9 months ago
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There are several perks to being a WWE Superstar. One of those major perks involves royalty payments from merchandising, video games, etc.
Given that WWE video games are wildly popular among fans, it provides a great opportunity for the talent to make some extra cash. Needless to say, WWE Superstars wait for the opportunity to be included in WWE game.
Maven was lucky to have the opportunity when he was included in WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth. The game which was released for the PlayStation 2 was wildly popular among the fans. Maven, being part of the game, made a substantial amount in royalty checks.
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Maven spoke about the royalty payments he made from his first and only video game. He also stated that 20% of his income was from royalties.
“So, my royalty payments were anywhere from, at the time, between $2,000-$7,000 every quarter. This would be a determinant of your positioning on the show. Obviously, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Trish Stratus, Stacy Keibler, Undertaker, they were higher up in the company so they were making a ton more and it would obviously depend on how the video game sold. Was it selling good? Was it flying off the shelves? If so, you were making more money for royalty payments. Video games accounted for roughly 20% of [his royalty payments]. So, if I made $2,000 in royalties, I might make $400 of that because of the video games.”
Maven further touched upon his experience getting scanned for his first video game. He also revealed that JAKKS Pacific paid him $30,000 to have his likeness scanned for the game.
“That first scan, that very first time they take you off, when they’re in essence buying your rights, that’s the check you want, and that’s a check that I still wish I was getting today. I didn’t make $10,000. I didn’t make $20,000. They paid me $30,000. That was the royalty payment I got for being scanned into the video game. I saw one of the biggest checks I had ever seen with my name on it.”
It’s fascinating to hear how much a mid-card talent like Maven was earning just from royalties during this time in WWE. It will be interesting to know how much the current WWE roster gets for providing their likeness to the current WWE 2K games.
What are your thoughts on Maven’s comments? How much do you think current WWE Superstars get paid in royalties? Sound off in the comments section.
