• “Maybe you should have taken it more seriously” – Hall Of Famer On Released WWE LFG Talent
Bubba Ray Dudley isn’t offering any sympathy to the LFG talent cut from WWE. While several winners and contestants from the first two seasons of LFG, including season one winner Tyra Mae Steele, are no longer with the company, Bubba made it clear he isn’t interested in helping them find their way back.
During an interview with WrestleRant, Bubba was asked if he had any words of wisdom for those who lost their jobs. The Hall of Famer and LFG coach didn’t hold back:
“I give them no advice. They’re gone. There is one talent out there that got let go that I see working hard on her own. In season two, we saw Haze Jameson, now known as Pinky Montoya out there on the independent scene.
Nobody knows why she was released, but she’s trying to make it on her own in the indies and trying to work her way back maybe to LFG or to Evolve or to NXT, wherever.
But I really don’t have advice for these other talents. Maybe you should have taken it more seriously. Maybe you shouldn’t have put your feet up on the table. Maybe you should have shook hands. Maybe you should have been more polite. Maybe you should have busted your a$$ a little more. Maybe you should have cut a better promo. You’ve got five minutes, get over or get out.
This is not a business for boys and girls, it’s a business for men and women. I’m not here to coddle anybody. I’m here to help you sign a contract with WWE, become a millionaire, make something of yourself, and help this business thrive into the future.”
• Salaries Of Top TKO Executives Revealed, The Rock Is 3rd-Highest Paid
A new financial report from TKO Group Holdings has revealed exactly how much money the company’s top bosses made in 2025. The annual proxy statement shows that the leaders of the company that owns WWE and UFC earned massive paydays. The numbers for the highest-ranking TKO executives were eye-popping:
Ari Emanuel (CEO): $67.4 million
Mark Shapiro (President): $42.6 million
Nick Khan (WWE President): $24.3 million
Andrew Schleimer (CFO): $23.1 million
In comparison, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (who is on the Board of Directors) also had a huge year, earning $31.5 million from TKO. Most of his money came from $30 million in stock, while the rest was for royalties and travel costs.
Nick Khan’s $24.3 million total was made up of a few different pieces. While his base salary is $2 million, he earned much more through rewards.
He received $11 million in stock and a $7 million bonus because WWE hit its financial goals (specifically its profit targets). Ari Emanuel gave Khan an additional $3.75 million as a discretionary bonus because of his successful work helping TKO launch new boxing projects.
The report also gave a rare look at what regular people at the company earn. The median TKO employee made $82,428 in 2025. It is important to note that this number only includes office and staff roles, it does not include the wrestlers or UFC fighters.
