>>13905525Because being ex-Fed still caries a shitload of weight when it comes to getting decent indy pay because they usually result in larger ticket sales. Unless you're completely out of touch with market reality (i.e Ryback), you can get more than a couple a grand a show.
Can't remember which indy guy or promoter said it, but there was a video where they were discussing certain guys pay days and the one that immediately came to mind was Hornswoggle getting $1500 for an appearance when guys like Joey Ryan and Mike Elgin were getting $300-500 and said without even a bit of hesitation that he would bring Hornswoggle back for multiple bookings. If the fucking midget is getting that, imagine what wrestlers that were constantly on television were getting.