JBL believes WWE is justified in signing developing wrestlers to lengthy NXT contracts because of how much money the company invests in talent who ultimately never make it to the main roster.
Speaking on Something To Wrestle, the WWE Hall of Famer discussed developmental contracts and the salaries offered to wrestlers beginning their careers at the Performance Center.
“I don’t have any problem with the cuts and the releases and the salaries,” JBL said. “It’s about what you negotiate, but WWE takes a lot of chances with a lot of people, and they pay people incredibly well to train there.”
JBL argued that WWE spends significant amounts developing large classes of prospective wrestlers, knowing that only a percentage will eventually become successful.
“They spend a lot of money that just goes out the door because the people don’t make it, so I think it makes perfect sense for them to try to lock them in because of the investments they make.”
While JBL admitted he does not know exactly what percentage of NXT recruits eventually succeed, he believes the number who do not make it explains WWE’s desire to secure talent on longer contracts.
“I can see why they try to lock them in for long-term contracts because they need to make their money back for what all they’ve invested in. I think that’s fair and just for them to do that.”
JBL Defends WWE NXT Contracts And Developmental Pay
JBL was also blunt about how much negotiating power inexperienced wrestlers should expect to have when first entering WWE’s developmental system.
“You’re a minus quantity at that point. You don’t have any leverage, and you don’t deserve much leverage. I’m sorry. But if you make it, you can end up making a ton of money.”
He acknowledged that wrestlers currently training at the Performance Center may believe their salaries are relatively low, but compared their situation favourably with the system that existed when he entered professional wrestling.
JBL recalled relying on unemployment benefits after his football career and later earning approximately $220 to $250 per week while coaching as he trained to become a wrestler.
However, JBL stressed that he does not believe the harsher aspects of wrestling’s traditional training system were beneficial. He questioned the practice of making trainees complete hundreds of squats, push-ups and bumps simply to prove themselves.
“I’ve never understood why you had so many guys do so many squats and push-ups and bumps and all that crap,” JBL said. “You’re either in shape, or you’re not. You’re there to learn.”
JBL added that repeatedly taking bumps could actually make trainees more susceptible to injury rather than teaching them how to wrestle safely.
His comments followed similar criticism from Paul Wight, who recently described the traditional concept of “paying your dues” as an excuse some veterans use to bully younger wrestlers. JBL agreed with Wight’s assessment, despite entering wrestling during an era when those practices remained common.
“I never thought these guys should beat people up,” JBL said. “I never thought that these guys should be mistreated like that.”
While JBL believes WWE is entitled to protect the financial investment it makes in developmental talent, he does not believe that should extend to recreating the treatment young wrestlers experienced under the industry’s older training system.
