NXT Wrestlers Have Reportedly Not Gotten Pay Raises, Despite Millions from USA TV Deal

WWE is being paid about $30 million per year by USA Network to air NXT as part of a TV deal that was signed in August. But despite the additional millions in revenue, as of last month, NXT wrestlers had reportedly not yet received pay raises.

In the September 30 Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that some NXT wrestlers noted that there had been no pay raises yet since the announcement of the TV deal or after the show had already begun airing on USA, and the vast majority of the roster is being paid less than $100,000 per year (with many being paid well below that).

Regarding NXT, there were some noting that raises have not come yet for talent since the TV deal started. There are guys who know that the company got a $30 million a year deal from USA and NXT talent is being told they are a third brand, but most of the talent is earning less than $100,000 per year, if not all but a few.

With NXT now airing live, the Observer reported that wrestlers are now also required to do a full rehearsal every Tuesday night. Previously, NXT would tape every month or so.

David Starr, an independent wrestler who has been a strong proponent for workers’ rights and unionization for pro wrestlers, said that he has “literally spoken to NXT talent that has been bumped up to TV recently and they had a roster meeting with management where they were told their TV pay raises weren’t coming.”

I’ve literally spoken to NXT talent that has been bumped up to TV recently and they had a roster meeting with management where they were told their TV pay raises weren’t coming. https://t.co/LGMJ31LZjk

— (((David Starr)))🌹 (@TheProductDS) October 28, 2019

The McMahon’s are worth nearly $3 BILLION.

The reported base level salary of an NXT superstar is $55,000.#CancelYourSubscriptionhttps://t.co/10lDO03dIg pic.twitter.com/GmvjtIxqaT

— (((David Starr)))🌹 (@TheProductDS) October 28, 2019

AND these main roster pay increases would still put them around 10% revenue to salary payout.

— (((David Starr)))🌹 (@TheProductDS) October 28, 2019

-doesn’t provide health insurance to talent
-doesn’t provide pensions
-gives little to no royalties to talent for usage on the WWE Network & YouTube
-accepts massive payouts from genocidal theocratic Saudi Arabian government
-(according to former talent) downplays CTE research

— (((David Starr)))🌹 (@TheProductDS) October 28, 2019