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In the Ultimate Warrior thread, we were talking about wrestler salaries. To that end, I went back to old newsletters, mainly the Observer, to see what guys were making in the 1998-99 timeframe. There was very little regarding the WWF, somewhat surprisingly, especially given that the WWF's IPO occurred during this period. At any rate, here's what was found. Any incorrections are from the source material.
- Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Eddie Guerrero got new contracts around January of 1999, reported as three years for $1,350,000 ($400,000, $450,000, $500,000) apiece.
- Mikey Whipwreck and Hak (The Sandman) were initally reported as being in the $130,000 to $200,000 per year range. Hak's deal was later confirmed as $245,000 per year for three years, but WCW used a 90 day out cycle to release him in October 1999 when cost cutting was implemented and mass releases, including Whipwreck, and renegotiations of existing deals took place.
- Warrior wanted $2,500,000 per year in 1995 when WCW approached him. That money was considered outrageous and was a motivation for creating The Renegade gimmick with the guy getting a more reasonable $150,000 per year.
- Davey Boy Smith was making $400,000 per year when cut in April of 1999.
- Rick Rude, who had been working for the WWF and ECW without a contract, jumped to WCW in November of 1997 for $300,000 per year for three years from November 1997. He made $315,000 per year in his 1991-1994 stint.
- Goldberg was making $800,000 per year in the spring of 1999 as renegotiations occurred. I think he wound up getting something in the $3,000,000 or more per year range.
- Shane Douglas wanted $350,000 from the WWF but was told "no way". I'd forgotten they even talked given his bitter departure in late 1995. It wasn't made clear what WCW gave him.
- Scott Hall made $30,000 per week in mid 1999 which adds up to $1,600,000 per year, but WCW cut his pay by 50% during his lengthy spell on the shelf that year.
- WCW offered Chris Jericho between $425,000 and $500,000 to stay, but he turned them down figuring his WWF downside would be lower, but he'd make more with a push there that WCW wouldn't give him.
- It was written that Swoll got a one year deal for $400,000 in mid 1999. Fellow No Limit Soldiers Chase Tatum and Tank also got one year deals for undisclosed terms. All were said to have been eventually released.
- $900,000 for Karl Malone, $1,000,000 for Jay Leno, $2,250,000 for Dennis Rodman, $3,500,000 for Mike Tyson, and $200,000 per Nitro appearance for Master P. The Master P thing seems a lot crazier until you count up that he made maybe half a dozen appearances. Then his pay is still dumb, but more in line with the other celebrities.
- Jesse Ventura got $350,000 per year from WCW from 1992-1994.
- Lanny Poffo was getting $75,000 and wasn't even being used by WCW.
- KISS got $500,000 to play two songs on Nitro when The Demon debuted plus additional money for the wrestler's gimmick.
- WCW paid Raven $275,000 per year.
- Tazz wanted a $450,000 downside from the WWF, while it proposed $200,000. WCW offered more, but he went with the WWF after worrying about not getting pushed in WCW.
- Scott Norton got $800,000 per year before his deal either ran out in the fall of 1999 or he was flat out cut via a 90 day out cycle.
- Vampiro was getting $350,000 per year, but the contract had 90 day out cycles that WCW executed. WCW wanted him to take $175,000 in a new deal in October 1999, later increased to $200,000 per year with the chance to make money on outside merch, and a promise see about getting some extra money to him after the crisis ended.
- Wrath had $350,000 per year until November 1999 when a 90 day review cycle was used to renegotiate him downward.
- Stevie Ray got $750,000 per year until November 1999 when a 90 day review cycle was used to renegotiate him downward.
- Alicia Webb got $60,000 as of November 1999 to valet for The Maestro.
- DDP was getting $1,300,000 as of November of 1999 with two and a half years to go. Apparently with WCW approval, since it wanted to get salaries off the books, he used his contacts with Big Show and Big Bossman to see about WWF interest. The interest was there, but not at a guarantee for that kind of money, so he stayed put.
- Tank Abbott was getting $300,000 per year.
Here is the little I could find about WWF contracts.
- Jeff Jarrett made $428,000 in the WWF in 1998 on a $250,000 downside and topped his $350,000 downside in 1999 without an amount being mentioned. However, his WCW salary was not disclosed.
- Shawn Michaels, who didn't wrestle between late March of 1998 and late August of 2002, apparently got $780,000 from the WWF for at least part, if not all, of that timeframe.
And an All Japan tidbit.
- Vader was given a deal in mid 1999 calling for $14,950 per week while touring with that promotion and a guarantee that he could work every tour (sometimes certain foreign workers would be left off of tours). However, I'm pretty certain that money only called for the weeks when All Japan was touring. How many weeks would that have accounted for?
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In a Jim Ross voice: Young talent need to strive to make Stevie Ray like money and make wise choices with it if they reach that level.
-------------------- Sir Tojo: "I used Brut in the late '60's-early '70's. Used to splash it all over my crotch area after a shower--no joke.I used to get some funny reactions to that back in my early 20's. Fond memories."
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All the salary numbers go back to my point in the other thread that Vince was crazy to think illegally breaking Bret's contract was going to put the salary genie back in the lamp for UT, HBK, Austin, and the like.
And 3.5 million for Tyson? Yeah, if I'm Bret I'm a little bitter. Not that it wasn't worth it, but when VinnieMac pleads poverty then does that it kind has to hit you that it wasn't poverty but in reality a strong desire to get you out of the company.
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- Tazz wanted a $450,000 downside from the WWF, while it proposed $200,000. WCW offered more, but he went with the WWF after worrying about not getting pushed in WCW.
Yeah not sure that worked out for him as a wrestler.
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Tazz probably did okay the first year in the WWF before his push completely ended and he moved towards announcing. He worked sold out to nearly sold out house shows, got on several PPVs including WM17, and his merch sold for a while.
The real benefit for Tazz was getting into the WWF before the legions of ex WCW and ECW guys started coming aboard in 2001. He established a spot for himself and then fell into an announcing gig that gave him long running spot with a good income, stability, and less travel. I think he left the WWE by his own choosing. What does TNA pay him? Does he have a wrestling school on the side? I'd have thought Tazz would've clung to that WWE spot forever given the circumstances.
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Since we are talking salaries, does anyone know for sure the royalty situation for old footage? Do guys get royalties for WWE running old WCW saturday night shows on WWE 24/7? How about former WWE wrestlers with house shows on 24/7? And does the Network model change how royalties are paid or IF they are paid? Does Booker T or whoever get a small check everytime WWE steals a soundbite for WWE confidential and inserts it in yet another program on the network?
The reason I ask is that a friend brought up a point when discussing the turtle like pace WWE was placing content on the network. He suggested that even with 24/7 footage that has already been sanitized of music issues, choking, etc. there might by royalty issues to work out.
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quote:Originally posted by tamalie from MN: Tazz probably did okay the first year in the WWF before his push completely ended and he moved towards announcing. He worked sold out to nearly sold out house shows, got on several PPVs including WM17, and his merch sold for a while.
The real benefit for Tazz was getting into the WWF before the legions of ex WCW and ECW guys started coming aboard in 2001. He established a spot for himself and then fell into an announcing gig that gave him long running spot with a good income, stability, and less travel. I think he left the WWE by his own choosing. What does TNA pay him? Does he have a wrestling school on the side? I'd have thought Tazz would've clung to that WWE spot forever given the circumstances.
After reading Mick Foley's Countdown to Lockdown book recently and hearing what he made as an announcer on SD, I'm not sure how great Tazz did. I'm assuming like a wrestler he has to pay his own travel costs and Mick implied that an announcer was lucky to pull 100k-150k. Once you deduct travel, health insurance, taxes, it is ok, but hardly great compared to what wrestlers make.
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True, but there was little interest on the WWE's part in Tazz as a wrestler beyond early 2002. With all the ex WCW and ECW guys running around plus the stacked developmental system and longer term WWF guys who had people in their corner, Tazz was going to find himself in real trouble soon after that. He'd have had wound up working the cable and syndicated B shows like Heat, Velocity, and Jakked/Metal before staring at release or being told to leave Long Island for Louisville to train guys. I'm not sure if even the brand split would have helped him much. Announcer pay isn't as good, but Tazz himself was ready to get out of the ring and it was good money under the circumstances.
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I believe I recall seeing in the Observer that KISS got paid even more for that aborted New Years pay-per-view concert/card; that there was a pay-or-play clause in the deal and that WCW had made a deal to use the other character likenesses (though maybe that was still on the table when the Demon fizzled).
-------------------- "The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it’s as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues." —Terry Pratchett
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Guys with announcer contracts, like referees are often on payroll as employees. So their travel was completely covered by the company. And to say travel is misleading, WWE covers airfare to and from the event, and in some cases cover extra travel costs toaand from certain events depending on the ssituation.
During that really hot period your downside was almost irrelevant as they were making so much just from house show appearances working in front of $350,000 houses every night. Guys like Jericho and Benoit were making 3 times over what their downside was. Guys like the Outlaws made close to seven figures in 1999.
Vader's deal with All Japan was only for the weeks he worked. Which I believe most years was about 18 weeks. As is customary in Japan the top guys would often get a bonus at the beginning of the year. Also those top guys often got huge "tips" from sponsors and other sources.
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And with this, no one should ever wonder why WCW no longer exists.
-------------------- "It's Gerry, and Mike Graham is the correct answer." — CWF Fan on a 07-14-2017 thread, debating Mike Graham & Jerry Brisco
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quote:Originally posted by Bnicholas: All the salary numbers go back to my point in the other thread that Vince was crazy to think illegally breaking Bret's contract was going to put the salary genie back in the lamp for UT, HBK, Austin, and the like.
And 3.5 million for Tyson? Yeah, if I'm Bret I'm a little bitter. Not that it wasn't worth it, but when VinnieMac pleads poverty then does that it kind has to hit you that it wasn't poverty but in reality a strong desire to get you out of the company.
Yes but in Vince's 1997 mind he didn't know his competitions salaries were going to get jacked through the roof.
Also people need to stop comparing Mike Tysons pay and Bret's salary. Paying Mike what he was paid should be compared to spending that much extra for advertising. It was a one time fee to increase exposure to his product and his biggest event of the year. And it paid off, in a way few have in history.
People also scoff at what Dennis Rodman made, but once again the first few times he was used he was more than worth it!
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I'm sure Taz wouldn't change a thing, beats the hell out of doing those pointless ECW reunion shows.
But yeah, watching his debut at Royal Rumble and the way he dominated an undefeated Kurt Angle you certainly felt that the WWF was going to skyrocket Taz to the top just like that.
But two things that hurt Taz, one was his size, even a guy like Kurt Angle towered over Taz and number 2 the Radicalz debut, once they debuted it seemed Taz immediately got lost in the shuffle and 6 months later he's feuding with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler once that happened the window on Taz being a top guy was slammed shut for good, but again he's made a far better career being an announcer than he would have if he had stuck to wrestling.
-------------------- I hope my next relationship lasts longer than Taylor Swift's next 10.
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Regarding Dennis Rodman, he made WCW his salary and then some via not only the PPV buys, but also the free publicity for Nitro and the promotion in general back in 1997. It was funny to watch Hogan and cornerman Savage go out of their way to get mainstream media folks to take pictures of them with Rodman during that Hogan-Rodman vs. Luger-Giant tag match. His 1998 performance with Hogan against DDP and Karl Malone was another matter and by 1999 the guy was completely played out. It worked initially however.
Did All Japan really only tour 18 out of 52 weeks per year? I realize they had few to no days off during those tours, but it adds up to only 126 dates per year. You'd think they'd tour more often.
As someone mentioned, KISS got to keep a non refundable deposit from WCW for the concert/wrestling New Year's Evil PPV that was cancelled after Bischoff was removed from power. I'll go back to see what that amount was, if it was published.
Looking through those old newsletters, it's really sad to see WCW's business just plummet throughout the year. You can see the thing slipping away, but no one had the sense to hit the brakes. At one point Dave Meltzer astutely wrote that WCW needed to ignore the ratings and not even consider itself in competition with the WWF for the next year plus. It needed to concentrate on getting over and building around the younger and fresher talent with any vets unwilling to get with the program being sent home. Then the promotion hired Russo and Ferrara, which was not in itself a bad idea, but early in 1999, while both were still in the WWF, Dave noted that they were often unfocused and needed to be guided. WCW gave them carte blanche instead and that's where things got badly off track.
quote:Originally posted by Bnicholas: All the salary numbers go back to my point in the other thread that Vince was crazy to think illegally breaking Bret's contract was going to put the salary genie back in the lamp for UT, HBK, Austin, and the like.
And 3.5 million for Tyson? Yeah, if I'm Bret I'm a little bitter. Not that it wasn't worth it, but when VinnieMac pleads poverty then does that it kind has to hit you that it wasn't poverty but in reality a strong desire to get you out of the company.
Yes but in Vince's 1997 mind he didn't know his competitions salaries were going to get jacked through the roof.
Also people need to stop comparing Mike Tysons pay and Bret's salary. Paying Mike what he was paid should be compared to spending that much extra for advertising. It was a one time fee to increase exposure to his product and his biggest event of the year. And it paid off, in a way few have in history.
People also scoff at what Dennis Rodman made, but once again the first few times he was used he was more than worth it!
sure it paid off and I don't question the Tyson move at all. But when someone tells you they can't afford to pay you what they promised at 1.5 million a year and they turn around and toss 3l5 million at someone for a few appearances, you have to get the message that maybe you aren't wanted for some reasons beyond dollars.
And we can keep arguing this but Vince is a moron (which we know he isn't) if he genuinely thought that salaries weren't going to skyrocket after seeing what Nash and Hall got, knowing what Hogan and Savage were making, knowing what WCW was offering Warrior around the time they tried to bring him back (see other thread), and then seeing what WCW was giving Bret in 97 after Vince decided to illegally break their contract. I mean seriously the writing as on the wall that big names were gonna get 7 figures.
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I think Vince knew WWF salaries, even if we're just talking downside guarantees, were going to take a major jump after Hall and Nash got such big deals from WCW which eventually started paying better money to many others. Even in 1996, he gave Marc Mero and Brian Pillman dollar figures and, at least with Pillman, a guarantee that he didn't give to most others. Now the WWF may have had some cash flow issues related to Bret's deal that it overcame somehow for Tyson, possibly even by financing the deal through loans or credit. However, in the end, it boiled down to how Vince McMahon and the WWF wanted to dedicate cash flow. Vince probably figured Bret was overpaid for who and what he was and decided to get himself out from under that deal to direct the funds elsewhere.
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quote:Originally posted by tamalie from MN: I think Vince knew WWF salaries, even if we're just talking downside guarantees, were going to take a major jump after Hall and Nash got such big deals from WCW which eventually started paying better money to many others. Even in 1996, he gave Marc Mero and Brian Pillman dollar figures and, at least with Pillman, a guarantee that he didn't give to most others. Now the WWF may have had some cash flow issues related to Bret's deal that it overcame somehow for Tyson, possibly even by financing the deal through loans or credit. However, in the end, it boiled down to how Vince McMahon and the WWF wanted to dedicate cash flow. Vince probably figured Bret was overpaid for who and what he was and decided to get himself out from under that deal to direct the funds elsewhere.
Must be nice. I bet some wrestlers have decided they were underpaid and wanted some more cash flow dedicated to them and yet haven't been able to get themselves out of their deals. Montreal screwjob aside I've always found the breaking of legally binding contracts a bit of a jerk move as well. Sure he said Bret could go to WCW, but he also said he was breaking it either way and Bret could either take money on the back end (which at that point why should Bret have trusted him?) or Bret could be tied up in court, unable to work.
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- Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Eddie Guerrero got new contracts around January of 1999, reported as three years for $1,350,000 ($400,000, $450,000, $500,000) apiece.
The wording on that is kinda confusing. What was the breakdown?
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quote:Originally posted by Bnicholas: All the salary numbers go back to my point in the other thread that Vince was crazy to think illegally breaking Bret's contract was going to put the salary genie back in the lamp for UT, HBK, Austin, and the like.
And 3.5 million for Tyson? Yeah, if I'm Bret I'm a little bitter. Not that it wasn't worth it, but when VinnieMac pleads poverty then does that it kind has to hit you that it wasn't poverty but in reality a strong desire to get you out of the company.
Yes but in Vince's 1997 mind he didn't know his competitions salaries were going to get jacked through the roof.
Also people need to stop comparing Mike Tysons pay and Bret's salary. Paying Mike what he was paid should be compared to spending that much extra for advertising. It was a one time fee to increase exposure to his product and his biggest event of the year. And it paid off, in a way few have in history.
People also scoff at what Dennis Rodman made, but once again the first few times he was used he was more than worth it!
sure it paid off and I don't question the Tyson move at all. But when someone tells you they can't afford to pay you what they promised at 1.5 million a year and they turn around and toss 3l5 million at someone for a few appearances, you have to get the message that maybe you aren't wanted for some reasons beyond dollars.
And we can keep arguing this but Vince is a moron (which we know he isn't) if he genuinely thought that salaries weren't going to skyrocket after seeing what Nash and Hall got, knowing what Hogan and Savage were making, knowing what WCW was offering Warrior around the time they tried to bring him back (see other thread), and then seeing what WCW was giving Bret in 97 after Vince decided to illegally break their contract. I mean seriously the writing as on the wall that big names were gonna get 7 figures.
Seems like Vince was a genius because here we are 17 years later and his top talents downsides aren't much higher than 750k a year. Heck Triple H has a $1 mil a year guarantee. It seems he kept HIS salaries in tact. He knew he made a mistake getting into a bidding war, that was not his game. His game is to guarantee a little, but with hard work you can make a lot more.
No matter whar people say or how he spi s history he wasn't going to let his salaries get out of hand. He understood the ups and downs of the business. Turners employees never got that, and relied on hot shotting.
- Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Eddie Guerrero got new contracts around January of 1999, reported as three years for $1,350,000 ($400,000, $450,000, $500,000) apiece.
The wording on that is kinda confusing. What was the breakdown?
I read it as all three made the same amount, $1,350,000 over three years. Year one is $400k, year two $450k, year three at $500k.
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WCW was a bit more generous re road expenses than was WWF. WCW paid for all airfare for trips over 300 miles. If the trip was less than 300 miles, WCW paid for the rental cars. The rental car rule was 3 guys to a vehicle. For the most part,talent paid for hotel rooms and food, although on TV days, catering was in place from early in the morning until the taping was done. I used to have a master list of every person on the roster and what travel perks they received. It was a spreadsheet with working name, real name, contact telephone. Then there were columns hotel, rental car etc. There were some guys who had their hotel bills paid by the company.....Hogan and his ilk. Hogan also had a limo in every town . The Nasty Boys usually traveled with him. Hogan was also given a suite paid for by the company.
There is one person who knows all of the inside stuff at WCW. Every salary, everything.....Janie Engle. She knew everything and said nothing. I'm still touch with Janie and, occasionally we talk about those days....she's a fountain of accurate information. If I ever wanted to write a book about WCW, she'd be my main source....she knew it all.
quote:Originally posted by russian heel: DDP was getting $1,300,000 as of November of 1999
There is no one in the business that came in with so little and worked so hard to pocket a few Mil.
Page Joseph Falkinburg, you are a Hero to hustlers EVERYWHERE!
According to him (grain of salt), he's made more money with DDP Yoga the last several years than in his entire wrestling career. Hustler indeed.
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quote:Originally posted by russian heel: DDP was getting $1,300,000 as of November of 1999
There is no one in the business that came in with so little and worked so hard to pocket a few Mil.
Page Joseph Falkinburg, you are a Hero to hustlers EVERYWHERE!
According to him (grain of salt), he's made more money with DDP Yoga the last several years than in his entire wrestling career. Hustler indeed.
Highly unlikely to use a quote Gorilla Monsoon liked to use.
Oh, I don't know; he has direct control, so more of the profit goes directly into his pocket. It's possible, though I suspect it would be more likely true if the dvd's were being mass distributed. I wouldn't be surprised if he was at least on his way to making more than he did in wrestling.
-------------------- "The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it’s as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues." —Terry Pratchett
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quote:Originally posted by russian heel: DDP was getting $1,300,000 as of November of 1999
There is no one in the business that came in with so little and worked so hard to pocket a few Mil.
Page Joseph Falkinburg, you are a Hero to hustlers EVERYWHERE!
According to him (grain of salt), he's made more money with DDP Yoga the last several years than in his entire wrestling career. Hustler indeed.
Highly unlikely to use a quote Gorilla Monsoon liked to use.
Oh, I don't know; he has direct control, so more of the profit goes directly into his pocket. It's possible, though I suspect it would be more likely true if the dvd's were being mass distributed. I wouldn't be surprised if he was at least on his way to making more than he did in wrestling.
Plus he filmed all the contents for the DVDs when it was named YRG back in 08 or 09 and charges a lot for yoga dvds. Do you want a $5.00 yoga DVD out of the WalMart bin or do you want to pay $70.00 which is currently his cheapest package offering. Plus tack on extra 50-70 for a heart monitor from his site. Jake must be on the payroll because I assume a ton of wrestling fans ordered the DVDs when Jakes youtube videos went up.
-------------------- Sir Tojo: "I used Brut in the late '60's-early '70's. Used to splash it all over my crotch area after a shower--no joke.I used to get some funny reactions to that back in my early 20's. Fond memories."
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Seems like Raven sold himself low. ECW stars were exotic, appealing commodities when he jumped. And, he was the hottest of the ECW guys. Plus, he was a guy with a proven track record with the big boys. Seems like he could have held out and gotten $100k to $150k more a year.
-------------------- "... let's get this train wreck a-rollin'!"- Strong Bad
"STOP KICKING ME!!"- Christopher Daniels @ Unbreakable '05
quote:Originally posted by RockyRacoon War Damn Eagle from GA: Seems like Raven sold himself low. ECW stars were exotic, appealing commodities when he jumped. And, he was the hottest of the ECW guys. Plus, he was a guy with a proven track record with the big boys. Seems like he could have held out and gotten $100k to $150k more a year.
Yeah really. He did get a lot of TV time and I remember that he was on the WCW/NWO Revenge video game cover with Goldberg, Hogan and Nash.
I wish they would come out with a retro game that combined those characters with No Mercy characters.
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Do we have any idea what the native Japanese top talent made throughout the years in the top promotions like NJ, NOAH, and AJ? Did they have contracts/downsides or was it all based on how much the houses/buy rates were?
-------------------- é—˜é‚ ãƒ“ãƒ³ã‚¿ FTW
Inoki is greater than Ichiban Hogan
"I just love seeing people beat with chains, and whips."- Johnny Valentine
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Here are some salary figures as of the first quarter of 2001. Any incorrect figures are from the source material, mainly the Observer, but also other newsletters of the day.
- A thirty day suspension of Buff Bagwell in late 2000 for hitting a crew member wound up costing him $45,000. That figure includes more than his base salary which was more in the $375,000 range, guaranteed, per year.
- Mark Madden got a raise $150,000 per year in 2000 after getting promoted to the Nitro announcing team
- As of early 2001, the Observer had the members of Jung Dragons and Three Count making $50,000 to $80,000 per year apiece. However, the manner in which the number was referenced makes it seem apocraphal as opposed to factual
- Vince Russo's deal in the fall of 1999 with WCW was for $500,000 per year. Ed Ferrara made the same or a bit less.
- Kevin Sullivan made $300,000 per year and, insanely due to all the cost cutting going on, it was allowed to roll over for another year in early 2001 even though he wasn't being used in creative or the ring.
- Super Crazy was supposedly offered $85,000 by the WWF. WCW supposedly offered him $750 per week plus $500 extra per appearance, the same as Christopher Daniels and Michael Modest signed for. The plan, at least for Super Crazy, was increase that to $85,000 per year after the Fusient deal closed and things stabilized.
- Crowbar was cut in early 2001 in a 90 day review cycle. He'd made $100,000 per year previously.
- Kevin Nash had a guaranteed deal for $1,625,000 ending in early 2002
- Sting was getting close to $2,000,000 per year guaranteed.
- Booker T was getting $750,000 per year guaranteed.
- Bill Goldberg was said to be making $2,000,000 per year with two and a half years to go. Goldberg was owed about $6,000,000 in all at the time WCW closed. I’ve also heard it was $2,200,000 and increasing each year to make a total greater than $6,000,000. It could be a false memory. I need to find the relevant newsletter, if it exists.
- When WCW closed, Ric Flair was getting a guaranteed $800,000 per year with two years to go
- Konnan had his contract reworked in a cost savings measure by WCW and that allowed him to still get paid while working outside dates Mexico and WWC (WCW had cut way back on shows by the fall of 2000). This enabled him to double dip after WCW closed when most with guaranteed deals could not.
- Billy Kidman, Rey Mysterio Jr., and Chris Kanyon each made "in excess of $300,000 per year", guaranteed.
- Lance Storm and Mike Awesome each made $200,000 per year with 90 day review cycles.
- Legal action stemming from Owen Hart's death, revealed the following. Owen Hart got $30,000 in 1988 (four and a half months), $56,000 in 1989 (about six months), $311,000 in 1996 with a $250,000 downside, $285,000 in 1997 with a $250,000 downside, and $537,000 in 1998 with $400,000 downside. No other years were shown.
- Tajiri and Jerry Lynn each received $125,000 per year downsides for three years from the WWF after ECW collapsed.
- The WWF gave a $100,000 downside to Rhyno for three years with a company option for a fourth. Looking at what Tajiri and Lynn got, and Tajiri was initially pegged in reports at $100,000, it makes me think Rhyno may have received more.
When ECW filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it owed money to the following wrestlers, most of it uncollectible.
Rob Van Dam - $150,000 Tommy Dreamer - $100,000 Joey Styles - $50,480 Rhino - $50,000 Shane Douglas - $48,400 Francine - $47,275 Roadkill - $21,250 Don Callis - $12,000 Dawn Marie - $9,000 Tajiri - $5,000 Super Crazy - $5,000
quote:Originally posted by Bnicholas: Since we are talking salaries, does anyone know for sure the royalty situation for old footage? Do guys get royalties for WWE running old WCW saturday night shows on WWE 24/7? How about former WWE wrestlers with house shows on 24/7? And does the Network model change how royalties are paid or IF they are paid? Does Booker T or whoever get a small check everytime WWE steals a soundbite for WWE confidential and inserts it in yet another program on the network?
The reason I ask is that a friend brought up a point when discussing the turtle like pace WWE was placing content on the network. He suggested that even with 24/7 footage that has already been sanitized of music issues, choking, etc. there might by royalty issues to work out.
Court Bauer was speaking about this, as he asked Konnan about whether he is owed royalties when they show old Nitros or whatever. The general assumption is similar to when they put old WCW matches on DVD. These people ARE owed royalties, but WWE does the bare minimum when it comes to seeking these people out and calculating percentages. If someone like Jerry Flynn was featured, it would be up to Flynn to seek out his dough. If a wrestler DOES make a royalties claim, WWE don't really fight it. They simply offer them an over-inflated settlement with the proviso that they can't claim more royalties down the line (hence the larger payout as compensation for future royalties).
The problem with the Network is a lot of deals from previous years purely covered DVD royalties and because this is a different form of media, there MAY be grounds for lower-carders to renegotiate their previous deals (though I'm not going to say that with too much authority, as I'm not a legal eagle).
The idea of Glacier, Villano IV and CIMA getting a cheque off WWE in 2014 for appearances on the {Pro} really does delight me though.
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quote:Originally posted by BVRF05: Eddie Gilbert Fan: I am still shocked that Stevie Ray made that much money.
Several minority performers in WCW discussed a class action lawsuit in the 1998 range over a lack of pushes and stereotypical roles. WCW responded by bumping up the pay for both Harlem Heat members big time. Booker T got the singles push he was ready to run with while Stevie Ray wound up with a promintent NWO role. Neither was involved in the discussed legal action. It's been a long time, but I think some others were taken care of in different ways to quiet things down. Vince Russo made some derogatory comments about the luchadors that wound up causing the same group (Sonny Onoo, Bobby Walker, and others) to reband and sue WCW in 2000 for pretty much the same reasons as before. It was settled out of court.
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quote:Originally posted by RockyRacoon War Damn Eagle from GA: Seems like Raven sold himself low. ECW stars were exotic, appealing commodities when he jumped. And, he was the hottest of the ECW guys. Plus, he was a guy with a proven track record with the big boys. Seems like he could have held out and gotten $100k to $150k more a year.
Yeah really. He did get a lot of TV time and I remember that he was on the WCW/NWO Revenge video game cover with Goldberg, Hogan and Nash.
I wish they would come out with a retro game that combined those characters with No Mercy characters.
In one of the many shoot interviews that Raven has done (can't remember which one), he mentioned that he heard about Sandman's deal, and he told them that "he wanted what Hak was making", so they gave it to him. Remember $ 275K is much more than anyone was making in ECW at the time, plus with all of Raven's known vices he may have not beem dealing with a clear head at the time.
-------------------- I am always right, because I always listen to my wife.
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posted
I've been keeping this in my back pocket for awhile, but I might as well break it out....
I've got a copy of the Sonny Onoo discrimination lawsuit documents. It includes many disclosures about WCW payroll including one set of documents that was "WCW Payroll as of May 23 2000". It's the year-by-year contracts (renewals dates, number of house shows, max days, PPV bonus, etc.) for everyone.
This isn't to say this what anyone was actually paid, it's just what their contract was written for. Obviously, some people made more (due to bonuses, timing, PPV) and some people made less (getting cut). This would all be synced to the contract year. In the spreadsheet I just looked at, I tried to pull what the pay was for each wrestler for their current year of their contract (as of May 2000):
Goldberg: $2,500,000 Bret Hart: $2,500,000 Sting: $1,500,000 Kevin Nash: $1,450,000 Scott Hall: $1,450,000 The Total Package: $1,400,000 Diamond Dallas Page: $1,250,000 Sid Vicious: $800,000 Scott Steiner: $750,000 Rick Steiner (Varsity Club): $750,000 Rowdy Roddy Piper: $750,000 Booker T: $700,000 Tank Abbott: $650,000 Konnan: $570,000
Dustin Rhodes: $500,000 Ric Flair: $500,000 Curt Hennig: $425,000 Rey Mysterio Jr.: $400,000 Marcus Bagwell: $400,000 The Cat: $400,000 Bam Bam Bigelow: $400,000 Berlyn: $395,000 Mike Awesome: $350,000 "The Franchise" Shane Douglas: $350,000 Billy Kidman: $300,000 Disco Inferno: $300,000 Jeff Jarrett: $275,000 Vampiro: $250,000 Captain Rection: $250,000 Fit Finlay: $250,000 Brian Knobs: $245,000 Kanyon: $240,000 Harlem Heat - Stevie Ray: $240,000 Horace: $225,000 Torrie Wilson: $200,000 Juventud Guerrera: $200,000 Kimberly: $200,000 Lieutenant Loco: $185,000 La Parka: $180,000 Meng: $180,000 Kronic - Brian Adams: $175,000 Kronic - Bryan Clark: $175,000 Hacksaw Jim Duggan: $175,000 Michael Wallstreet: $165,000 Psychosis: $160,000
Ice Train: $150,000 Madusa: $150,000 NWO Sting: $150,000 Mike Jones: $150,000 Elizabeth: $150,000 Jerry Flynn: $150,000 Big Vito: $130,000 Harris Boys - Don Harris: $130,000 Harris Boys - Ron Harris: $130,000 David Flair: $125,000 Buzzkill: $125,000 Los Fabulosos Silver King: $120,000 Norman Smiley: $120,000 Lane: $110,000 Idol: $110,000 Mona: $105,000 Chris Candido: $104,000 Artist formerly known as Prince Iaukea: $104,000 Jung Dragons - Kaz: $100,000 Villano IV: $100,000 El Dandy: $100,000 Villano V: $100,000 Jakob: $100,000 (bodybuilder with giant arms they signed in a Nitro segment) Hardwork Bobby Walker: $100,000 Nick Patrick: $90,000 Evan Karagias: $85,000 Hale: $85,000 Shawn Stasiak: $78,000 Ralphus: $78,000 (based on the idea he'd appear at 2 events per week for $750/event) 3 Count (Shannon): $75,000 Johnny "The Bull": $75,000 Corporal Cajun: $75,000 3 Count (Shane): $75,000 Crowbar: $75,000 The Demon: $75,000 Chris Daniels: $75,000 The Wall: $75,000 Asya: $75,000 Danny Faqir: $75,000 Rick Fuller: $65,000 Disorderly Conduct - Tough Tom: $60,000 Disorderly Conduct - Mean Mike: $60,000 Scott Armstrong: $52,143
Daffney Unger: $52,000 Spice: $52,000 Chae: $52,000 Tygress: $52,000 Paisley: $52,000 Kid Romeo: $39,107 Mark Jindrak: $39,000 Chuck Palumbo: $39,000 Elix Skipper: $39,000 Rick Cornell: $33,800 Sonny Siaki: $31,200 Allan Funk: $31,200 Sean Haire: $31,200 Troy Endres: $31,200 Leo Burke: $26,071 Alicia Webb: $26,000 Leia Meow: $26,000
There's a separate document that lists every single wrestler and what they were paid for merchandise/salary from 1996-2000 and you'll see that people often got a different amount that what their contract stated.
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