The latest round of WWE roster cuts post-WrestleMania 42 reportedly included more than just releases. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, several wrestlers were also approached about taking reduced contracts as part of WWE’s ongoing roster evaluation process.
Dave Meltzer reported that “those in a position to know” have said that fewer than six talents were offered revised deals with lower pay. Those who accepted remained with the company, while others who declined were let go.
“While there have been talks of large numbers asked to take pay cuts, those in a position to know have said that the number is less than a half dozen, and they were people who would have been cut had they not accepted it.“
Meltzer confirmed that the superstars involved were not “high-end players.” WWE’s reported plan centered around scaling back their in-ring schedules while keeping them involved in limited roles.
“They were not the high end players and were people that creative had tabbed little interest in going forward and thus the idea is they could remain under contract while their in-ring aspect of their career would be phased down.“
The report also noted a “major name wrestler” agreed to a 50 percent pay reduction to stay with the company. Meltzer wrote that several WWE Superstars who signed in recent years reached seven figures, with some deals reportedly exceeding $2 million annually, who “simply couldn’t earn anywhere near $1 million elsewhere,” and would not fit in AEW.
“There were reports, confirmed to us, that at least one major name wrestler agreed to a 50 percent pay cut. There are wrestlers who would not fit in AEW and are making well into seven figures, many in excess of $2 million per year, who simply couldn’t earn anywhere near $1 million elsewhere, so the leverage isn’t there.”
The report also provided more details on the departures of The New Day members Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. According to Meltzer, WWE offered reduced pay in exchange for a transition to lighter wrestling schedules and more promotional appearances while the contract ended.
“The New Day, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods, who were on the list of those without significant future plans, were essentially put in the position where they were going to be cut, but were offered less money to stay, wind down their in-ring careers and finish their current contract doing some in-ring and working in a promotional capacity. They both decided to leave the promotion, given they had signed a five-year contract in 2025 at a certain number, and one year in, they were being asked to have that money cut back while maintaining the rest of the contract.”
Kingston and Woods reportedly declined those terms and later parted ways with WWE. The company has not officially confirmed the reported contract restructuring discussions.