Cody Rhodes Details Modern WWE Pay Structure And TKO Contracts

Cody Rhodes Praises Modern WWE Pay Structure: "Next-Level Pay Is Comparable With Sports"

Cody Rhodes has praised the financial evolution of professional wrestling, stating that top-tier compensation in modern WWE has reached levels comparable to major professional sports leagues.

Speaking on Andrew Schulz’s FLAGRANT podcast, Rhodes reflected on how dramatically the industry’s economic landscape has transformed since the era of his Hall of Fame father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.

Rhodes pointed to guaranteed contracts, expanding mainstream crossover opportunities, and financial backing under TKO Group Holdings as defining factors elevating modern wrestler compensation.

“Next-level pay is now comparable with sports. And that’s the part that I’m so proud of being a wrestler because when you’d hear baseball contracts and NBA contracts, and you know, as a wrestler, that you could go all over the world and be known and be seen, but you weren’t on that level. You were on the level of penetration, but not that level of income. Now, Modern TKO and Nick [Khan] have made it that you are.”

Rhodes highlighted that even developmental talent signed to WWE NXT now earn baseline six-figure salaries—a stark contrast to previous generations where developmental talent scrambled to cover basic living expenses.

The comments come amid a transformative period in Rhodes’ career. During the same podcast appearance, the “American Nightmare” revealed that he recently signed a contract extension with WWE that will see him finish his active in-ring career with the promotion.

Furthermore, Rhodes discussed how WWE’s modern corporate structure allows top performers to pursue high-profile Hollywood projects while maintaining their main-event positioning. Rhodes stars as Guile alongside Roman Reigns in Legendary Entertainment and Paramount’s live-action Street Fighter movie, set for theatrical release on October 16, 2026.