MJF recently addressed whether AEW has ever taken the same approach as TKO regarding talent pay cuts and contract restructuring.
Over the past few weeks, reports claimed that several WWE wrestlers were asked to restructure their contracts under TKO. According to the reports, some talent agreed to the new terms while others decided against them. MJF shared his thoughts on whether AEW has ever handled contracts in a similar way.
MJF addresses mid-contract talent pay cuts
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, MJF explained that AEW handles business differently and does not approach talent contracts the same way. He said, “It’s a different WWE now. They’re owned by TKO. So, they are trying to enhance money as much as humanly possible. WrestleMania is about to happen in Saudi Arabia. You know what I mean? So now it’s a business at the end of the day.”
“AEW is trying to make money too. But I just think we handle the business differently and we look at the business differently in our front office. And again, not sh*tting on the way that they handle it, that is up to them. If they’re looking at the amount of money they’re making and they’re saying that’s not enough, all right, let’s reach out to talent and tell them to take a 50% cut. And if they say yes, is that really on them?”
MJF was directly asked whether AEW had ever reduced a wrestler’s pay during an active contract. He said, “Now, if somebody took bad swings at bat and when their contract is up and they’re asked to, ‘Hey, brother, we’re not paying you what we were paying you before because you can’t f*cking hit dingers.’ That’s a different thing. If you’re asking me, hey, have we ever in the middle of somebody’s contract been like, ‘Hey, man.’ Yeah. Sorry. No, that’s never happened.”
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