WWE: CM Punk on “Good and Bad” Changes to WWE Pay Structure, Two New WWE Performance Center Signings, WWE Posts Video of CM Punk Honoring John Cena After 11/17 WWE RAW Show

CM Punk on “Good and Bad” Changes to WWE Pay Structure

A recent episode of the Mostly Sports podcast featured CM Punk as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Punk’s thoughts about the changes to WWE’s pay structure and the good and bad when it comes to salaried contracts for wrestlers in the pro wrestling industry.

“The business has radically changed. It was a different place when I signed then when I debuted and [it was different] when I came back. It’s such a radically different place. The thing with the title too is that it also means you made more money. That does not exist anymore. It’s good and bad. We all make more money now, which is thumbs up. But, my paycheck 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 event, you got paid more money. Now, everyone is just kind of on salary.

So 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, again, it got me more money. Now, I don’t care if I’m the opening match because I’m still gonna make the same. I can shower and watch the show now.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

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Two New WWE Performance Center Signings

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that WWE recently signed Jessica Bognadov and Cyrus Habibi-Likio to NXT developmental contracts for their Performance Center.

Bogndov and Habibi-Likio were among those who participated at this past August’s SummerSlam 2025 tryouts in New Jersey.

Bognadov was a Russian pole dancer and gymnast while Habibi-Likio played collate football and was a Running Back for Boise State University.

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WWE Posts Video of CM Punk Honoring John Cena After 11/17 WWE RAW Show

This past Monday’s WWE RAW show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York was notable for featuring John Cena’s final appearance at the legendary MSG venue and final appearance and match for WWE’s RAW brand as part of his retirement tour.

Following the show, WWE recently released a video featuring CM Punk paying tribute to Cena and leading the crowd into a “Thank You Cena” chant.