WWE Hall of Famer JBL has fiercely defended talents who accepted pay reductions amid TKO’s controversial contract restructuring. On the Something To Wrestle podcast, he pushed back against heated fan backlash, stressing that critics overlook the tough financial realities many wrestlers face. JBL contrasted today’s lighter schedules and guaranteed money with his own brutal early days, when he earned just $40,000 while working nearly 300 days a year, saying even with pay cuts, “This is still a great deal.”
“I know that there’s a contingent online who are like, ‘Hey, you got to stand up and do what’s right.’ Like, do you realize what you’re saying? Like, if you got them a new five-year deal at $X million a year, who walks away from $X million a year in the twilight of their career for, let’s be honest, a much easier schedule than he originally signed up for? Like, the amount of travel versus the amount of time you’re home back then versus now, the quality of life is through the roof. This is still a great deal … In my first year in WWE, I believe I made, I think, $40,000 or something like that. You don’t make any money when you’re on the road 300 days a year.” – JBL
TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company, is restructuring several talent contracts to align pay with reduced workloads better and cut overall costs. The moves mainly target upper mid-card performers who signed big deals in prior years, with requests for cuts of up to 50%. However, it should be noted that top stars such as Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes are believed to remain unaffected. Key factors include far fewer house shows and minimal travel. While some reportedly accepted the new terms, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods refused and were granted releases on May 2, 2026.
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