More info:
WK: Steve Austin earned $4 million in match pay and $4 million in merchandise pay in his best year, and he probably earned over $20 million over the course of his three best years. The Rock never reached that level of pay during his peak years as a wrestler because his main event days came later in the wrestling boom and unlike Austin, he had to share his main event payoffs with two other top stars at the time - Austin and Hunter. However, he likely topped $4 million a couple of years. Triple H is tougher to gage because he was never as much of a draw or on top as long during the great years as Rock and Austin, but now that he's part of the family, to him it's probably a bit academic since - prenups aside - is going to be financially set as far as favorable payoffs go for the foreseeable future. Opening match and young talent just starting out are offered downside guarantees in the $50-75,000 range. Even wrestlers with the skills, experience, and popularity of Rey Mysterio are given downside guarantees under $100,000. They still get paid based on their share of house show revenues, PPV bonuses, and merchandise checks, but if all of that adds up to less than their downside guarantee, they get paid the difference at the end of the year. The $50-75,000 sounds a lot less impressive once you factor in that they have to pay for their own rental cars and hotel rooms, not to mention meals on the road and other travelling expenses. Then factor in the true number of hours they work, including days away from home, and it's far from a get rich quick scheme.
WK: Steve Austin earned $4 million in match pay and $4 million in merchandise pay in his best year, and he probably earned over $20 million over the course of his three best years. The Rock never reached that level of pay during his peak years as a wrestler because his main event days came later in the wrestling boom and unlike Austin, he had to share his main event payoffs with two other top stars at the time - Austin and Hunter. However, he likely topped $4 million a couple of years. Triple H is tougher to gage because he was never as much of a draw or on top as long during the great years as Rock and Austin, but now that he's part of the family, to him it's probably a bit academic since - prenups aside - is going to be financially set as far as favorable payoffs go for the foreseeable future. Opening match and young talent just starting out are offered downside guarantees in the $50-75,000 range. Even wrestlers with the skills, experience, and popularity of Rey Mysterio are given downside guarantees under $100,000. They still get paid based on their share of house show revenues, PPV bonuses, and merchandise checks, but if all of that adds up to less than their downside guarantee, they get paid the difference at the end of the year. The $50-75,000 sounds a lot less impressive once you factor in that they have to pay for their own rental cars and hotel rooms, not to mention meals on the road and other travelling expenses. Then factor in the true number of hours they work, including days away from home, and it's far from a get rich quick scheme.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The General:
I looked forward every week to Monday night RAW.
Like i said, had some fun nights of partying.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
When RAW and Nitro were @ their peak, they were pulling in 11 ratings. Lots of network (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox) shows don't get 11 ratings!
But now the ratings are in the crapper. You can only shock the audience with sex/violence so many times before they get bored. Plus, almost all the major stars are gone or only wrestle part-time. The Rock, Stone Cold, Mick Foley, etc.
I looked forward every week to Monday night RAW.
Like i said, had some fun nights of partying.
When RAW and Nitro were @ their peak, they were pulling in 11 ratings. Lots of network (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox) shows don't get 11 ratings!
But now the ratings are in the crapper. You can only shock the audience with sex/violence so many times before they get bored. Plus, almost all the major stars are gone or only wrestle part-time. The Rock, Stone Cold, Mick Foley, etc.
