The outrage over R-Truth’s WWE exit hasn’t quieted—but now, former WWE personality Jonathan Coachman is suggesting this might not be about just one contract. According to Coach, Truth’s situation could signal the beginning of a company-wide strategy to reset pay across the board.
Coachman initially revealed that R-Truth was offered a new WWE contract—but at a substantial pay cut compared to his previous deal. Truth reportedly declined, opting to walk away instead. That detail alone turned heads. But in a follow-up post responding to Ringside News coverage of the story, Coach took it a step further.
“Yes. My sources tell me that R-Truth was offered a substantial amount less to resign. IMO this is the beginning of ‘resetting’ the contract lines. I get both sides not knowing what the amount was.”
Drawing from his own experience at ESPN, Coachman explained that major companies sometimes quietly restructure their pay scales by slowly phasing in lower deals—one contract at a time. He believes WWE may be starting a similar shift now.
“We went through the same thing years ago at ESPN. A lot of talent was overpaid in the executives’ minds and they had to reset one deal at a time.”
He also speculated that R-Truth, who still has strong fan support and marketability, may have realized he can earn more elsewhere—whether it’s indie bookings or even AEW.
“My guess is R-Truth knows whatever the number was that he can make more than that either on the indies like Cardona or at AEW.”
One reason WWE salaries may have inflated in the first place was the rise of AEW. When Tony Khan began offering big-money contracts to lure top talent, WWE was forced to adjust to keep their roster intact. But now that AEW has cooled off creatively and commercially, WWE may not see them as the same level of threat—opening the door to slash salaries back down to where executives believe they should be.
While nothing has been officially confirmed by WWE, Coachman’s insight carries weight. He worked closely with top names in the company for years and remains in contact with key players. If there is a systematic contract reset happening, R-Truth might just be the first name fans recognize—and not the last.
It’s no secret that WWE is now owned by TKO and is operating under different financial pressures. But if this new strategy continues, we may see more veterans making tough decisions—and fans won’t stay silent about it.
Do you think WWE is slowly shifting to lower-paying contracts for talent? Or was R-Truth’s situation unique? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where you stand.
