How Much Do WWE Wrestlers Get Paid?

You've probably seen some of these wrestlers at Wrestlemania or other big events. They're usually pretty famous, and they get paid well. How much does a wrestler earn per year?

There are several ways to determine how much a professional wrestler earns, based on known numbers:

• The Undertaker retired in 2020 with a payout of $2.5 Million per year for the next ten years.
• Randy Orton signed a five-year contract with the company back in 2019, which guarantees him a hefty sum of $4.5 Million dollars per year.
• AJ Styles earns $3.5 Million dollars per year after signing a new contract back in 2019. 
• Goldberg earns $3 Million dollars per year after signing a contract with WWE for three years after returning back in 2019.
• Vince McMahon, the owner of the WWE company, is paid $5 Million dollars per year in annual payout from WWE. 

The salary of athletes and celebrities has always been an obsession of the public. With frequent news reports and tabloid discussions pertaining to professional footballers, basketballs, and competitive swimmers, wrestlers are often out left out. Wrestling is still clouded by the public’s perception and heavy stereotypes such as big dumb men flaying each other, are still unfortunately prevalent. All those myths and unnecessary chatter surrounding professional wrestlers will be laid to rest after this article.

World Wrestling Entertainment, famously known as WWE, has had a humble beginning and has morphed into a multi-million dollar business due to excellent showmanship, marketing, tenacity, and sound financial decisions. To give an idea of the financial success WWE has attained, the company’s global revenue in 2021 was $1.1 Billion dollars.

With that much money pouring in, one seriously wonders who gets the lion’s share and how much wrestlers get a piece.

In comparison, professional sumo wrestlers earn anywhere from $100,000 to over $1 million annually. However, in addition to their salary, they also receive bonuses for winning matches.

Let us look at some of the most famous, talented, and successful wrestlers in the history of WWE.

No mention of WWE is complete without discussing the legendary Undertaker. Loved by millions of fans globally, the dead man has carved a very special place in the WWE and will never be replaced by another wrestler. The Undertaker was a master showman who knew how to work for the crowd without uttering much and he retained his athletic prowess even as he aged.

It is well known that the Undertaker retired in 2020 but the lesser known fact is that he had secured a lucrative deal with WWE which guarantees him a payout of $2.5 Million dollars per year for the next ten years. This means the deadman will make a profit of $25 Million over a decade and that is a very handsome deal. As mentioned earlier, the value that the Undertaker brought to the WWE is unmatched and his electrifying presence is still highly sought after by the company.

Moving on to the next star, who was an excellent heel for a long time, is Randy Orton. Despite entering the wrestling business at a time when it was abounded by numerous young chaps, Randy Orton set himself apart by taking on one of the most villainous roles and his RKO move is unforgettable to many, even if they are not his fans. The viper signed a five-year contract with the company back in 2019, which guarantees him a hefty sum of $4.5 Million dollars per year. Impressive.

AJ Styles, a talented wrestler, and showman who has had a big following these past few years earn $3.5 Million dollars per year after signing a new contract back in 2019. He has had an active presence in TNA, now known as Impact wrestling, which is another wrestling company, and made a great name for himself both in WWE and TNA.

Goldberg, one that nearly every older wrestling fan knows, earns $3 Million dollars per year after signing a contract with WWE for three years. Goldberg was away from WWE for a while and returned back in 2019 as a special attraction.

Coming to the lion’s share that I mentioned. Vince McMahon, the owner of the WWE company, is also seen occasionally in the wrestling ring, tussling with wrestlers and even executing his own moves. The passion that this man has for the business is unrivaled and that keeps him at the edge. He rakes in $5 Million dollars per year in annual payout from WWE. The money never seems to induce complacency in Vince McMahon and despite being 77 years old, his drive and ambition continue to push the company further.

Now you should have a rough idea of how much professional wrestlers in the WWE earn. Of course like in any career, there are levels to the game and one’s earning potential increases as one elevates themselves, be it in wrestling or in life.

Besides WWE wrestlers, you can read about why Russian wrestlers are known for being extremely fit and disciplined.