During a recent interview with Sportshadow Wrestling, The Godfather has publicly revealed that his royalty checks have dropped sharply since Vince McMahon’s exit from the WWE. As one of the first wrestlers to sign a Legends contract, the veteran admitted the financial rewards feel far less generous under the new regime. “The money seemed to be better when Vince was running things,” he stated, highlighting how many legacy stars are feeling the pinch from TKO’s ownership.
“All I will say is the money seemed to be better when Vince was running things, and I’ll let it go at that. But my royalty checks have gone way down since Vince left.” – The Godfather
Under WWE’s Legends contracts, the company secures the rights to use wrestlers’ names and likenesses across merchandise, video games, and streaming platforms. In return, talents earn small pro rata royalties on net sales, which helps in retirement. While former stars like D-Von Dudley can pocket $30,000–$40,000 in strong quarters, Kevin Nash recently claimed on his podcast that his nWo payments have been cut roughly in half since TKO took control, and that statements have become far less transparent.
