Former World Champion explains how WWE contracts work in detailed step-by-step breakdown
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Jinder Mahal lifts the curtain on WWE’s little-known payment structure.
Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, now known as Raj Dhesi, recently offered fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at how WWE contracts reportedly work for talent.
In a detailed video posted to Instagram, Dhesi explained the concept of a downside guarantee, weekly payments, and the internal “bucket system” that can allow wrestlers to earn more than their contracted salary.
While WWE contracts have long been a topic of curiosity among wrestling fans, very few performers have publicly broken down the process in such detail.
Using hypothetical figures, Dhesi walked viewers through how a wrestler can receive guaranteed income while still having opportunities to significantly increase their earnings.
According to Dhesi, WWE talent are paid weekly rather than receiving large lump-sum payments throughout the year. For example, he used a three-year contract worth USD 1 million annually as a downside guarantee. Dividing that amount by 52 weeks results in weekly payments of roughly USD 19,230, which he rounded up to USD 20,000 for simplicity.
How does WWE’s “bucket system” work?
Dhesi explained that a downside guarantee represents the minimum amount a wrestler will earn during a contract year.
That weekly payment continues regardless of whether a performer is actively wrestling, sidelined with an injury, or working a full schedule. As he put it:
“Your weekly check will come in regardless if you are injured or if you wrestle 7 days a week. Same amount every single week.”
However, he stressed that wrestlers can earn substantially more than their downside guarantee through WWE’s internal accounting process, which he described as a “bucket system.”
According to Dhesi, earnings from television appearances, live events, premium live events, merchandise sales, and other revenue streams are tracked inside this theoretical bucket.
He emphasized that the system is essentially imaginary from the wrestler’s perspective because their weekly paycheck does not fluctuate.
Using hypothetical numbers, Dhesi described how a wrestler might receive a USD 20,000 weekly payment while only generating USD 5,000 worth of value from a Raw appearance. In that scenario, the bucket would show a negative balance.
As the wrestler participates in larger events, however, that balance can quickly swing into positive territory. Dhesi gave an example of a premium live event appearance generating USD 50,000 alongside a major Raw main event worth another USD 10,000.
While the wrestler’s paycheck remains unchanged, the bucket balance increases behind the scenes. He later added a hypothetical merchandise payout worth USD 100,000, explaining that the money would be credited to the bucket rather than paid immediately.
Injuries don’t stop the paycheck, but performance still matters
One of the more interesting points raised by Dhesi involved injuries and periods of creative inactivity. He explained that wrestlers continue receiving their guaranteed weekly pay even when they are not appearing on television.
During that time, however, the bucket balance may decrease because no additional revenue is being generated. Importantly, Dhesi noted that a negative balance does not mean a wrestler owes WWE money. Instead, the system resets at the end of every contract year.
Using another example, he described returning from injury six months later and main-eventing WrestleMania for a hypothetical USD 500,000 payday. That amount would first offset any negative balance before contributing to a year-end bonus.
According to Dhesi, if a wrestler finishes the year with a positive bucket balance of USD 325,000, that amount would be paid as a bonus on top of the guaranteed USD 1 million salary, resulting in total earnings of USD 1.325 million.
He concluded by stating that more than 90 percent of wrestlers likely finish the year with a negative balance, but because the bucket resets annually, they never owe WWE anything and begin each contract year back at zero.
What is a WWE downside guarantee?
A downside guarantee is the minimum amount of money a wrestler is guaranteed to earn during a contract year, regardless of injuries or usage.
How often do WWE wrestlers get paid?
According to Jinder Mahal’s explanation, WWE talent are paid weekly throughout the duration of their contracts.
Can WWE wrestlers earn more than their guaranteed salary?
Yes. Dhesi explained that earnings from television appearances, merchandise sales, premium live events, and other revenue sources can result in bonuses above the guaranteed amount.
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