WWE News: Update On The Pay For WWE NXT Stars, Not Getting Bonuses For NXT Takeover Events


We have seen how WWE NXT has started to rise in popularity. Fans are flocking to NXT shows almost as much as they do for main roster events. However, WWE does not want us or the NXT workers to forget that they are still in developmental. While NXT wrestling is often touted as better than the performance of established WWE Superstars, and the events are superior at times to main roster shows, WWE does not want the NXT wrestlers to see themselves as main roster stars just yet.

Basically, the difference between main roster workers and NXT workers is their contracts. Main roster talent makes far more money.

The NXT Takeover events have been successful, but the talent has not been getting bonuses for big events. According to The Wresting Observer, the gate for NXT Brooklyn was said to have been over $500,000. The thought was that talent would get a percentage of the gate. However, they did not receive a bonus for the show in Brooklyn nor did they get a percentage for the San Jose show during WrestleMania weekend.

The internal reason for not paying them bonuses is management’s perception that the NXT talent are not currently making money for the company. All of the NXT athletes are working with guaranteed contracts, but their shows are taking in less money at the box office than is being paid out to the talent. So, gate percentages won’t make sense until WWE begins to make a consistent profit on the events. On top of this, NXT talent that work in Florida have no real road expenses, and they are being paid while they are learning to perform up to the WWE’s standards, and they are still refining their skills.

When a NXT wrestler is brought on the road to work with the main roster for live events, they still have all their road expenses paid for, and they also get paid for their work. Main roster talent do not have road expenses covered by the company.

The reason the main roster talent receives bonuses whenever possible is because they have more expenses than NXT performers, and their events are making money. Along with this, the main roster makes a substantial amount of money through the WWE’s television deals. NXT is on the WWE Network for the United States as well as Hulu like other WWE programming, but there are some countries that have it as part of their WWE programming weekly.

WWE does make a profit on some NXT shows, but the problem is that events can lose money unless they work big arenas. The WWE needs to continue to book NXT shows into the large arenas like they did for the NXT Brooklyn event. The attendance numbers for the NXT Brooklyn event proved the fans will turn out in large numbers for NXT shows. Larger arenas are the key to profitability for NXT and better pay for NXT talent.

[IMG Credit: Insidepulse.com]

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