More WWE Stars in Jeopardy of Pay Cuts Under TKO After New Day’s Shocking Exit

TKO has reportedly asked several WWE stars to restructure their previously signed deals.

More WWE Stars in Jeopardy of Pay Cuts Under TKO After New Day’s Shocking Exit

TKO asking more WWE stars to undergo pay cuts [via- Variety]

In Short
  • Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods left WWE after being asked to restructure their contracts under TKO standards.
  • TKO is reportedly requesting multiple WWE stars to take pay cuts due to perceived discrepancies between talent production and compensation.
  • The restructuring primarily affects upper mid-card wrestlers, while main eventers are less likely to be impacted.

The WWE Universe is still recovering from the shock of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods departing the company last week and formally bringing an end to The New Day. They weren’t released, unlike the recent batch of mass firings that axed over 20 names.

The tag team icons were instead asked to restructure their deals to TKO standards. What was being offered wasn’t enough to keep Kingston and Woods still employed. They consequently made a mutual decision to part ways with WWE.

It’s now being reported that TKO is asking multiple stars to restructure their contracts in adherence to their talent rate of production against what they’re being paid. The aforementioned revelation was made in a new report from BodySlam that also noted how TKO is seeking to maximize revenue as it is still in debt due to Endeavor’s past.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful noted on X that WWE approached various superstars on the day it mass released talent to undergo pay cuts. A report from Fightful has indicated that all these factors are expected to significantly impact the negotiation trends of wrestlers with WWE and TKO moving forward.

There’s an obvious trepidation now that the long-term deals wouldn’t be honored for their complete duration. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods signed new deals with WWE into seven figures last year, but they were asked to restructure them several months into it, and the rest is history.

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Which WWE stars are most likely to be asked to accept pay cuts?

Amid all the fuss of TKO seeking restructuring of contracts for several WWE stars, the fans started speculating on which names could possibly bear the brunt of it. Bryan Alvarez gave a detailed insight on that front during Wrestling Observer Live.

Several WWE stars are expected to accept pay cuts
Several WWE stars are expected to accept pay cuts [via- Wrestling News]

He noted that mostly those falling in the upper mid-card echelon are the ones being asked to undergo pay cuts. Alvarez revealed that the names he has heard about have been with WWE for a long time, and they were making a lot of money too. The wrestling journo stressed that main eventers like Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins don’t have to bother about having their deals restructured.

The same would be the case with top babyface attractions like Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, with presumably several more veterans fitting in. Likewise, those who are low on the card aren’t on TKO’s hit list either. It’s just the folks falling in the mid-card division of talent. TKO is allegedly justifying its move by pointing out that the wrestlers are currently working a significantly less taxing schedule.

The phasing out of weekly house shows has been pivotal in reducing the number of matches a certain wrestler might be having these days as opposed to how it was a couple of years ago. Since the wrestlers are working less than they were before, they ought to take a hit in the money they’re earning too. That’s what those at TKO believe in.

Alvarez was notified about six names, a couple of which have reportedly agreed to take a cut in what they were being paid, while adding that two more would’ve accepted it because if they didn’t, they would’ve been gone by now. The names that didn’t put up with it are obviously Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. PWInsider recently reported that a majorly pushed wrestler yielded to a 50% reduction in pay.

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