Mid-Tier and Developmental Contracts

While the main roster contracts are valued at millions of dollars annually, beginners and mid-tier wrestlers have a more reasonable income of approximately $60,000 – 80,000 for developmental contracts and $100,000 up to $500,000 mid-tier contracts.

Who are mid-tier wrestlers? Well, you’ll often see them appearing on TV, but not so often at main events.

Developmental contracts are specific to new talent that undergoes heavy training in terms of on-stage performance and character development. All the participants of this program can be featured on WWE NXT after initial training is done. Those who are the most successful will eventually join the main roster.

Merchandise Sales and Additional Income

Merchandise sales are another significant source of revenue for wrestlers. A percentage of all the sales with their character will go to them. Of course, every athlete will earn money differently, depending on the popularity of their character. First, the volume of sales will be higher, and second, they can negotiate a higher percentage of the revenue due to their popularity.

The true potential for a superstar to earn additional income comes from their engagements in other industries. The Rock is one of the best examples of an individual who has earned a high salary as an actor. He used his popularity to create an additional income source in a different industry.

Many other wrestlers have done the same through smart investments and appearances to promote WWE events.

Comparison to Other Wrestling Promotions

Even though the WWE is extremely popular, there are other alternatives for those who want to see a different spin on wrestling. The most popular wrestling promotions are:

• AEW
• MLW
• NJPW
• TNA
• NWA

WWE still remains the biggest one as it has the most interesting fighters. The company today is valued at more than $15 billion, which places it far at the top of all the wrestling promotions.

Likely Growth Ahead for All Wrestling Promotions

Judging from the past, it’s safe to assume that WWE will keep growing in popularity, like plenty of other wrestling promotions. Those at the top who are leading this company have organized well, and with up-and-coming stars in development, we’re yet to see new stories, events, and characters.

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