Backstage Update on TKO Changing Pay Structures for WWE Superstars, Talents Being Offered Pay Cuts

As previously reported, WWE Superstars The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) opted to leave WWE when TKO asked them to restructure the contracts that they had signed with WWE last year. News later surfaced from PWInsider, citing an unconfirmed rumor of a “majorly pushed talent” in WWE who was asked last week to take a 50% pay cut, and it’s alleged that the talent agreed to do so.

A later report from Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp stated that “a number of people” in WWE were asked to take pay cuts. However, it’s unknown if that group included the wrestler PWInsider was referring to in Mike Johnson’s earlier report.

BodySlam+ has an update on the matter. According to the report, sources said that the WWE parent company, TKO, is asking talents to restructure their payouts as a result of what they view as talent’s rate of production versus what they are being paid.

Additionally, another source informed BodySlam+ that TKO wants to maximize its revenue, as Endeavor is still currently dealing with massive debt. TKO listed its gross debt at $3.783 billion as of December 31, 2025.

As previously noted, TKO CEO Ari Emanuel reportedly earned $67.3 million in 2025. Meanwhile, TKO President Mark Shapiro earned $42.6 million. Lastly, WWE President Nick Khan made $24.3 million in 2025.