5 unknown facts about the lives of WWE wrestlers
Professional wrestling, though glamorous and exciting, is a tough job and is definitely not for the faint-hearted. It is an extremely hectic profession, and to keep up with the schedule is one of the most challenging things, wrestlers have to go through. Here are five unknown facts about WWE and its superstars. It will give you a clearer insight into how the business works.
WWE considers the wrestlers as 'independent contractors'
WWE considers its wrestlers as independent contractors, but the way they are treated shows it is a facade. Wrestlers cannot appear for other promotions while they work for WWE, and moreover, the company receives a share from their outside earnings. However, this 'independent contractor' rule appears during injuries, where WWE does not give medical treatment to superstars unless they get injured inside the ring.
Wrestlers have to pay for their in-ring equipment and transportation
With all the amazing costumes that the WWE wrestlers wear every single night, we would think the company pays for them. However, nothing could be farther from the truth, as it is the wrestlers who pay for all of their in-ring gear. Unless they are participating in events outside the North America, wrestlers pay for their own transportation, food and hotel bills as well.
There is a huge pay discrepancy among wrestlers
While some of the top talents, like Lesnar and Cena are paid in millions, the low-card wrestlers receive around $100,000 a year. Women get paid far lesser, with top women wrestlers earning around $300,000. This huge pay-gap is one of the dirtiest secrets of WWE.
There is also a case of backstage politics and bullying
Backstage politics at WWE has ruined careers of many fine wrestlers. Mr. Kennedy received the brunt after having troubles with Cena and Orton. Triple H and Shawn Michaels were quite influential backstage during their heydays. Bullies like JBL and Orton were also given free reign, terrorizing youngsters for many years. Orton was also accused of sexually harassing a woman writer of the company.
WWE treats injuries and death quite coldly
It has been mentioned that the company does not foot the bills unless the wrestler gets injured in the ring. What the WWE does is that it tends to fire wrestlers who get gravely injured and might take long to recuperate. It gets worse here- WWE makes wrestlers sign a contract saying that the company isn't liable if they die while performing.
