JBL recently opened up about how wrestler payouts worked in WWE during a Q&A episode of the “Something to Wrestle” podcast, shedding light on Vince McMahon’s unique — and often unpredictable — approach to compensation.
According to JBL, while most wrestling promoters have a structured system for paying talent after major events, Vince McMahon’s method was anything but formulaic. Early in his WWE career, Bradshaw operated under a downside guarantee — a minimum amount he’d earn regardless of performance. But as his career progressed, especially during his nearly year-long run as WWE Champion, his earnings skyrocketed. He said,
“My contract during my best run was probably nine to ten times higher than my downside guarantee. I never really cared about the downside because I believed in the idea that you should eat what you kill. I always figured that if I performed well, Vince would take care of me. And he did. He was a great pay guy. I never worried about it.”
When asked whether Vince McMahon used a specific formula to determine payouts, JBL admitted that there was a so-called system — but dismissed it as essentially meaningless. He said,
“Yeah, of course there was a formula — and it was 100% bullsh*t. I remember 29% of the revenue was supposed to go to the building, employees, and talent. That number might have been real. But how it got divided up? Total bullshit. Vince would personally go through payroll, and I’ve talked to people like Gerry Brisco who handled it. Vince would say things like, ‘Nope, change this amount to that, change that to this.’ It all came down to what he felt someone was worth—what he thought they drew, their spot on the card, what kind of ticket sales he believed they generated. It was all based on his gut. Totally feel.”
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