WWE Referee Annual Salary Revealed

WWE referees are a key a part of every match the promotion places on. The in-ring officers play a significant position within the success of bouts, serving to to help of their movement, in addition to protect on-screen integrity.

Nonetheless, regardless of the promotion’s referees working year-round and regularly travelling to worldwide areas, they do not earn anyplace near the identical quantity because the Superstars themselves.

On the subject of in-ring opponents, the highest-paid WWE star proper now’s Roman Reigns, who’s reportedly incomes a wage of $15 million, whereas Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are banking $10 million yearly for his or her in-ring efforts. These salaries are earlier than any royalty or merchandise funds.

Though wrestlers with out the identical degree of identify recognition as Reigns, Rhodes and Orton are incomes fairly a bit lower than these lofty numbers, many are nonetheless incomes a profitable wage. Per experiences, the minimal annual wage for a wrestler on the principle roster for WWE Uncooked or SmackDown is round $300,000. WWE referees, although, earn far lower than that determine.

WWE Referees are Paid Far Much less Than Their In-Ring Colleagues

The distinction is genuinely shocking

Former WWE referee Mike Chioda offered a glance into simply how a lot officers make on an annual foundation throughout a 2023 look on Perception with Chris Van Vilet. Chioda – who labored for the corporate for greater than three many years – defined:

Whereas that determine should still appear excessive, Chioda warned that it’s removed from the quantity that the majority truly take house.

“There will likely be round $30,000 in bills. There’s gasoline and journey prices, for instance. Then, after that and paying taxes, the take house is about $60,000.”

The surprising revelation from Chioda means WWE referees are making over 5 occasions lower than many of the wrestling stars they’re officiating bouts between. And that is when an in-ring Celebrity is incomes the minimal wage provided by the corporate.

Former WWE Celebrity and present All Elite Wrestling wrestler, Chris Jericho, was additionally a visitor on Van Vilet’s podcast and prompt that the majority WWE stars are on excess of $300,000-per-year. Following the formation of AEW, Jericho insisted that WWE pay had skyrocketed. He talked about: “Now, opening match guys are getting 1,000,000 {dollars} a yr.”

WWE just lately shed a portion of its annual wage invoice after releasing a major variety of Superstars – together with former Common Champion Braun Strowman – who was reportedly incomes effectively into the seven figures that Jericho talked about.