Fantastic Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Reading over a couple of old issues of Power Slam magazine today. In the article, discussing wrestlers earnings, they cited the fact that Kevin Nash was making $5000 per appearance in his TNA run! That's a pretty cool gig right, for doing sweet fuck all save for a few comedy skits as "Doctor Nash" and the occasional match. So purpose of this thread? Let's discuss wrestlers earnings, oddities, over the top fees, and whatever else comes to mind. Some of the most surprising figures I've seen over the years were that Diamond Dallas Page had a three year contract in WCW from 1999-2001 which paid him $1.5 million per annum. Surely, the largest downside in that company's history? I believe Meltzer stated a while back that John Cena's downside is only $1 million, but his estimated total earnings in the issue of Power Slam I was reading exceeded $6.5 million in the year of 2007 (it's staggering to think what he earns now, his divorce seemed like a mere drop in the ocean). Meltzer also stated around about the time that Brock signed with WWE in 2012, that he didn't have a downside, merely a salary which was worth $5 million per year for a set number of appearances. The same kind of contract was given to The Rock, although there don't seem to be any details floating around about it, except that it was said to be "the largest salary ever given to a non full-time wrestler in the history of WWE". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I saw this from Wrestlezone, from an interview with Alberto Del Rio, bitching about the money in WWE and I thought it was interesting... “They tried to pay me $800 for one show. I told them ‘here’s your check – you need it more than I do. I was doing more money when I started in Mexico 15 years ago. I was somebody before you, and I’m going to be somebody the day I leave WWE.’ I was always complaining about the money. And they always fixed it – I’m going to give them credit for that. But it was my eternal battle going to that office and fighting for what was mine.“ He's not the only former WWE guy to claim the pay isn't as great as people think it is either, is he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I saw this from Wrestlezone, from an interview with Alberto Del Rio, bitching about the money in WWE and I thought it was interesting... “They tried to pay me $800 for one show. I told them ‘here’s your check – you need it more than I do. I was doing more money when I started in Mexico 15 years ago. I was somebody before you, and I’m going to be somebody the day I leave WWE.’ I was always complaining about the money. And they always fixed it – I’m going to give them credit for that. But it was my eternal battle going to that office and fighting for what was mine.“ He's not the only former WWE guy to claim the pay isn't as great as people think it is either, is he? Nope. Remember that Tough Enough that Puder won which boasted the prize being a $1 million WWE contract? Apparently, the legal bindings were arranged so it was a four year contract with a $250k downside per annum, with only the first year being offered as guaranteed employment. So, they basically sent Puder home a few months into it, and then released him after the first year. So in essence, he only received what a lower mid-card baby-face might make in total gross earnings (downside, merch, etc, etc) in a year. Even then, it's a better deal, because he wasn't on the road and didn't face the expenses that the aforementioned mid-card baby-face would have. In my opinion, that's a great example of the reality of WWE's "big money" reputation. There's maybe as few as ten guys (performers) who make more than a million dollars per year when it's all said and done: Triple H Undertaker John Cena Randy Orton Daniel Bryan Brock Lesnar The Rock Big Show (undeserving) Kane (also underserving) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Most midcard or lower ex WWE guys have stated how while the annual figure you hear sounds impressive, after you take out for taxes and travel expenses the actual take home pay is far less. That's the reason a lot of the top guys buy their own buses, it's cheaper than shelling out travel costs in the long term. As far as contracts go, didn't Savage get WCW to sign Lanny as well? He never actually worked a match for them as far as I know, so that might be the winner here. *edit: upon further review, it looks like Lanny was officially working for WCW from 1995-1999 and never worked once for them. Talk about living the gimmick, he really is a genius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMJ Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 I don't remember the specifics, but in one of the Punk podcasts with Colt, he told a great story about working some WWE tour of Mexico and only getting paid like $500 a show or something ludicrous like that (I think he said in the story that he asked for more and they did raise his pay...which sounds like a pattern based on what Del Rio said). Now, to Joe Schmo, $500 a night for working 20 minutes is going to sound like a lot of money, but I'm guessing those were fairly big houses and that his name was used heavily to promote the show and, obviously, there's a lot more that goes into being a wrestler than just 20 minutes of work. Maybe someone recalls the exact story better than me and can share it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blehschmidt Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 I know for a fact that a local indy promoter (who has delusions of grandeur and way too much money) is currently paying Kevin Sullivan well over 500 bucks a night to sit in the dressing room and hand out finishes.... I work shows with Kevin, and he is a really cool dude, so good for him making the money, but man.....talk about wrestling paying!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye12 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Most midcard or lower ex WWE guys have stated how while the annual figure you hear sounds impressive, after you take out for taxes and travel expenses the actual take home pay is far less. That's the reason a lot of the top guys buy their own buses, it's cheaper than shelling out travel costs in the long term. As far as contracts go, didn't Savage get WCW to sign Lanny as well? He never actually worked a match for them as far as I know, so that might be the winner here. *edit: upon further review, it looks like Lanny was officially working for WCW from 1995-1999 and never worked once for them. Talk about living the gimmick, he really is a genius. Bischoff has talked about the Lanny deal several times recently in interviews. When Savage re-negotiated his contract, he took less money to get Lanny a deal, that way Lanny got paid and had insurance covered. Lanny has mentioned it recently as well when talking about how lucky he was to have a big brother that looked out for him. So in the end WCW never spent a penny more than they were going to anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMick Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Most midcard or lower ex WWE guys have stated how while the annual figure you hear sounds impressive, after you take out for taxes and travel expenses the actual take home pay is far less. That's the reason a lot of the top guys buy their own buses, it's cheaper than shelling out travel costs in the long term. As far as contracts go, didn't Savage get WCW to sign Lanny as well? He never actually worked a match for them as far as I know, so that might be the winner here. *edit: upon further review, it looks like Lanny was officially working for WCW from 1995-1999 and never worked once for them. Talk about living the gimmick, he really is a genius. I think Nailz had a similar deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSR Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 I think Nailz had a similar deal? Wacholz earned something like a couple hundred grand a year for two years, whilst wrestling a grand total of one match (this was in the late 90s when WCW were signing up anyone). Bix posted a really good article on some of the contracts and money that WCW was throwing away and paying people in this period. Guys like Tank Abbott, Scott Norton, Dustin Rhodes, Stevie Ray were all on downsides of over $500,000 a year, whilst Swoll (Master P's buddy) was signed to a $400,000 a year contract! I'll see if I can find it as it made for some fascinating reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSR Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Here's the article I was referencing: http://whatculture.com/wwe/10-wcw-wrestlers-who-were-ridiculously-overpaid.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchReedMark Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Was the Stevie Ray wage a case of the "No, we're not racists, see? We're paying this black bloke loads and he's SHIT!". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawho5 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Didn't Lanny work one match as the fake Jericho during the Malenko feud? A bit off-topic, but I would swear he did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchReedMark Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 That was host of children's parties Lenny Lane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 We've been over this ground before, but since we're putting pieces together, Dustin's contract was apparently an apology for getting fired in 95. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye12 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 We've been over this ground before, but since we're putting pieces together, Dustin's contract was apparently an apology for getting fired in 95. Very well could be. Barry Darsow said when Bischoff called him he had good news and bad news. The good news is he loved the match, the bad news is he had to fire him. But he told him to lay low and he'd bring him back in due time. Darsow wasn't really sure if he should believe him since it is wrestling afterall, but sure enough he got a contract offer later for very good money to take care of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Here's the article I was referencing: http://whatculture.com/wwe/10-wcw-wrestlers-who-were-ridiculously-overpaid.php That's a great article, thanks for sharing! Oh, another talking point. Back in 1999, the WWF signed Paul Wight to a 10 year, near $1 million per annum downside deal. Big Show spent 7 years cashing in on this deal, despite long periods of mediocrity and a stint in developmental. It wasn't until HE asked for his release in 2006 (to take a sabbatical from wrestling) that the deal ended. You have to wonder what his deal was upon rejoining the company in 2008? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 I was surprised to learn how poor his WCW deal was. Per what he said on Austin's podcast he made some percentage less of what Marc Mero was, who left not long after Wight started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Is money the only reason why there's so much resentment towards Mero by other wrestlers? I never hear any stories about him being an asshole or unprofessional or anything like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchReedMark Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 I honestly blame Mick Foley. He seemed to spend half of his first book burying Marc Mero for having the gall to take a great offer. Misdirecting anger if you ask me. And in 1996, and if I was Vince, I'd have probably given the same deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Is money the only reason why there's so much resentment towards Mero by other wrestlers? I never hear any stories about him being an asshole or unprofessional or anything like that. Regal thought he cared more about how he looked than how good his match was also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 im pretty sure that was Hunter's criticism of him as well. he didn't really care how the match turned out he was only interested in hitting his spots so he looked good. Come to think of it I think Sean Waltman said the same thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 In Regal's case, I think he meant cosmetically, in the sense that all he cared about was his body, not improving in the ring. He put Bagwell in that category too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 I vaguely remember Mero getting upset with his match with Goldust at Summerslam 96 because he didn't get to hit his finisher (havent seen this match in ages so I don't recall if he hit the move) I think he was more upset with that than jobbing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMJ Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 That's interesting criticism coming from Regal because, as I've re-watched the PPVs and Clashes from WCW 92' and on, I've found that they had really good chemistry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkdoc Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 I vaguely remember Mero getting upset with his match with Goldust at Summerslam 96 because he didn't get to hit his finisher (havent seen this match in ages so I don't recall if he hit the move) I think he was more upset with that than jobbing nah, he hit his finisher. i suspect his issue was that it didn't win the match, and frankly i'd agree if that were the case. that was the first time an american did the shooting star press, for cryin out loud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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