wrestler who accepted a pay cut, despite being in a position to leave for AEW and still earn a considerable income. This unnamed wrestler chose to remain in WWE, and his contract was renegotiated because the company’s perception of his value had changed since he initially signed.
Meltzer explained that this individual’s situation isn’t due to a lack of talent or skill; rather, it stems from the fact that creatively, WWE has not taken full advantage of his potential. He also mentioned that this wrestler accepted the pay cut without taking the risk of moving to another promotion, emphasizing that the earnings, while reduced, are still significant.
Meltzer clarified that wrestlers under contract with WWE are still earning more money than they had anticipated as professional wrestlers, and for many, it is their dream job, something they aspired to since childhood. He also noted that high-profile talents like Roman Reigns were not asked to renegotiate their WWE contracts by TKO.
Moreover, Meltzer indicated that those being offered pay cuts tend to be wrestlers who were previously at a higher level of popularity than they are now. He speculated that some WWE talents might be hesitant to join AEW due to unfounded rumors or other concerns, and there is a general suspicion that the situation could be linked to those factors. Additionally, Meltzer suggested that these pay restructuring efforts might create resentment within the locker room, particularly among wrestlers who accepted cuts compared to those who were not asked to renegotiate their deals.
