Brock Lesnar is one of the most highly-paid wrestlers of the World Wrestling Federation (WWE) this year, according to recent reports.
According to a news item by Forbes, the current WWE champion earned an average of $923,000 per match this year. Lesnar only had to defend his title 13 times this year, and so those matches netted him a total of about $12 million in 2017 earnings.
Reports suggest that this is due to Lesnar being in-demand, and the fighter has the presence that always draws crowds. More WWE fans would likely go to a live match when they know that Lesnar will be performing.
To earn the $12 million, Lesnar had to show up for 13 of those matches. However, he also made himself prominent in the media around those dates to promote his upcoming matches. He did not have to physically do this, because even a video message would be enough to stir up fan excitement.
Lesnar was already one of the top-paid wrestlers in 2015. He only secured the number 2 spot that year, as the number 1 spot belong to John Cena.
In 2016, the list changed, with Lesnar being the highest paid at $12 million. Cena came second, earning an estimated $8 million that year.
Triple H and Roman Reigns came in third and fourth place, earning $3.8 million and $3.5 million respectively. Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles came fifth and sixth, earning $2.7 million and $2.4 million that year, respectively.
Shane McMahon came in seventh, earning $2.2 million in 2016.
The Undertaker and Seth Rollins were tied that year, earning $2 million. Randy Orton completes the top ten, earning $1.9 million in 2016.
If current trends continue, Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman will soon join the ranks of the top ten highest-paid wrestlers.
Lesnar will be likely to continue his career with the WWE. If so, he will be expected to sign a renewal of contract after Wrestlemania 34.
