Report: Lio Rush Rejected Five-Year Deal For Around $300,000 Annually; Asked For Double That Number
Lio Rush remains in the headlines.
According to a new report from Mike Johnson at PWInsider, WWE recently offered Lio Rush a five-year deal worth “in the range of” $300,000 per year. Rush reportedly turned down the deal and asked for “double that number.” The report goes on to state that Rush’s current deal is set to expire in 2020, but no firm date was given.
Amid reports of him having backstage heat, Lio recently spoke to Fightful to clarify the situation. In the interview, Lio brought up his issue with money in WWE.
“My issue is the fact that I haven’t been on meet & greets with Bobby, haven’t been getting paid for merchandise for us that has my catchphrases on them. (I) have been sent to live shows and TVs and forced to pay for my own rental for 5 days as well as hotel while not making enough money to do so. Walking around broke in the biggest sports entertainment industry that there is while having two kids and a wife to support.”
PWInsider’s report included other incidents of Rush not endearing himself to the WWE locker room. According to the report, Rush brought a group backstage at a TV taping last year and when the group was stopped for not all having proper credentials, the group reportedly loudly began yelling at a female member of WWE’s security team.
The report also states that, after being approached about his issues, Rush told a veteran member of the roster that he works for Vince, not the roster member. Following the incident, the veteran talent was reportedly approached by management as Rush had complained about him speaking down to Rush. The veteran roster member was reportedly not Finn Balor, who Rush reportedly has his own issues with, as detailed here.
Rush was reportedly removed from the locker room following that incident in November 2018. His issues became less of a regular occurrence in the locker room, but in recent weeks, that had changed.
Fightful has reached out to Lio Rush for comment.
