• John Cena Reacts To Zack Ryder’s WWE Main Roster Return After 5 Years
On this week’s RAW Recap podcast, Intercontinental Champion John Cena had the following to say about Zack Ryder’s return to the WWE main roster after 5 years:
“I was very, very glad to see Zack Ryder come back. Matt is a personal friend of mine, I can speak candidly like that, and I’ve seen his mind grow. You wanna talk about always being curious and the quest for growth, the Zack Ryder I knew from a long time ago has accrued so much sports entertainment wisdom.
I like rooting for people who are humble enough to admit when they’re wrong, and always want to grow, and are doing things for the greater good of the business.
Matt is certainly one of those guys, his wife Chelsea (Green) is one of those folks, who take an opportunity and get the absolute best out of it. I was really happy to see Zack Ryder back.”
Ryder lost to LA Knight in The Last Time Is Now tournament on last week’s SmackDown.
• WWE Unhappy With Gigi Dolin’s Recent Comments
Former WWE star Gigi Dolin recently spoke about her time in NXT, addressing misconceptions about wrestler salaries. She explained that many fans assume anyone under the WWE umbrella is a millionaire, but that isn’t the case.
Dolin revealed that some NXT contracts are as low as $30,000 per year and added that wrestlers have numerous expenses, including living in Florida, purchasing gear and taking care of their bodies.
The former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion also mentioned that her earnings on the independent circuit have surpassed what she made in WWE.
According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer, WWE was unhappy with Dolin’s comments. This is because NXT contracts reportedly start at $75,000 for televised talent. Wrestlers appearing on NXT television make at least that amount, with top stars earning more.
Alvarez also noted that WWE ID talent earn significantly less than NXT’s televised roster. While exact numbers aren’t publicly confirmed, these contracts are likely under $30,000 per year.
Additionally, these deals typically include a clause where WWE has the right to match any outside offer, limiting the talent’s ability to sign elsewhere.
RELATED: “Everybody’s doing something $exual or weird now” – Gigi Dolin On Her Infamous Tampon Spot
