I've said it before and I'll fucking die on this hill.
Everyone from the fans and especially the wrestlers. Should be kissing the ground Tony walks on. You don't have to like him. You don't have to like AEW. But without him and his fuck you money. I guarantee you, endeavour would be pulling the purse strings shut on a lot of these wrestler salaries.
They've cut back on house shows. Big stars like Rhea barely wrestle on Raw anymore. What does she really do for them on a week to week basis outside of say "Mami on top!".
I don't think we'd be hearing about these wrestlers getting more and more money from TKO and Endeavour if Tony and his fuck you money wasn't looming and ready to sign these people. You look at the way they treat the UFC guys when it comes to pay. They slashed the office employees benefits earlier this year.The mid card guys? Fucking forget about it if they're paying Kaiser or Natalya what they are with piss all house shows. They're paying them to show up and sit in the back now and if they're lucky, they'll get a main event taping.
Tony and his fuck you money is the only thing stopping TKO from heavily restricting wrestler pay.