Report: WWE Talent Very Upset With Payoffs

The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter claims that WWE talent is very upset with payoffs from the company. As previously reported, PPV and video game payoffs have been a point of concern for talent, and now it seems as if the unhappiness is only getting worse. Even though it exists as a concern, many believe that nothing is going to be done about the situation.

WWE is doing a number of things that has annoyed talent, including the re-enforcing of a dress code. According to reports, the company will fine talent if they aren’t dressed “professionally” when out in public. Fines for being late to tapings and arena have also been reported as something the company is instituting currently. These fines, plus the recent cut of talent and programs due to budget cuts, are said to be stressing out talent backstage.

Second Quarter royalty checks were issued during the first week of July, and were said to have been even worse than the First Quarter payoffs. For example, a main event talent in WWE would normally get around $70,000 as payoffs from video games. However, in 2014, top guys only received around $11,700 as First Quarter video game payoffs, and around $1,555 in the Second Quarter, which is a drastic change.

WrestleMania XXX payoff checks are slated to be mailed out next week, which is what talent is currently on eggshells about. No one has been told anything in regards to how they will be paid. If the payoffs are going to be based off of PPV revenue, then the checks will be significantly less that years prior due to the WWE Network. However, pay could be more if based on a Network percentage.

As seen by the announcement of big budget cuts, money is an issue to many in the company. Looking at these reports, its clear that the talent roster is just as concerned about the checkbooks as the corporate office. However, no superstar is expected to say or do anything in response to the pay cuts, because they all understand that WWE is the place they need to be to make the kind of money they are currently pulling in.

Editor’s Note:
And people wonder why Foley and Punk had issues with this stuff. Just seems stressful.