WWE Wrestlers Forced into 50% Pay Cuts as TKO Executives See Massive Salary Surges

OMAHA, NEBRASKA — May 4, 2026: Finn Balor makes his entrance during Monday Night RAW at the CHI Health Center. (Photo by Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)

The weeks following WrestleMania traditionally mark a period when WWE retools its roster for the upcoming year. While professional wrestling lacks a true “offseason,” the time between WrestleMania and SummerSlam is when new talent is elevated, established performers are scaled back, and, in some cases, wrestlers are released.

In the latest roster adjustments, WWE released upwards of 20 wrestlers last week. However, a separate issue has since emerged: corporate pressure tactics involving forced pay cuts.

Reports this week indicate that certain WWE superstars were given ultimatums—either accept reworked contracts with pay reductions of up to 50% or face termination. This affected both Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, who chose to leave the company rather than accept reduced compensation.

Veteran wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer confirmed that some WWE talent accepted the ultimatum and signed new contracts under these reduced terms. While pay scales in professional wrestling often fluctuate based on a performer’s position, it is unprecedented for talent to be forced into massive pay reductions while still under contract to fulfill lower-paying roles.

This development comes as TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company, reports explosive executive compensation growth. According to data from TKO’s Board compensation committee, year-over-year (YoY) salaries for top executives surged dramatically between 2024 and 2025:

• Ari Emanuel: +272%, $18M → $67M
• Mark Shapiro: +33%, $32M → $43M
• Nick Khan: +304%, $6M → $24M

These figures highlight a stark contrast: WWE talent is being asked to accept financial hardship, while executives at TKO enjoy triple-digit percentage salary increases. This strategy mirrors the UFC’s compensation model, which is widely criticized for underpaying MMA fighters. However, unlike UFC athletes, WWE performers are restricted from pursuing independent sponsorship deals to supplement their income.

Despite WWE’s strong financial position—bolstered by long-term media rights deals finalized in the past two years—the burden of cost-cutting falls disproportionately on talent. This raises serious questions about the need for unionization in professional wrestling, particularly within WWE. The company currently classifies talent as “independent contractors,” a designation critics argue is used to avoid fair labor practices and benefits.