WWE Raw/Smackdown/ NXT roster went through a number of trims throughout the year 2021 and got rid of some unnecessary burden. All those releases were termed as COVID-19 related budget cuts which kept WWE on the profit side despite their touring being stopped for more than a year. However, the existing superstars didn’t witness a rise in their paychecks.
In terms of payment for WWE Raw/Smackdown superstars, several top WWE talents are reportedly making a few million dollars per year. The likes of Brock Lesnar and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, are making above $5 million per year as per their guaranteed deals. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter added in their report that some other top talents are making less than half or just of the amounts in comparison to these two superstars.
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It was noted that a lot of the top WWE Raw/Smackdown talents are now making $2 million per year on their guaranteed contracts, while some others are standing at $3 million,
“Regarding contract sizes, the very top people (by this meaning Reigns and Lesnar) are above $5 million per year on their guaranteed deal and another person is at around $4 million, but a lot of the top talent is now at $2 million and some at $3 million”
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Top WWE Raw/Smackdown superstars make over $1 million a year
An un-named talent was also discovered in the report who is making around $4 million per year on his guaranteed deal but no identification was made regarding his WWE Raw/Smackdown status. These figures are the downside guarantees which do not include additional income.
However, apart from the $2-3 million fixed amount, the WWE Superstars can get variable pay amounts from endorsement deals, movie appearances, merchandise sales, etc. with the company claiming a share from those incomes. With a proper marketing strategy, the top WWE Raw/Smackdown superstars can make more millions in a year.
Reports also claimed that new deals offered by WWE are worth more than what the earlier rate used to be. Braun Strowman’s 2019 contract was worth $1.2 million per year, while WWE RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch’s 2019 contract was worth $1 million per year. But over time, the latter received a significant raise as she cemented her spot at the top tier of the roster. Things were unfortunate for Strowman who’s been released, in mid-2021.
