Highest-Paid Wrestlers from Australia and New Zealand: WWE Salaries and Career Earnings
Australia and New Zealand have produced a surprisingly large number of wrestlers who reached the biggest stages in professional wrestling. From Adelaide-born Rhea Ripley to New Zealand’s Jay White, the region has become a reliable source of international talent.
The money involved is harder to pin down. WWE and other major promotions rarely publish complete salary details, which means many figures reported online are estimates rather than confirmed contract values. This article was prepared by the experts at All Slots Casino, with the figures presented carefully to distinguish reported earnings from verified information. That distinction matters when comparing WWE salaries, particularly because a wrestler’s income can also include merchandise, bonuses and other payments.
The following ten performers represent different routes to the top. Some became major WWE names, while others established themselves in NJPW or AEW. Their careers also show why financial comparisons between promotions need to be treated carefully.
Jay White
Jay White has built his career across New Zealand, Japan and the United States, becoming one of the most recognisable Kiwi names in modern wrestling. After developing through the NJPW system, he became a major Bullet Club figure and later moved to AEW. His current AEW contract is believed to be a substantial long-term agreement, although the company has not published its financial terms. Public salary estimates for established AEW main-event performers commonly place annual compensation in the US$1 million to US$2 million range, giving White a reasonable estimated earning bracket of around US$1.5 million per year. His actual figure could be higher or lower depending on bonuses, merchandise and other contractual payments. White’s long-term AEW deal was still reported to have significant time remaining in 2026.
Tama Tonga
Tama Tonga spent more than a decade establishing himself in NJPW before joining WWE, where his connection to The Bloodline gave him a much larger international profile. Public estimates place his annual wrestling income at approximately US$400,000. His career earnings also benefit from appearances, merchandise and other wrestling-related opportunities. The figure is considerably below the compensation associated with WWE’s biggest headliners, but it reflects the financial level often associated with an established main-roster performer rather than a developmental wrestler.
Dakota Kai
Auckland-born Dakota Kai spent years working across Australasia and Japan before joining WWE in 2017. She became a prominent NXT performer and later joined Damage CTRL on the main roster. Older salary estimates put Kai’s WWE compensation at approximately US$200,000 per year. That figure is now historical rather than a current WWE salary, as Kai was released by WWE in May 2025 and subsequently returned to independent wrestling under the name Charlie. Her case is useful because it shows how dramatically a wrestler’s earning structure can change after leaving a major promotion.
Tegan Nox
Tegan Nox needs a qualification in this list because she was born in Wales, rather than Australia or New Zealand. Her connection to the region comes through her involvement in the wider New Zealand and Australasian wrestling scene. During her WWE career, salary estimates generally placed her in the US$200,000 to US$300,000. Nox’s financial trajectory was also affected by several serious knee injuries, which interrupted her WWE career and limited her time as a consistent television performer.
Aaron Henare
Auckland’s Aaron Henare, known in NJPW as HENARE, followed a different financial route from WWE performers. His career developed through the New Zealand independent scene before he joined NJPW and became part of United Empire. Estimates for established mid-to-upper-card performers generally fall around US$150,000 to US$300,000 per year. A reasonable reported estimate for Henare is approximately US$200,000 annually, excluding merchandise, bonuses and independent appearances. Henare himself confirmed in 2023 that he had three years remaining on his NJPW contract, showing that his financial security was tied to a longer-term deal rather than individual match payments.
Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley is arguably the clearest Australian example of a wrestler turning regional success into global superstardom. Born Demi Bennett in Adelaide, she began wrestling professionally at just 16 with Riot City Wrestling before entering WWE’s developmental system.
Her rise was rapid. She became a major figure in NXT, moved to the main roster and eventually became one of WWE’s most recognisable women’s stars. Her championships and central role in major storylines transformed her from a promising Australian prospect into a global entertainment personality.
Rhea Ripley salary estimates vary dramatically. Older figures put her base compensation around US$250,000, while more recent publications have estimated US$500,000 to US$700,000.
There is, however, stronger evidence that Ripley’s contract value increased significantly. Court documents reported that she was among WWE talent receiving a US$2 million annual contract step-up in the company’s 2022 compensation data. The filing does not mean Ripley personally earned US$2 million in salary that year, but it demonstrates how misleading simplistic salary lists can be.
Toni Storm
Auckland-born Toni Storm has built one of the most distinctive careers among New Zealand wrestlers. After working in Australia and Europe, she joined WWE before moving to AEW, where the “Timeless” character turned her into one of the company’s most recognisable women’s stars. Public estimates of Storm’s AEW compensation range from approximately US$200,000 to US$1 million per year, depending on whether the source includes merchandise and other income. A conservative working estimate is around US$500,000 annually, placing her in the upper tier of AEW’s women’s division. Storm has also confirmed that she signed a five-year AEW deal, although the exact financial terms have not been disclosed.
Mark Davis
Australian wrestler Mark Davis became internationally recognised through Aussie Open alongside Kyle Fletcher. The pair built their reputation in Australia before expanding into Europe and NJPW, where their work with United Empire established Davis as a serious international tag-team wrestler. After moving into AEW, Davis gained access to a larger American audience and a significantly broader commercial market. Public AEW salary estimates for established wrestlers at his level generally sit around US$300,000 to US$500,000 annually, making approximately US$400,000 per year a reasonable working estimate for Davis.
Buddy Matthews
Melbourne-born Buddy Matthews has spent much of his career moving between major wrestling markets. He became known as Buddy Murphy in WWE, where he won the Cruiserweight Championship and later became a tag-team champion, before joining AEW and becoming part of the House of Black. Salary estimates for established AEW performers place Matthews around US$400,000 to US$600,000 per year. A working estimate of US$500,000 per year from wrestling therefore gives a clearer comparison.
Bronson Reed
Bronson Reed is one of Australia’s most established heavyweight exports. After developing in Australia and working internationally, he joined WWE in 2019, won the NXT North American Championship and later returned to the main roster after a spell outside the company. An industry salary estimate places Reed at approximately US$500,000 per year. Reed’s total income can also include merchandise, bonuses and paid appearances, so his annual earnings may exceed the base estimate.
Comparing Reported Earnings
| Wrestler | Country / connection | Promotion | Estimated annual earnings | Confidence |
| Rhea Ripley | Australia | WWE | ~US$2.0m | Medium |
| Jay White | New Zealand | AEW | ~US$1.5m | Low–Medium |
| Toni Storm | New Zealand | AEW | ~US$500k | Low–Medium |
| Buddy Matthews | Australia | AEW | ~US$500k | Low |
| Mark Davis | Australia | AEW | ~US$400k | Low |
| Tama Tonga | New Zealand connection | WWE | ~US$400k | Low |
| Bronson Reed | Australia | WWE | ~US$500k | Medium |
| Dakota Kai | New Zealand | WWE / Independent | ~US$200k* | Medium |
| Aaron Henare | New Zealand | NJPW | ~US$200k | Low |
| Tegan Nox | Wales / NZ connection | Independent | ~US$200k–300k* | Low |
The figures that are available should therefore be separated into three categories:
- Confirmed or documented figures, which are relatively rare.
- Reported estimates, which come from secondary wrestling or sports publications.
- Unverified online numbers, which should not be presented as fact.
From Local Rings to Global Wrestling
Professional wrestling has a long history in both Australia and New Zealand. Local promotions provided a pathway for performers who could build experience before moving into larger international organisations. Over time, wrestlers from the region began appearing regularly in Japan, the United States and Europe.
The modern generation has taken that pathway much further. WWE, AEW and NJPW have all featured performers with Australian or New Zealand backgrounds. The careers of Rhea Ripley, Toni Storm, Jay White and others show how a wrestler can develop outside the traditional American system before becoming an international star.
That journey also helps explain why these athletes should not be viewed only through their current contracts. Their earning potential is connected to years spent building a reputation, developing a distinctive character and becoming recognisable to audiences outside their home countries.
How Much Do Wrestlers Make?
There is no single figure that answers how much do wrestlers make. Contracts vary considerably, and public estimates often mix base compensation with bonuses or other income.
For WWE performers, the reported minimum for main-roster talent has been around US$350,000, according to reporting based on wrestling-industry sources. Court filings have also provided a rare glimpse into the scale of WWE’s overall talent budget. Main-roster talent compensation was reported at US$175 million in 2022 and was expected to reach US$195 million in 2023.
A wrestler’s income can potentially include:
- Base contractual compensation
- Premium live event or performance bonuses
- Merchandise-related income
- Championship or achievement bonuses
- Media and promotional appearances
- Other commercial opportunities
This is why a salary figure found online should not automatically be treated as a wrestler’s total annual income.
Where the Biggest Pay Gaps Come From
The biggest difference between wrestlers is not necessarily their nationality. Position on the card, drawing power, contract timing and commercial value can all influence compensation.
A champion who sells merchandise and regularly appears in major events can have considerably greater earning potential than a wrestler with similar in-ring experience but less exposure.
The broader WWE figures illustrate the scale. Court documents indicated that around 130 main-roster talents shared approximately US$175 million in compensation in 2022, while the expected 2023 figure was US$195 million. That works out to roughly US$1.5 million per main-roster performer on average, although the mean is heavily influenced by the company’s highest earners.
That average should never be mistaken for a standard WWE salary. The distribution is uneven, with established headliners capable of earning several times more than performers lower on the card.
Five Facts That Are Easy to Miss
- Rhea Ripley started wrestling at 16, making her rapid rise to WWE’s top tier particularly unusual.
- Dakota Kai’s grandfather played for the All Blacks, connecting her family history with one of New Zealand’s most important sporting institutions.
- Aaron Henare had a long independent career before NJPW, and his own account describes beginning his wrestling journey at only 15.
- Bronson Reed won the 2024 André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, adding a major WWE achievement to his Australian wrestling résumé.
- Tama Tonga was reportedly fined a five-figure sum in 2026 after posting footage from a WWE rehearsal. The exact amount was not made public.
These details reveal something that salary tables cannot. A wrestler’s value is built over years, often through several countries and promotions, before the largest contracts become possible.
FAQ
Who is the highest-paid WWE wrestler from Australia or New Zealand?
There is no officially published WWE ranking that establishes a definitive answer. Rhea Ripley is the strongest candidate based on her position and reported contract growth, but the widely circulated US$6 million figure is an estimate rather than a confirmed WWE salary.
Are Australian and New Zealand wrestlers paid less than American wrestlers?
Nationality alone does not determine wrestling pay. A wrestler’s drawing power, championship history, contract negotiations, merchandise sales and position within a promotion are more relevant factors.
Which Australian and New Zealand wrestlers have reached major international promotions?
The list includes Rhea Ripley, Toni Storm, Jay White, Tama Tonga, Dakota Kai, Aaron Henare, Mark Davis, Buddy Matthews and Bronson Reed. Tegan Nox also has an important connection to the wider New Zealand wrestling scene, although she was born in Wales.
Can a wrestler earn money outside their wrestling contract?
Yes. Depending on their agreement, wrestlers may generate additional income through merchandise, sponsorships, appearances, media projects, social platforms and other commercial opportunities. The exact structure varies from one performer and promotion to another.
