Swerve Strickland recently shared his perspective on AEW’s compensation compared to WWE, emphasizing that Tony Khan’s leadership results in better pay for performers. Speaking in 2024, Strickland pointed out that AEW treats its roster as professional athletes, with payment that exceeds WWE’s offerings, reflecting the company’s growing stature in the wrestling world.
AEW’s Payroll Advantages Led by Tony Khan
Strickland explained that AEW guarantees its pay, which sets it apart from WWE’s structure. He noted that top earners in WWE, such as John Cena and AJ Styles, have retired or are nearing retirement, which tightens the earning opportunities in WWE. According to Strickland, the highest-paid wrestlers in WWE are “untouchables,” but as those spots open, AEW’s pay scale presents better overall compensation for active talent.
AEW by far. Cause it’s guaranteed, and they got their select few up top that like top, top, top,
Strickland explained.
Like they’re just like untouchables. But a lot of those guys are starting to retire now so that’s starting to like—Cena just retired. AJ Styles just retired. Those are like the top top earners, like Taker can’t go no more. So that pyramid is starting to really get really pointy and small at the top.
– Swerve Strickland, AEW Wrestler
How Tony Khan’s Leadership Mirrors Professional Sports
Strickland compared Tony Khan’s approach in AEW to his executive roles with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL and Fulham FC soccer club in the UK. He highlighted AEW’s organized environment with player coaches and system coaches, enabling tailored strategies for each wrestler’s strengths. This structure, he said, benefits the talent on the AEW roster by maximizing their potential within a well-coordinated framework.
Tony Khan owns AEW. He’s also a part owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Fulham soccer team in the UK,
Strickland noted.
He treats the roster like talent, like not talent, but like athletes. You know, there’s player coaches, there’s organization, there’s system coaches. He’s a player’s booker. He’s in tune with his talent and his roster and where to put those guys and like, he utilizes us very well, and it’s like a scheme on a football team.
– Swerve Strickland, AEW Wrestler
AEW’s Growth and Swerve’s Positive Outlook
Strickland expressed confidence in Tony Khan’s ability to identify each wrestler’s role and compensate them accordingly. Reflecting on AEW’s progress, he noted the company’s success in filling large venues like Wembley Stadium and its steady rise as a key player in the wrestling industry in only its seventh year.
Me and him gel very, very, very, very well because he knows my strengths,
Strickland said.
He knows where I belong. He knows how to utilize all his players in the right way. So, therefore, he knows how to pay them too and motivate them in certain ways. He’s—especially we’re only in year seven of the company… We did 80,000 seats in Wembley Stadium and we filled it.
– Swerve Strickland, AEW Wrestler
This perspective from Strickland Mae highlights the evolving landscape of professional wrestling, where AEW under Tony Khan’s management increasingly offers competitive pay and a structured system that resembles traditional sports teams. As key WWE stars retire, AEW’s financially stable and organized environment could attract more top talent, impacting the competitive dynamics between major wrestling promotions going forward.
