CM Punk joined the “Mostly Sports” podcast and spoke of the pros and cons of WWE’s new pay structure under TKO leadership.

Punk told the hosts that the way WWE’s pay structure works now works on a strict salary basis with little in the way of bonuses that a wrestler would normally have for hitting specific incentives, both individually or as a company. As a result, he feels that while this has meant more money in the pockets of wrestlers, there is less motivation and ambition for wrestlers to climb the ranks of the roster or aim to become a world champion.

“The business has radically changed. It was a different place when I signed than when I debuted and then when I came back. Like, it’s such a radically different place. The thing with the title too is also it means you made more money. That does not exist anymore. It’s good and bad. Like, we all make more money now, which is thumbs up.”

“My pay check was always predicated on how many people were in the building, so I was driven towards ticket sales and the business of it. And when you’re in the main events, you got paid more money. Now everyone is just kind of on salary. I think that’s good and bad. It’s good for the boys. But also I feel there’s not the same ambition, you know? I always wanted to be in the main event because it got me more money. Now I don’t care if I’m the opening match, because I’m still going to make the same. I can shower and watch the show now.”