5 times WWE Superstars had to pay real-life fines

Like any other gobal organization, WWE too has a set of rules and regulations its superstars are meant to follow. However, sometimes the superstars cross the stipulated boundaries specified by the promotion and get into trouble.

Vince McMahon's company doesn't shy away from imposing hefty fines for such acts. Though every so often, the fine seems reasonable and required, other times, WWE just imposes them to set an example.

It doesn't matter how big of a name someone is, Mr. McMahon and his promotion have fined a massive chunk of amounts, sometimes in the range of USD 650,000.

Our article will focus on five instances when WWE Superstars had to pay real-life fines.

Which of the following penalties do you feel were necessary, and which ones were just not required?

Share what you think in the comments below.

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#5. John Cena is one of those WWE Superstars who had to pay real-life fines

Aiden English, who has now been released by WWE, revealed on his YouTube channel last year about the time he was fined heavily. He competed in a six-man tag-team dark match alongside Miro (f.k.a. Rusev) and Baron Corbin against AJ Styles and The Usos.

During the match, The Usos, who are widely known for their superkicks, started performing the maneuver on Aiden English. As it was a dark match, which many consider to be non-canonical, the superstars decided to do something funny.

All six superstars started throwing superkicks, much to fans' delight. The audience then started shouting "referee" chants. After being persuaded by the superstars, the referees superkicked English and then pinned the heels. The crowd erupted on the occasion.

Following the act, the six superstars and the referee had to face resentment from the backstage officials, who were displeased with their actions. Each of these superstars was fined USD 20,000.

However, English was informed later that someone else had paid their fine. A man with a big heart (and bank balance) came to their rescue, and his name is John Cena. Cena paid USD 120,000 to bail out the superstars.

It is still weird that the superstars were fined for entertainment, perhaps the fundamental maxim of WWE.

#4. Triple H and The Undertaker were fined an undisclosed amount for their WrestleMania match

Two of the biggest names in WWE were fined for one of the greatest matches. The Undertaker and Triple H locked horns at WrestleMania 27 in a no-holds-barred match.

Though everything was allowed in the contest, the superstars were not permitted to hit a steel chair on the opponent's head. However, to make the match more intense, the two titans did the same and were both heavily fined.

WWE publicly stated on its website about the fine to set an example for other superstars.

Pursuant to WWE's Concussion policy, the stunt of using a folded metal chair shot to the head is prohibited. Triple H and The Undertaker have both been fined for violating this policy at WrestleMania XXVII. WWE penalizes through fine and/or suspension for violation of this policy, which is unchanged and still in effect.

#3. Mr. McMahon fined Titus O'Neil for not minding his own business

During Daniel Bryan's retirement tribute in 2016, almost every superstar on the roster was on the entrance ramp. Following the winding-up, Titus O'Neil grabbed Vince McMahon when the latter was making his way back.

The chairman was caught off guard and pushed Neil. The Prime-Time player was later suspended for 90 days for the act, which was subsequently shortened to 60 days.

Furthermore, he was also fined USD 5,000. Everything appears to be fine now as Titus was inducted into the Hall of Fame with the Warrior Award for his work outside the ring. Titus and Vince even hilariously recreated the moment during the induction.

#2. Batista had to pay $100,000 for bloodshed

WWE was notoriously famed for its relationship with blood. There was hardly a big match without a bloodbath during the Ruthless Aggression Era. However, things changed abruptly when the company went into the PG Era in 2008.

WWE introduced a strict no-blood policy. Batista, one of the biggest stars at the time, didn't like the idea and instead bladed himself to shed some blood in a match against Chris Jericho.

This was received extremely poorly by Vince McMahon, who replied with a hefty USD 100,000 fine on The Animal. Even Jericho, the referee, and the match producers were fined smaller amounts.

Batista realized his mistake and even compensated the amount for others.

#1. Stone Cold Steve Austin had to pay USD 250,000 for quitting

Even Stone Cold Steve Austin, arguably the greatest WWE Superstar of all time, wasn't immune to Vince McMahon's wrath. Not only is he one of the biggest names, but he also had to pay one of the biggest fines.

He was booked to face Brock Lesnar, The Next Big Thing, on an episode of RAW as part of the King of The Ring tournament. Though Austin admitted there were prospects in putting Lesnar over, their encounter on a random RAW episode didn't excite him.

He thus quit and left the company for about half a year. Upon return, he was imposed a hefty fine of USD 650,000, which was reduced to a quarter-a-million.