Reviews surfaced this week that TKO, WWE’s father or mother firm, approached a number of wrestlers about wage reductions. The story began with PWInsider on Might 4, 2026, when Mike Johnson wrote a few “fairly majorly pushed expertise” requested for a 50% pay minimize the Friday earlier than Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods left WWE. Johnson famous the wrestler reportedly agreed, although he couldn’t verify the identify or particulars.
WWE Stars Face Wage Slash from TKO
Kingston and Woods, a part of The New Day since 2006 and 2010, ended their runs after declining to restructure contracts signed a yr earlier. WWE listed them within the Alumni part with no public send-off. Each posted statements on Monday. Kingston stated the parting was mutual after talks, and Woods known as it a enterprise resolution after 16 years.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp backed the concept of a number of abilities dealing with pay minimize requests. He posted on X that “plenty of folks had been requested to take pay cuts,” however gave no specifics on quantities or acceptances. Wrestling Observer added they heard the 50% story too, describing the expertise as mid-card, not top-tier, with some current raises elsewhere.
This comes after WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas drew complaints for brief matches and adverts. Earlier post-Mania cuts hit over 20 abilities like Wyatt Sicks, Kairi Sane, Zelina Vega, and Motor Metropolis Machine Weapons. TKO goals to trim prices forward of earnings experiences by swapping veterans for NXT call-ups.
WWE stayed silent on the rumors, as ordinary with contract issues. Johnson framed it as TKO treating expertise like belongings in a revenue machine, post-Endeavor merger. Followers reacted with shock on Reddit and X, speculating names and union talks.
TKO’s strikes match a sample for the reason that 2023 sale: larger exec pay amid expertise churn. Kingston and Woods can now guide AEW or Japan dates. If extra comply with cuts, it units precedent; refusals result in exits like New Day.
TKO posted sturdy numbers in 2025. Full-year income reached $4.735 billion, with internet revenue at $546.2 million and adjusted EBITDA of $1.585 billion. WWE generated $1.709 billion in income and $896.5 million in adjusted EBITDA that yr. But expertise pay stays low general, high stars like Roman Reigns earn $5 million yearly, whereas midcard wrestlers get $100,000 to $500,000, masking a roster of 200 plus. Direct working prices, together with expertise, run about 40-50% of WWE income, leaving room for cuts amid $1.3 billion returned to shareholders.
The CEO of TKO, Ari Emanuel, earned a payout of $67 million in 2025.
