Recent WWE contract details

[ChitownKnight]

Took this from another forum:

I just received this from a buddy on a forum elsewhere, take from it what you will, but the stuff he has posted in the past, from this contact of his, has been pretty accurate. (his message is in italic)

I have a friend who works for an entertainment news/gossip organisation (which I will not disclose the name of, since it would mean his firing). Apparently, they are preparing to write an article on contracts in sport. I asked him to forward any WWE information to me, and look what came back!

(Here is what my buddy attached from his contact)

These figures are rounded up from the original figures we received. These figures do not include, PPV or appearance bonuses, nor do they include the merchandise cut that each performer receives. Some performers receive an additional percentage added to their merchandise cut, if they are a high merchandise seller, and these are noted.

Note 1: It would appear that WWE’s standard contract lengths are 1 year, 3 year, 5 year, 7 year and 10 year.
Note 2: Some performers are offered a higher merchandise royalties percentage for taking a smaller downside. These figures were not made available to us.
Note 3: The executive office and “legends” contracts were not made available to us. These contracts operate on a different system entirely.
Note 4: The Undertaker is believed to be on a per-appearance contract, in which he is paid an agreed upon rate (a long with the typical PPV bonus if he wrestlers) for each appearance he makes for the company. Undertaker of course, still receives his merchandise royalites, etc, but isn’t on a downside contract. Undertaker is not on a legends contact, which means he cannot make appearances for independent promotions.

Alberto Del Rio: $675,000 downside/first class travel - 3 year contract
Big Show: $1,050,000 downside/allocated a personal touring bus/first class travel arrangements paid for, when bus travel is not an option - 10 year contract
Brodus Clay: $170,000 downside - 2 year contract
Christian: $595,000 downside/first class travel - 3 year contract
CM Punk: $1,220,500 downside/allocated a personal touring bus/first class travel arrangements paid for, when bus travel is not an option/receives an additional 3.25% bonus for high merchandise sales - 7 year contract
Cody Rhodes: $494,500 downside - 3 year contract
Daniel Bryan: $620,470 downside - 3 year contract
Darren Young: $80,145 downside - 3 year contract
Dolph Ziggler: $540,230 downside - 3 year contract
Jack Swagger: $319,000 downside - 3 year contract
Jinder Mahal: $75,000 downside - 3 year contract
John Cena: $2,750,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation/receives an additional 6.25% bonus for high merchandise sales - 10 year contract
Kane: $905,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation - 5 year contract
Kofi Kingston: $254,200 downside - 3 year contract
Mark Henry: $877,000 downside/first class travel - 10 year contract
Randy Orton: $1,600,500 downside/allocated a personal touring bus/first class travel arrangements paid for, when bus travel is not an option/receives an additional 2.2% bonus for high merchandise sales - 10 year contract
Rey Mysterio: $985,000 downside/first class travel arrangements/receives an additional 4% bonus for high merchandise sales - 5 year contract
Sheamus: $1,000,000 downside/first class travel arrangements - 7 year contract
Tensai: $520,000 downside - 3 year contract
The Great Khali: $974,000 downside - 5 year contract
The Miz: $712,000 downside/first class travel - 5 year contract
Zack Ryder: $135,050 downside/receives an additional 1.5% bonus for high merchandise sales - 3 year contract

Alicia Fox: $72,520 downside - 3 year contract
AJ Lee: $104,300 downside - 3 year contract
Beth Phoenix: $112,500 downside/first class travel - 3 year contract
Eve: $109,475 downside/first class travel - 5 year contract
Layla: $86,450 downside - 3 year contract
Natalya: $74,410 downside - 3 year contract

Booker T: $477,375 downside/first class travel and accommodation - 3 year contract
Jerry Lawler: $500,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation/allowed to make independent appearances - 5 year contract
Matt Striker: $164,000 downside - 3 year contract
Michael Cole: $549,000 downside/first class travel and accommodation - 5 year contract

[The Baltimore Staircase]

I have no reason to doubt your source but if Punk's on a 7 year contact I would be really, really surprised.

Unless of course they've reached an agreement whereby it's reviewed as and when Punk requires and it changes to a legends contact or something when he decides to hang the boots up.

[WarChief]

If this is true, Tensai has no business making five times as much as Zack Ryder.

[Deleted]

Hmmm...

- Big Show has a 10 year contract? Sheesh, iron-clad no doubt.
- Kofi is getting paid that little compared to everyone else? Sucks.
- Punk's doing damn well now.
- Bryan's doing well to for being in the WWE for as little time as he's been.
- Jinder gets paid less than Darren Young? Yikes.
- Cena's pay is outrageous compared to these other guys, wow. They can't do a thing to this dude. I'd be going to work as hard as he does if my check looked like that.
- Kane's doing well for himself given how long he's been in the business and the time he can take off and such.
- Mark Henry is doing great as well.
- Orton makes that much? Wow.
- Sheamus must have gotten that HHH pay increase.
- Khali makes that much? Oh screw that.

[joebob27]

Punk was called up in 2006, correct? Dirtsheet rumors are that he signed for 2 years when he re-upped.... so.

The years given may be in the form of rolled over deals with new terms. 7 would bring him to 2013 when his deal is supposedly up again in the summer.

[mizerable]

If true, it's total bullshit that Del f***in' Rio is making more than Christian. Kayfabe be damned, Christian is highly more valuable than the heatless aristocrat.

[Brother Nero....Wolfe]

Oct 4, 2012 1:16:56 GMT -5 WarChief said:

If this is true, Tensai has no business making five times as much as Zack Ryder.

If Ryder gets a bonus on his merch, then it's probably not 5 times considering how much merch he moves. Probably still less than him, but closer.

Also if he's getting that merch bonus and still lives in that apartment ZTLIS shows every once in a while then he's like Opposite Flair as far as spending money goes.

[Todd Pettengill]

I... actually believe these estimates...

[Ijob2HHH]

Ryder probably his a high royalty cut based on that pay, in which case he's probably higher up on the list for that.

Cena on the other hand, even if he's making 1 percent merchandise on top of that...damn.

[JCBaggee]

The most surprising is honestly Orton, who I figured for sure would be making way more than that.

[mizerable]

Also, Kofi's pay is complete and total bullshit. He deserves more than Swagger.

[celticjobber]

Oct 4, 2012 1:29:00 GMT -5 JCBaggee said:

The most surprising is honestly Orton, who I figured for sure would be making way more than that.

He's the second highest-paid after Cena, and he works alot less than John. So I think he's doing pretty good for himself.

[acidgod]

Khali is worth every penny, guarding that tag rope, making sure nobody steals it.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I figured Miz, being somewhat of a "celebrity", would make a bit more or have more perks.

[turkeysandwich]

Oct 4, 2012 1:40:31 GMT -5 acidgod said:

Khali is worth every penny, guarding that tag rope, making sure nobody steals it.

I was about to complain about how much they pay Khali, but then I remembered how much money he brings in from India. I just wish they'd keep his matches off TV in America.

[Deleted]

So once beth is gone EVE will not only be earning the most but also the only diva with first class privileges and on a 5yr deal.

That gets to me a just a bit.

[DZ: WF Legacy]

Tensai: $520,000 downside - 3 year contract

That poor bastard.

[YiHammer]

Jinder got lowballed.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I think that the midcard guys who aren't used consistently should be allowed to make indy appearances like Lawler's deal. It would help them get over with the fans a bit more.

[turkeysandwich]

Oct 4, 2012 1:52:22 GMT -5 YiHammer said:

Jinder got lowballed.

He was like AJ in that he got signed out of open tryout, so I'm guessing he took the first thing he was offered. AJ must have just recently signed a new deal, because as of a few months ago she was still on her developmental contract.