WWE paid talent 15% of total 2022 revenue, once projected to stay at that level through 2028
New revelations from the ongoing WWE shareholder lawsuit have revealed that WWE paid talent 15% of total revenue in 2022 and once projected to be around that number through 2028.
The details come from Brandon Thurston for Post Wrestling via FOIA requests.
From a slide deck that was released as part of the discovery portion of the case, WWE spent $195 million of their overall $1.29 billion in reported revenue on talent throughout WWE and NXT in 2022, working out to be around 15%.
The documents are exhibits for the ongoing lawsuit in which shareholders are disputing the process in which WWE was merged with UFC by Endeavor to create TKO, saying it was unfairly steered toward Endeavor despite other bids.
As noted in the Thurston piece, average main roster talent pay has grown with WWE’s increase in revenues but the percentage was projected to remain the same.
In forward-looking documentation as part of the slides, the expectation was to keep the talent pay rate around 15% of WWE revenues and “another slide specifically named 15% of company revenue as the projected rate of talent compensation through 2028.”
That number is near what was revealed for UFC fighters, also independent contractors, in their recent antitrust lawsuit that puts total fighter pay anywhere from 16-20% of annual revenue. Both WWE and UFC are part of TKO which has only continued to increase in value since their merger several years ago.
In WWE’s case, talent still must cover some of their travel expenses and are also classified as independent contractors even though that term has been frequently questioned considering their contractual limitations.
Other interesting notes:
- While specific wrestler pay was not included, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Logan Paul, Cody Rhodes, and Braun Strowman were among those who received contract renewals that totaled $15 million, Brock Lesnar’s contract renewal was $4 million, and Bianca Belair, the Street Profits, Gable Steveson, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, and Baron Corbin were among those “who received an annual contract step-up that totaled $2 million.” Steveson, who just signed with UFC, never wrestled on the main roster and is now out of WWE while Strowman and Corbin are also no longer in WWE.
- A projection for their celebrity category that is separate from main roster/developmental decreased from $6 million in 2022 to $3 million in 2023 as Paul’s deal was moved into the main roster category.
- Main roster talent costs were projected to increase to $195 million in 2023 for 130 people while developmental was projected at $16 million in 2023 (130 NXT people and 20 NXT UK people).
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.