WNS Column: The Validation of Superstardom - Is The Wrestling Salary Worth The Effort?

As wrestling fans throughout the world are fully aware, the WWE schedule is one that is left to be desired. Reportedly working in excess of 300 days a year, the talent roster is expected to report to a variety of activities over the duration of a solitary year. With 104 televised episodic programs per year (this includes both RAW & Smackdown – both of which also include Superstars & Main Event tapings), it is well known amongst the wrestling community that the prolific World Wrestling Entertainment schedule is certainly not for the weak at heart. Alongside regular weekly episodic televised programming, the talent roster is expected to report to a number of house show performances per week (usually held Thursday-Sunday), monthly Pay-Per-View events & various media or public appearances including autograph signings or promotional interviews. So, with that in consideration, is the companies schedule essentially worth the payout?

If you were to ask an employee of the WWE talent roster in regards to their individual positions within the company, the majority would state that their essential aims & ambitions were to compete regularly. They’d state that the money is not as essential as the performance – providing the fans in attendance at televised tapings, Pay-Per-Views or house show events with a respectable showing. They’d probably mention that they perform due to their love of the wrestling business, no matter the ethnic upbringing or background. For many, as performers and wrestling fans in their own right, the epitome and pinnacle of the professional wrestling industry is to work for the World Wrestling Entertainment, despite the sacrifices that must be made to successfully provide themselves with successful & respectable career prospects. But, in an industry and profession associated with sacrifices and risks (both physically and emotionally), what epitomises superstardom anyway?

As most readers will probably expect, specific card placement in relation to televised tapings, Pay-Per-Views and house shows directly correlates to the overall money standings in relation to each individual athlete. It has been widely reported by a variety of sources that the company’s biggest asset (John Cena) earns on average $3,000,000 dollars per annum. This agreement does not specifically include variously related earnings such as public appearances or merchandise sales in recognition of live events, both nationally and internationally. Despite this estimate, Cena is reportedly guaranteed First Class Travel to & from live events and performances, private accommodation & a 6.25% bonus in relation to merchandise sales.

Despite fellow superstars such as Randy Orton ($2,000,000 per annum), The Big Show ($1,500,000 per annum) & Sheamus ($1,000,000 per annum) all earning respectable paycheques, it is evident that a pecking order is instilled to the provide sustainability. Rey Mysterio, Kane & The Great Khali all make in excess of $900,000 per annum, while the likes of Mark Henry ($877,000) & Alberto Del Rio ($675,000) round off the list of the company’s currently highest earners. Despite these figures, select few are provided with First Class travel to and from performances. This is assisted by workers having to arrange health insurance and similar specific requirements to work effectively and safely. With the necessity of remaining in physically top conditioning and shape while on the road, it isn’t hard to recognise why many of the company’s workers struggle to cope with the demanding schedule associated with the world’s biggest professional wrestling organisation.

With the majority of the WWE talent roster earning less than $600,000 per annum and thus having to work in excess of 300 days per year, it is easy to understand and sympathise with the frustration that many feel when part-time workers are brought into the company to boost ratings & ticket sales. In 2012, Brock Lesnar re-signed with the company for the first time since 2004 after leaving to pursue a career in American Football. After failing to do so, this led to a successful stint in the UFC for a period of years throughout the mid-late 00’s. Reportedly re-signing with the WWE on a three year contract in excess of $5,000,000 per annum, it provides the question: what is superstardom within the context of 21^st Century professional wrestling? Despite Lesnar’s drawing power in relation to ratings and ticket sales, his limited schedule & estimated worth is a slap in the face to the vast majority of the WWE talent roster. With many of the companies workers having to provide for families, the sacrifices that must be made to accommodate the WWE schedule in relation to performance salaries is unjust and unfortunate.

For the average member of society, $600,000 per annum is a substantial amount of money. Yet, for the majority of WWE workers, many make much less than this figure per annum. Along with this, they are not provided with the perks of First Class travel & are expected to report to performances in excess of 300 days per year in a variety of cities throughout the United States & across the world. Many hardly see their families & are expected to sacrifice personal commitments for professional wrestling. Many are expected to risk their own individual health & wellbeing for the wrestling community on a nightly basis, and for that, as a wrestling fan myself, I am eternally grateful. The professional wrestling industry amounts to more than being ‘over’ or a transition from being a babyface to heel – it’s about survival. So, with that in mind, some may love to hate such characters as The Miz or boo heavily during the entrance of John Cena, but due to the sacrifices that are made to make us (the wrestling fans) happy, they are successfully doing their job. For that, I have nothing but respect for those involved.

- Andrew Fletcher, @Fletchyyy on Twitter.