Nick Khan has no illusions about how money flows in combat sports—but when it comes to WWE, he says there’s room for more than just the Roman Reigns and CM Punks of the world to thrive.
During a conversation with Max Kellerman on Ring Magazine, the WWE President opened up about fighter pay, the lack of a middle class in boxing, and how WWE structures its talent income differently.
Kellerman made a pointed observation about how boxing has historically failed to support a mid-tier of fighters—guys who aren’t main-event draws but still deserve sustainable careers. That opened the door for Khan to draw comparisons between boxing, UFC, and WWE when it comes to financial opportunity. Khan broke it down like this:
“So, if it’s a meritocracy, if you make it to the top and you’re marketable, you get paid. That’s how any job should be. Your job, my job, any job.”
He then turned to WWE’s current structure, making it clear that while not everyone is living like a megastar, life is still good in the middle of the pack.
“Similarly, in WWE—if you’re Roman Reigns, if you’re Brock Lesnar, if you’re Cody Rhodes, all the guys at the top of our game, CM Punk—they’re getting rich. They’re getting rich, right? They’re getting rich.”
“If you’re in the middle, you’re not getting rich, but you have a really good life.”
That’s a strong contrast to the boxing world, where Khan says only a few fighters get truly rich—and the rest barely scrape by. His comments came while discussing the launch of Zuffa Boxing under the TKO banner, where he emphasized building a better system with stronger fighter protections and long-term earning potential.
Nick Khan’s vision points to a model where everyone—not just the champions—can make a decent living. In WWE, that dream appears a lot more realistic than in boxing’s fractured, title-cluttered ecosystem.
What do you think about Nick Khan’s take on WWE pay versus boxing? Do you agree that WWE’s system creates a more stable future for athletes? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know how you’d fix fighter pay.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
