Awesome Kong says she was making less money than a manager at McDonald’s during her run with TNA Wrestling

During the season seven premiere of Dark Side of the Ring, which focused on the history of Jeff Jarrett and TNA Wresting, former Knockouts champion Awesome Kong reflected on how the Knockouts were compensated during her time with the company…

“It kind of felt like [TNA President Dixie Carter] didn’t appreciate her homegrown talent. Kurt Angle is making a little over a million dollars a year. Kurt Angle deserved more than a million a year, in my opinion. Can you tell me that I’m not worth 1/10th of Kurt Angle? I asked for a raise and let them know that as you break it down, I make less than a manager at McDonald’s. The reply that I got was, ‘We do not dispute any of the points you made, however, we cannot pay you that sum at this time.’

There were more than two TNA Knockouts, who held the TNA title that had to moonlight in very blue-collar jobs. One worked at a bar. She would be on TV and the customers would say, ‘Isn’t that you?’ She would say, ‘Yes, may I take your order?’ Dixie knows that we’re struggling, and she’s still hiring people in front of us.” (quote courtesy of Jeremy Lambert)