Rumor Roundup (Sept. 5, 2026): New Day pay cut, CM Punk role, Rusev WWE return, more!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 23: Kofi Kingston makes his entrance during Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on February 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/WWE via Getty Images) | WWE via Getty Images We made it to the weekend, let’s keep going. Lead Rumor: New Day pay cut The New Level’s debut with AEW has gone so well, folks are back to taking digs at WWE over the disrespect of asking the legendary duo to take a pay cut. That pay cut is what is being talked about now, with folks like Conrad Thompson making claims that it was “as high as 75-percent.” Kofi & Austin Creed themselves said it was more than the originally reported 50-percent cut, and now Ridge Holland has spoken out and said he was looking at a 56-percent pay cut. To that end, Bryan Alvarez said he believes that “was almost exactly what New Day was asked to take.” We may never know the actual number, but either way it’s clear WWE probably should have tried harder to keep them around. Then again, the