WWE wrestlers are absolutely raking it in, and they apparently have a member of the competition to thank for it.
Chris Jericho is generally regarded as wrestling royalty, having starred across the globe for decades, still wrestling today at the age of 54
Despite having racked up 35 years in the business, the multi-time world champion shows no sign of hanging up his boots just yet and remains an active performer for Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling.
Jericho is effectively one of the founding fathers of AEW, having been with the company since its launch in 2019, offering the first genuine alternative to WWE for many a year.
Fast-forward to 2025 and WWE remains the biggest hitter in town but, if stars are making hay while the sun shines in respect of their salaries, Jericho believes AEW – and more specifically, he – is responsible for it.
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, the Canadian star recalled the tale of Bobby Hall, the NHL legend who left to join upstart promotion WHA for an eye-watering $1 million. As a result, those back in the NHL all saw their earnings skyrocket, too.
“I know this because my dad was one of them,” insisted the legend. “Ted Irvine went from $35,000 a year to $100,000 a year, just because of Bobby Hall and the WHA. So, ipso facto, Chris Jericho is the Bobby Hall of wrestling. Because the moment I left to go to AEW, suddenly the entire salary structure changed.”
Jericho’s claim may be a little grandiose, but it isn’t without some merit. WWE has boomed into major business over the last few years with Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque at the helm, selling out arenas, stretching out WrestleMania to a two-night show, and netting a $5bn Netflix broadcast deal.
AEW is thriving in its own right, boosted by Jericho’s tenure and that of former WWE stars including Bryan Danielson, Cope, formerly known as Edge, and Jon Moxley to name just a few.
All told, it has created a more prosperous and lucrative industry to work in, Jericho says, and the salaries being pocketed today, he feels, far outweigh those earned in the Attitude Era when WWE was at another of its other peak periods.
“For years working in WWE Vince’s magic number was a million dollars a year, nobody gets more than that, guaranteed. You might make more if you’re working on top and with the pay-per-view bonuses… merch and everything like that, but the number on the paper that was the max, was a million dollars a year.
“Now, opening match guys are getting a million dollars a year, and top guys are getting $30, $40 million a year. Not all of them, but a few, 15 million, 20 million.”
With WWE and AEW the top two wrestling entities in the world and other options besides, stars can pick and choose. Earlier this year, former TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace switched to WWE as a major new signing, while Penta has made a huge splash under the WWE umbrella having previously starred in AEW.
Jericho, who spent years with WWE and debuted there in a showdown with The Rock went on to add: “So I don’t think that [financial shift] ever would have happened had there not been AEW to scare the WWE cognizant into paying people more, so that’s good for all of us.
“It’s good for the guys and, once again, with all this money that’s being made from the television companies, the companies can afford it.
“It’s just good for everyone, good for the fans to have an alternative.”
It seems there’s never been a better time to be a wresting fan – and certainly never a better time to be earning in wrestling either.
