WWE Superstars Face 50% Pay Cuts Amid Corporate Pressure

After WrestleMania, WWE cut more than 20 contracts and issued ultimatums to certain talent, including Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, demanding pay reductions of up to 50% or termination. Both wrestlers chose to depart rather than accept the new terms. Veteran reporter Dave Meltzer reports that some performers accepted the cuts, reflecting a shift toward cost‑cutting similar to UFC’s model, while WWE’s parent company, TKO, saw executive salaries soar—Ari Emanuel’s raise hit $67 million, Mark Shapiro $43 million, and Nick Khan $24 million. tbzikra.com