AP: Mayweather To Get $20 Million For WrestleMania XXIV Appearance

LOS ANGELES (Associated Press) - Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a champion boxer and has tested his moves on "Dancing With the Stars." Now the man many consider the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is preparing to drop the gloves and do some wrasslin.'

A $20 million payday awaits the undefeated WBC welterweight champion when he takes on Big Show as part of WWE's "WrestleMania XXIV" at Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on March 30.

"It's entertainment. You have a chance to just be you and do what you want to do," Mayweather said Monday after a chaotic Staples Center event that masqueraded as a news conference.

The boxer nicknamed "Money" clearly likes the way WWE does business.

"Wrestling takes care of business right on the spot," Mayweather said. "Whatever they say they're going to do, they do it right on the spot. There's no waiting three, four, five months. Quick results, quick money. Quick big money, too."

His manager Leonard Ellerbee and WWE executive Shane McMahon confirmed Mayweather's eight-figure payday for the outdoor match to be shown on live on pay-per-view.

Mayweather incited the couple hundred of already hyped fans at Staples Center by whipping out a thick wad of cash and repeatedly tossing $100, $50 and $20 bills into the crowd that had nearly as many women as men.

A mad scramble ensued, with a light pole nearly getting knocked over and two small children caught in the chaos. One lucky man emerged from the pileup clutching six $100 bills.

Mayweather played to the frenzied crowd after appearing from behind a black curtain wearing a New York Yankees jacket and cap. Fans shouted insults and the name of hometown hero Oscar De La Hoya at Mayweather.

"I run Vegas and I run L.A. and I will run the WWE," he boasted.

At 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, Mayweather gives up big numbers to the bald Big Show, who stands 7-feet and weighs 430.

"I weigh three times as much as he does," Big Show crowed. "It's not fair, but I'm a businessman and I see an opportunity for business."

Then he picked up the wooden podium and tossed it to the floor, where it splintered and the attached two mics lay like broken sticks. Clearly, Staples Center officials hadn't expected the move.

Mayweather hopped onto a chair and exchanged glares with Big Show while WWE regulars Randy Orton, John Cena, Triple H and Edge looked on, witnessing a newcomer who clearly understands the theatrics of modern-day wrestling.

"WWE is the biggest it gets," Mayweather said. "This is going to be an event like none other."

Ellerbee scoffed that hard-core boxing fans won't take Mayweather seriously after his WWE antics.

"After March 30, when Floyd goes out and takes care of his business at WrestleMania, he's still going to be the best fighter in the world and the face of boxing," he said. "Tell me what changes about that? Nothing changes."

The wrestling gig is another part of Ellerbee's carefully crafted plan to expand Mayweather's fan base.

"Either I'm going to be a genius with this or I'm the biggest idiot," he said. "Boxers have such a short window of opportunity. He can't become any bigger in boxing."

That's why Ellerbee snagged Mayweather a spot on ABC's reality hit "Dancing With the Stars." Mayweather didn't win the disco ball trophy, but he wasn't the first one voted off, either.

"It crossed him over and took him into the households of many middle-aged Middle Americans and turned him into a mainstream superstar," Ellerbee said. "Now when Floyd goes into the grocery store, the first thing 65-year-old ladies say is, `You're Floyd from `Dancing With the Stars.'"

Mayweather plans to train with WWE Latino star Ray Mysterio, who wears a mask on his face.

"I'm outside the box," he said, lapsing into the third person. "Floyd Mayweather is not just a fighter, he's an entertainer. That's what the world must know."

But he hasn't forgotten his night job.

Mayweather alluded to a possible rematch with De La Hoya in September. De La Hoya lost a split decision in their last bout May 5.

That's crazy he gets so much. That might be the budget for WWE's entire roster.

that is bullshit for them to pay that much he better put on a hell of a match or i am going to be pissed

Uncalled for. I don't feel that the WWE gains anything from this. I'm not going to buy Wrestlemania XXIV because Mayweather's in it, and I'm not so sure boxing fans will either. I could be wrong, though.

The $20 million should be invested in young, fresh talent. This just tells me WWE has money to burn.

all i know is it better be a match because that seems like money that could have gone to the acutual wwe superstars or at least som new talent so all i know it better be a match to remeber

That $20 million could be put to good use in the Babaganoosh Foundation. I help underprivileged...errm...well just help me.

$20 million! that crazy!

So he gets paid £20 Million....my god I bet Mania itself only makes about a 100 million

Yes, 20 million is a hell of a lot but WWE will get a massive return from it. This will be a huge match, loads of people who don't watch wrestling will be tuning in. I know this because a friend of mine who likes boxing is going to watch a whole WWE show for the first time. And to be honest I can't really see what else WWE would do with it. They could link with more feeder feds or something like that but WWE is all about cash and Mayweather at 'Mania will be a big draw. WWE have money to burn anyway so why shouldn't they sign a big boxing star for a match? It doesn't really affect anyone. And no, he's not going to put on a great match, he's not even a wrestler but he will put on a match that makes money.

To be honest, I'm not sure how many boxing fans are actually going to switch over to wrestling just because of Mayweather. $20 million, there's so many possibilities available including signing star talent (maybe steal some TNA guys), getting other star appearances that won't be costing that much, etc.

I don't think a lot of boxing fans will order WrestleMania, but I don't think a lot of Trump fans ordered last years WrestleMania either.

Singing Maywether was all about getting publicity. The WWE was all over entertainment news last week, they'll continue to be for the next few weeks until WrestleMania. Now there are a lot more people that are aware of WWE's existence, who might be inclined to order the show.

What would taking that money and signing other talent have done? They have pretty large pockets as is. Anybody they want they already have.

This has got to be the most blatant example of over paying for anything the WWE has ever done.

Boy I hate to see the day that an Austin/Hogan match finally happens at WM, because they are going to stick it in McMahon, and turn it up left.

alot of boxing fans are not just going to buy it for mayweather so i think that money could hav gone to way better things for wm like i said it better be a good showing by mayweather

Update:

A week after the Associated Press broke the story that World Wrestling Entertainment is paying Floyd Mayweather $20 million for his involvement at WrestleMania XXIV, many people are doubting whether that figure is legit. One source within WWE told the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Mayweather is actually receiving $1-2 million plus a percentage of the PPV revenue.

ESPN.com claims, "The payday is undoubtedly an exaggeration" while still giving Vince McMahon his due as a master promoter. "Various news outlets, including some reputable ones that should've known better, reported it as fact. Chalk one up for Floyd and Vince."

At the very least, there is some resentment within the WWE lockerroom. There is fear that Mayweather's payday will result in less money going to the wrestlers. Others believe the number to be a work and are not worried about it.

In a recent interview with the Orlando Sentinel, a WWE spokesman Kevin Hennessy declined to comment on the $20 million figure.

Since WWE is publicly traded company, they can not deceive stock holders by claiming a bogus $20 million expense. However, there are a number of ways around this. Aside from giving him a smaller flat fee plus a % of PPV sales, it would also be possible for Vince McMahon to pay Mayweather a large portion of the $20 million himself - in which case the expense would never hit WWE's books for the public to see.

For WWE to cover Mayweather's alleged $20 million fee, WrestleMania would need to do around 1.8 million buys (50% more than last year). As we've reported, WWE is charging more for this year's WrestleMania than in previous years - $54.95 for the standard definition broadcast and $69.95 for HD.

I believe that it is an exaggeration because the Big Show brought it up. Just to put it into perspective they would have to sell the PPV to 333,333 just to make 20,000,000 dollars. I doubt they will be giving away that much for a boxer.

That raised price is just going to cost them even more buys.

$70 bucks would be outrageous for WM III.

20 Million is nothing for WWE, last year alone they got 29.7 Million off Wrestlemania and PPV prices went up 5 bucks this year, not to mention how many boxing fans might actually buy the PPV, plus you need to factor in the fact that Ford Field only has 80,103 seats compared to the Citrus Bowl which has 70,000 seats plus it has 24 box seats, now a box seat contains 100 seats for fans so you factor in the fact that tickets went up 37 dollars this year and the PPV cost is up to 54 bucks. I'd say they might even double the money they made last year

He sure insn't worth all that $.

stl311 wrote:

20 Million is nothing for WWE, last year alone they got 29.7 Million off Wrestlemania and PPV prices went up 5 bucks this year, not to mention how many boxing fans might actually buy the PPV, plus you need to factor in the fact that Ford Field only has 80,103 seats compared to the Citrus Bowl which has 70,000 seats plus it has 24 box seats, now a box seat contains 100 seats for fans so you factor in the fact that tickets went up 37 dollars this year and the PPV cost is up to 54 bucks. I'd say they might even double the money they made last year

Exacetely my point 20 Mill is over 2 thirds what they made last year on Wrestlemania unless they had definite proof that it was going to make a lot more then that, then I could see them forking over that much. But 20 Million Floyd Mayweather would probably show up for 2 Million.