• Details On Which WWE Stars Are Being Asked To Take Pay Cuts
TKO is intensifying its cost-cutting efforts in WWE, resulting in over two dozen releases in recent days while simultaneously pressuring some current talent to accept reduced contracts.
According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer, the wrestlers being targeted are mainly upper midcard performers (and in some cases slightly higher) who signed big contracts years ago when they were being pushed more heavily. These are veterans who have been earning good money for a long time but are no longer used at that same level.
Top main event stars like World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are not being asked to take cuts. Lower-card talent are also largely being left alone because they don’t represent enough financial savings. The company is focusing on a specific group in the middle who are still being paid based on older, more expensive deals while doing considerably less work now.
WWE’s reasoning is that the business has changed. These performers are no longer working several house shows a week or spending multiple days on the road, so the company wants to adjust their pay to match their current schedule and contribution.
Around half a dozen wrestlers were approached. The New Day rejected the revised terms and left the company, while at least two others are believed to have accepted the cuts. Most of the group are expected to have agreed in order to stay with WWE.
• Another Ex-NJPW Star Is Coming To WWE
According to Bodyslam, there is a lot of talk at the Performance Center right now about former NJPW star Hiromu Takahashi officially signing with WWE.
While earlier reports suggested the new “Nox Raijin” trademark was for the NJPW veteran EVIL (whose new WWE name was revealed to be Naraku on NXT), a different source is now claiming that name was actually registered for Takahashi instead.
If this is true, it means the former Japanese star is finally on his way to the company and will likely debut under that new identity soon.
During his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Takahashi held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship 5 times and is also a former IWGP Tag Team Champion (with Tetsuya Naito).
• Wrestling World Reacts To Ted Turner’s Death
Former WCW owner Ted Turner has passed away at the age of 87.
Ric Flair issued the following statement:
“So Sorry To Hear About The Passing Of The Great Ted Turner! The Man That Created Cable Before Cable Was Cool! He Created CNN And Look At It Now! He Rolled The Dice And Wasn’t Afraid Of Taking Risks. He Won The America’s Cup For Sailing! His Office Looked Like The Hall Of Fame Which Included A Picture Of Him And Khrushchev.
On Top Of All Of That, He Created So Many Opportunities For So Many Wrestlers Because Of His Love For Wrestling. Rest In Peace My Friend! Thank You For The Memorable Personal Times That We Spent Together.”
Former WCW President Eric Bischoff posted:
RIP Ted. And thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/s32tcQZfvu
— Eric Bischoff (@EBischoff) May 6, 2026
William Regal wrote:
“I’m sad to hear of the passing of Ted Turner. Ted bought me to the US and payed me and allowed me to feed my family for 6 years. Ted also took care of mine and my families green cards. Rest well.”
Frankie Kazarian posted:
“RIP Ted Turner. Simply put, aside from everything else he did in his life, which is quite massively substantial, professional wrestling today looks A LOT different without him. Godspeed.”
Mark Madden wrote:
“RIP Ted Turner.
Legit communications pioneer.
Friend to pro wrestling.
I cashed a few of his checks.
Sad to see him go.”
Sean Mooney posted:
“RIP Ted Turner
Your influence on the world of wrestling will never be forgotten.”
