What does suspension mean in WWE? Do stars get paid during that time?

GM Nick Aldis suspended Drew McIntyre on SmackDown.

During the final moments of the November 7 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, while Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was battling Aleister Black in a non-title match, Drew McIntyre, out of nowhere, came in and took out the referee, Dan Engler, with a vicious Claymore.

Engler was also the referee of the title match between Rhodes and McIntyre during the November 1 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. McIntyre was clearly not happy about his loss and took it out on the official.

However, this attack irked General Manager Nick Aldis, who came out and suspended McIntyre from SmackDown. The show ended with the two arguing about the suspension, and a video was uploaded to WWE’s social media handle. The two continued their argument.

McIntyre can be heard accusing them of having a vendetta against him and also voicing that, because of the suspension, his family isn’t going to make any money.

This begs the question of what happens when a star is suspended by the promotion and whether they are paid during the suspension. Here we answer this very question, so read on to find out.

What does suspension mean in WWE?

Suspension in WWE is different from other sports, as it is sports entertainment, and there are two types of suspension: one where a suspension is part of a scripted storyline, and the other where a real suspension is a disciplinary measure handed down by the management.

The scripted suspension is part of the storyline and is written into shows for dramatic effect or to move a story forward. It is also used to write stars off television for multiple reasons (for injury recovery, filming a movie, etc.) or even to create anticipation about the storyline.

On the other hand, real suspensions are handed down due to Wellness Policy violations, breaking the code of conduct, unprofessional behavior, or legal problems.

Do stars get paid a salary during suspension?

Now, it goes without saying that Drew McIntyre‘s suspension is part of an ongoing storyline. During a kayfabe suspension, stars are still under contract and typically continue to be paid their guaranteed income. Talents might not earn bonuses as they are not performing, but they are not financially punished, as it’s all part of the act.

On the other hand, during real-life suspension, stars are not paid, and the length of the suspension also varies based on the act. The real suspension also goes on their official record, and repeated offenses can lead to contract termination.

Some violations, depending on their severity and a talent’s standing with the company, may lead to the promotion terminating their contract. There have been instances of real suspensions, most of which typically involve violations of the WWE Talent Wellness Policy.

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