Sports

How much are top WWE stars paid for WrestleMania 42?

By Tim Heaney Lindys Sports

April 19, 2026 5:51 PM

In the earlier days of the sports entertainment boom -- think the 1980s with Vince McMahon swallowing all competing territories -- the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) would pay out bonuses based on how many pay-per-view events were ordered across the United States and internationally.

With WrestleMania 42 winding down, many fans remain curious about the bonus payouts top names like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes will earn for this event -- and the salaries they earn every year.

What will top WWE stars be paid for WrestleMania 42?

While WWE paid its biggest names by PPV percentage shares in the past, the current compensation structure for what they now call premium live events (PLEs) has changed drastically with the rise of over-the-top (OTT) streaming.

The new pay structure provides a more equal floor for all performers on the "main roster" (Raw and Smackdown, rather than developmental promotion NXT).

"While the old paradigm favored additional earnings from merchandise sales, pay-per-view bonuses, and special event appearances, the current landscape, as reported by Dave Meltzer in 2021, reveals a shift towards higher fixed base salaries," wrote Tony Parker for The Sportster in 2021. "Wrestlers are now offered a guaranteed base salary per year, providing a more stable financial foundation. Unlike the earlier system where bonuses played a crucial role in determining overall earnings, the new model emphasizes a fixed income, eliminating uncertainties associated with fluctuating bonus amounts."

Of course, for bigger names with more influence over the main-event scene and merchandise sales, additional considerations may be made for marketing purposes. For instance, Roman Reigns is going to have more perks in his contract than mid-card, enhancement, or comedic talents.

All that said, we do have specific salary information for some superstars, so let's start with what we know.

WWE pay has changed dramatically over the years. © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

WWE salaries: Top 10 male and female superstar annual pay figures

WWE Chief Content Officer and 14-time world champion Paul "Triple H" Levesque told The Athletic in 2022 that main-roster competitors for weekly programs Raw and Smackdown make a $250,000 minimum.

In August 2023, The Mirror revealed the highest compensation rates for the biggest superstars. We can presume some of this information has changed based on wrestler statuses and changes in hierarchy.

Top WWE male superstar salaries

As of late 2023:

Brock Lesnar: $5 million
Roman Reigns: $5 million
Randy Orton: $4 million
Seth Rollins: $3.5 million
Cody Rhodes: $3 million
AJ Styles: $3 million (retired)
Edge: $3 million (now in All Elite Wrestling)
The Undertaker: $2.5m (retired)
Kevin Owens: $2m (injured)
Logan Paul: $2m

Top WWE female superstar salaries

As of late 2023:

Becky Lynch: $3 million
Charlotte Flair: $2 million
Ronda Rousey: $1.5 million (retired/inactive)
Bianca Belair: $500,000 (on maternity/pregnancy leave)
Bayley: $500,000
Alexa Bliss: $350,000
Asuka: $350,000
Trish Stratus: $310,000 (retired/legends contract)
Natalya: $300,000
Rhea Ripley: $250,000

CM Punk signed with WWE after these figures were reported, and he's likely making something close to Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns' figures.

Rhea Ripley would be a huge bargain if that were her current compensation.

What time does WrestleMania 42 Sunday start?

Night 2 of the annual extravaganza starts Sunday at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), with a pre-show kicking off at 3 p.m. ET (Noon PT).

MORE: Top sports news | Pro Wrestling News | Buy our sports publications

What matches will take place during WrestleMania Sunday 2026?

Main Event: C.M. Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns (World Heavyweight Championship)
Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (Women's World Heavyweight Championship)
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams (United States Championship)
Ladder Match: Penta (c) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Rusev vs. Je'Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee (Intercontinental Championship)
Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
"The Demon" Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio

Read my full WrestleMania 42 predictions to see my "educated" guesses on what'll go down on the final night in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

SPOILERS: Do not read if you're interested in watching the replay of Saturday's matches.

Here are the quick results from WrestleMania Saturday 2026:

Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship
Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer to win the Women's World Championship
Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee to win the Women's Intercontinental Championship
Brie Bella and Paige defeated Nia Jax and Lash Legend; Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss; and Bayley and Lyra Valkyria to win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships
GUNTHER defeated Seth Rollins
Jacob Fatu defeated Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned
LA Knight and The Usos defeated IShowSpeed and The Vision (Logan Paul and Austin Theory) in a six-man tag match.