WrestleMania season is upon us, with WWE’s biggest event of the year returning this weekend. The 42nd edition takes place on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, marking a return to Sin City just one year after the last event was held there. This move has disappointed some fans, who have also criticised ticket prices and a perceived lacklustre build-up to the 'Showcase of the Immortals'.
WWE has taken big swings to win over fans, including installing retired star John Cena as this year’s host. The card features key names such as Roman Reigns and CM Punk on night two, alongside celebrity appearances from Logan Paul, IShowSpeed, Jelly Roll, Lil Yachty, and Pat McAfee. Among the confirmed matches are a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship and a women’s tag-team title match.
But how much do WWE stars earn at WrestleMania? In 2022, WWE executive Triple H (Paul Levesque) told The Athletic that the minimum base salary for wrestlers on the main roster is $250,000, though this may have risen since. Wages are boosted by merchandise sales and cuts of pay-per-view revenue, making WrestleMania weekend potentially the most lucrative of the year for many wrestlers.
In 2023, The Mirror reported top annual salaries excluding bonuses: Roman Reigns and Randy Orton at $5m each, Seth Rollins at $3.5m, Cody Rhodes at $3m, and Logan Paul at $2m. WrestleMania 42 will stream live on Netflix in the UK and most territories at no extra cost, while US viewers can watch on ESPN.
