JBL wants to make sure even the people in the back can hear. The WWE is not an adult daycare and talent is not being adopted by TKO.
A guest on Something to Wrestle With, JBL explained exactly how the business of wrestling works.
“You’re dealing with a finite number and that number is not going to change…If you have a finite amount and that amount changes as far as what your income is you’ve got to do something on the other side of the ledger and that’s lower cost. That’s just business,” he said.
He also doesn’t understand what people think holding down a job in WWE amounts to.
“I understand people out there think that you should be adopted by WWE and I think people have felt that forever or by WCW when it was around, or any other company. Sorry, it’s a business. You’re not moving in with somebody into their house. You’re not being adopted,” he said.
For those who don’t think they are earning enough anywhere, JBL had some advice for them.
“If you want to make more money, draw it. Simple. Draw ratings. Do something like Danhausen has done. Do something Roman Reigns has done, like CM Punk has done, like Cody Rhodes has done. Figure out a way to create interest…That’s the way it’s always been, It’s that way in football. It’s that way in basketball. If he’s worth it, he’s going to make more and if you’re worth it, you’re going to make more. All you have to do is negotiate,” he advised.
JBL spoke about his own experience as an example.
“My first year, I think it was $76,000 I made in ’96. I was on, I believe, every pay-per-view and every house show. So whatever we worked, 250 nights. I had to pay for my own car. I had to pay for a hotel. We’re staying four people to a room. I’m not comparing that to today. It’s not fair. It’s not fair to do that to the guys today. We paid our dues. We did, but so what? They don’t have to. That’s good for them.”
