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For the past few years, it seems that Brock Lesnar has been the highest earner in WWE with the likes of John Cena and Triple H hot on his heels. As a part-time star, it's incredible that Lesnar is earning more than five times what many of WWE's full-time stars are reported to be taking home.
Since it's being reported that Lesnar's contract comes to an end in April this year and it is unknown as to whether or not the current Universal Champion will be signing a new one, this opens a gap at the top of the list for another star to step up and become the biggest star in the company. John Cena's new part-time status should only help to push WWE to make a new full-time face of the company and there are a number of candidates for this position.
#5 Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens is one of the biggest stars on the SmackDown Live brand right now and his rivalry with Shane McMahon over the past few months has seemingly taken over the Tuesday night show. There are rumours that Owens has had a number of issues backstage that could be the reason why the company have never fully pulled the trigger when it comes to making him a main event star, but these issues could hopefully be behind him now.
His recent beatdown of Vince McMahon proved that he has the support of The Chairman of WWE, which means that there is nothing standing in his way when it comes to being the top heel in the company once Lesnar makes his departure official. Owens has never made it onto the top 10 highest paid wrestlers list in his career, so 2018 could be a huge year for the former Universal Champion.
#4 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle only made his return to WWE back in April and he has already been awarded the General Manager position on Monday Night Raw and been part of one of the most high profile matches of the year when he teamed with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins back at TLC: Tables Ladders and Chairs.
Much like Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle could easily negotiate a contract where he is earning much more than many of the full-time stars on the roster because he is aware that the company are building towards a huge in-ring return for him. Angle probably has a few more matches in him and he will want to cash in on these, knowing that his career will be coming to an end in the near future and he has a family to support.
#3 Roman Reigns
WWE has been trying to push Roman Reigns as the face of the company for the past four years and it seems with Brock Lesnar set to drop the Universal Championship to Roman at WrestleMania in April and Cena set to take more time away from the company this year, Roman could be the one to step up.
Cena already passed the torch over the Roman back at No Mercy and it seems that Brock will pass it at WrestleMania. Roman is no stranger to having the pressure of the company on his back and it seems that the WWE Universe is finally cheering the current Intercontinental Champion. Roman Reigns has been on the top earner's list for the past few years and now it's finally time for him to take the top spot.
#2 Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe is a former NXT Champion and so far hasn't been given the opportunities he has deserved on the main roster, which could be why he has been on the Raw roster for almost a year and still unable to lift gold of any kind.
Joe has been built as a beast over the past few months and looked poised to become Intercontinental Champion on the first Raw of 2018. Joe could be an outside bet to win the Royal Rumble in a few weeks time, as well as someone who could have a huge match at WrestleMania.
Joe has been selling a lot of merchandise over the past few months and main evented a number of WWE pay-per-views in 2017. With no other star power to turn to, it seems that Joe could be the one that WWE turn to in 2018 which will push him onto the top earners in WWE list for the first time.
#1 Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman has had an incredible 2017 and it seems that it is only set to get better in 2018 since he is already scheduled for a Universal Championship shot at The Royal Rumble.
Strowman has become a popular star with the WWE Univers over the past few months and this has been made obvious by his merchandise sales. It is also reported that Strowman main evented more shows that drew at least 10,000 fans in the first 11 months of 2017 than any other star. Braun's popularity should only continue to climb over the next few months which will see him finally make it onto the highest earners list.
Braun has main evented every WWE pay-per-view he has been part of since August, WWE seems to be happy to allow Braun to fill the gap in the main event level of the company. Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman could be the ones to watch throughout 2018.
