WrestleMania 42: WWE Star Earnings and Event Highlights
It's that time of year again as WrestleMania season arrives, with WWE's premier annual spectacle fast approaching. This spring marks the 42nd edition of WrestleMania, bringing a surprising twist as the event returns to Las Vegas just one year after the city last hosted it. This decision has sparked disappointment among some fans, who have criticised ticket prices and what they perceive as a lacklustre build-up to this year's "Showcase of the Immortals." Nonetheless, WrestleMania typically delivers high-octane entertainment, and WWE is pulling out all the stops to win over audiences, including enlisting retired legend John Cena as the official host.
WWE Wrestler Compensation at WrestleMania
The specifics of WWE contracts have historically been shrouded in secrecy, but insights from company executives shed some light. In 2022, WWE star-turned-executive Triple H, whose real name is Paul Levesque, revealed to The Athletic that the minimum base salary for wrestlers on the main roster is $250,000. This figure likely applies to members of the Smackdown and Raw rosters, excluding those in NXT, WWE's developmental programme. It's plausible that this minimum has increased since then, reflecting the evolving landscape of professional wrestling.
Beyond base salaries, wrestlers' earnings are significantly boosted by merchandise sales and believed cuts from pay-per-view revenues. WrestleMania weekend, set for 18 and 19 April, promises to be exceptionally lucrative due to heightened merchandise and pay-per-view activity, potentially making it the most profitable period of the year for many WWE performers. In 2023, The Mirror reported some of the top annual salaries in WWE, excluding bonuses: Roman Reigns and Randy Orton each earn $5 million, Seth Rollins takes home $3.5 million, Cody Rhodes receives $3 million, and Logan Paul commands $2 million.
WrestleMania 42 Schedule and Viewing Information
WrestleMania transitioned to a two-night format in 2020, and this year's event will unfold on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. In the United States, each evening's action kicks off at 4pm PT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET. For viewers in the United Kingdom, this translates to 12am BST on Sunday and Monday mornings. The event will be streamed live on Netflix in the UK and most global territories at no extra cost to subscribers, while in the US, it will air live on ESPN.
Confirmed Matches for WrestleMania 42
Night 1: The lineup includes Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and LA Knight versus Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed; Drew McIntyre against Jacob Fatu; a Women's World Tag-Team Championship match featuring Lash Legend and Nia Jax versus Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss versus Bayley and Lyra Valkyria versus Nikki Bella and Brie Bella; AJ Lee defending the Women's Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lee; Seth Rollins taking on Gunther; Stephanie Vaquer defending the Women's World Championship against Liv Morgan; and Cody Rhodes putting his Undisputed WWE Championship on the line against Randy Orton.
Night 2: Highlights include a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship with Penta versus Rey Mysterio versus JD McDonagh versus Rusev versus Je'Von Evans versus Dragon Lee; Brock Lesnar facing Oba Femi; Sami Zayn defending the United States Championship against Trick Williams; Jade Cargill putting her Women's WWE Championship at stake against Rhea Ripley; Finn Balor versus Dominik Mysterio; and CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns.
Celebrity Involvement at WrestleMania
WrestleMania 42 will feature a star-studded cast beyond the wrestling ring. YouTubers Logan Paul and IShowSpeed are set to compete, even teaming up together, while music artist Jelly Roll and rapper Lil Yachty will make appearances in various capacities. Adding to the glamour, wrestler-turned-actor John Cena will serve as the host, and NFL kicker-turned-sports analyst Pat McAfee is also expected to participate, blending sports and entertainment in true WrestleMania fashion.
