Chris Jericho Claims Credit for Top WWE Stars Earning $30–40 Million a Year

Chris Jericho joined AEW in 2019 and has been a key part of the company ever since. His arrival had a major impact on the wrestling industry, even influencing WWE. Interestingly, Jericho has now claimed that top WWE stars make $30-40 million a year after he left WWE for AEW.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Chris Jericho talked about how WWE’s salary structure changed after he left for AEW. For years, WWE had a set limit where no one was guaranteed more than $1 million per year. Wrestlers could earn more through pay-per-view bonuses and merchandise sales, but on paper, $1 million was the maximum.

According to Jericho, after he left WWE to join AEW, salaries in WWE increased significantly. He claimed that even lower-card wrestlers are making $1 million annually, while top stars are earning between $30–40 million.

Jericho further claimed that while not every wrestler is making that much, some are earning $15–20 million. Jericho believes these changes wouldn’t have happened if WWE hadn’t felt pressured by AEW to pay their talent more.

“The moment I left to go to AEW, suddenly the entire salary structure changed. For years working in WWE, Vince’s magic number was $1 million a year—nobody got more than that guaranteed. You might make more if you were working on top with pay-per-view bonuses and merch sales, but on paper, $1 million was the max.

Now, opening match guys are getting $1 million a year, and top guys are making $30–40 million a year. You’d be surprised—yes, not all of them, but a few. Even $15 million, $20 million. I don’t think that would have happened if AEW hadn’t scared WWE into paying people more.”

It was previously reported that the minimum salary for main roster stars is $350,000 annually. Although the exact numbers Jericho mentioned are unconfirmed, it’s clear that WWE has increased contract offers in recent years, especially for top names like Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, and Brock Lesnar. Therefore, we’ll have to see if WWE will respond to Chris Jericho’s claims in the future.

Do you believe AEW played a role in increasing WWE’s salaries? Are Jericho’s claims about $30–40 million contracts realistic at all? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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