Welcome to Fightful's resources section, which has expansive information on contracts, free agents, rosters and more. The subject of wrestler pay has long been a discussed topic, but the information readily available online has been repeatedly debunked. To be clear, no top 10 list or "highest paid wrestlers" figures have been accurate.
We've collected a list of salaries, bonuses and the like that have been revealed either by the talent themselves, or those in talent relations who negotiated the deal. Each one has a source cited or linked.
When using details from this list or copying it for aggregation purposes, please credit and link to Fightful.
Guarantees: These are downsides guarantees that were promised to the talent individually. Their income could end up exceeding this.
You can also see all of WCW's payroll info from 1996-mid 2000 at this link
Contracts
Bret Hart: 2.8 million per year plus royalties -- A&E bio
Chris Jericho: First WWF contract, $450,000 guarantee.
Ernest Miller: $220,00 a year in WWE
Jeff Jarrett: $350,000 downside guarantee WWF 1997
Matt Hardy: $300,000 a year in TNA first contract. In WWE, $75,00 downside guarantee in 1999, but ended up making $225,000. Made $1.3M (13x downside) – 2000- $100k 2001-$125k 2002- $150k. Said that his developmental deal was for $300 per week, and $300 additionally if you wrestled a match.
Matt Riddle: $750,000, was set to make $1m before release
Maven- $175,00 a year in WWE, after his first deal was $50,000 guaranteed. $300 a week on Tough Enough. Claimed he made $800,000 for his entire run, and his best year was $430,000.
Mojo Rawley: $39,000 on first NXT contract
The Rock: First WWF contract 5-years $150,000 a year
Sami Zayn: $39,000 on first WWE deal
Steve Austin: $1m a year guarantee in the 90s, according to the Rock.
Stevie Richards: Guarantee $75k year one, $75k year two, $125k year three
Match Or Individual Show
Brock Lesnar & Goldberg: $250,000 WreslteMania XX (JR Watchalong, AdFreeShows)
James Storm- $600 for match vs. Mahabali Shera on OVW (The Wrestlers, Netflix)
Lex Luger: Around $50,000 for Summerslam 1993
Matt Hardy: Made $10,000 on WWF No Mercy 1999 ladder match after he said he complained about $5,000.
Sean Waltman: $25,000 for Jeff Jarrett match at Summerslam, wanted $50,000
Seth Rollins: "About $150 a night" for his first ROH deal -- Broken Skull Sessions
Video Games, Action Figures
Headbanger Mosh- WWE Jakks Classic figures, $3,000 guarantee plus royalties
Maven: $30,000 to be scanned by Jakks Pacific in 2002 fior Smackdown Shut Your Mouth
Offers and Pre-Sale Contract Deals
Booker T: Was set to make $1.3M on WCW contract before sale
The Revival/FTR: Offered and rejected $850,000 per year by WWE in 2019 (Fightful Report)
Young Bucks: Offered $500,000 by WWE in 2018
