It was the night that changed wrestling forever, and now the pay slip behind it is wowing fans all over again.WrestleMania III in 1987 was headlined by Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant before 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome.WWEWWE claimed more than 93,000 fans packed into WrestleMania III[/caption]It was an era-defining main event that helped provide the backbone for Hulkamania but, for purists, the real main event came earlier in the card when Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat delivered what is still remembered as one of the greatest matches in WWE history.The match that stole WrestleMania 3 and left fans breathlessThe 14-minute Intercontinental title bout was meticulously rehearsed and packed with 22 near-falls that had the Michigan crowd biting on every count.Wrestling Observer Newsletter named it Match of the Year, while Pro Wrestling Illustrated followed suit, and Steamboat himself later admitted: “That match with Randy was the moment in time that defined me as a wrestler.”The bout cemented Savage as more than just a flamboyant mid-carder. His charisma, athleticism and unrivalled intensity propelled him into superstardom, paving the way for his World Championship runs and a Hall of Fame legacy.For Steamboat, it was proof of a flawless technique and in-ring discipline that saw him continue wrestling at an elite level well into later years. When he made surprise comebacks in his fifties, fans marvelled at how seamlessly he could still perform.What has stunned fans now, however, is the figure revealed on Steamboat’s original payslip from that night. Shared online by his son, the slip shows a net payment of $49,800 for WrestleMania III, minus a small deduction of $200, which appears to have been a payment made in advance.On one hand, the number looks eye-catching – the equivalent of around $142,000 in today’s money when adjusted for inflation. On the other, some have questioned whether it was too little for a match of such stature, especially given how much WWE would make in ticket sales, pay-per-view revenue and future DVD releases.The responses from fans reflects that divide. “Fifty grand is a great payday for being lower on the card,” one remarked. Others counter that for delivering what is still hailed as the best match in company history, it seems a modest reward.One said: “$50,000 for the greatest wrestling match of all time, WWE got a good deal”WWESteamboat had his hand raised at the end of the all-time classic[/caption]The payslip has been widely shared on social media and triggered tremendous debateFacebookAnother concurred, saying: “That’s $50,000 absolutely well spent.”Fans divided as 38-year-old WWE payslip reveals stunning figureEven Steamboat himself has often spoken of the pride he felt more than the pay. Reflecting years later, he said: “I knew we had magic. The fans still bring it up to me all the time, and that means more than the cheque.”What makes the revelation so fascinating is the wider contrast with today’s business. In 1987, WWE was growing but not yet the billion-dollar powerhouse it would become.Wrestlers relied heavily on house show gates and big-event payouts. A single payday like this could sustain a talent for months, but it was still dwarfed by the financial explosion that would come with the Attitude Era and beyond.Savage’s star would rise higher in the years that followed. He captured the WWE Championship at WrestleMania IV, delivered classic feuds with Hulk Hogan, and carried his over-the-top persona into WCW where he remained a major attraction.Steamboat, meanwhile, became the benchmark for technical wrestling, with many modern stars citing him as their inspiration. His run in WCW produced more classics with Ric Flair, but his WWE WrestleMania moment remains the match most often replayed.The iconic Steamboat v Savage match was scripted entirely by Savage and had more than 250 moves listedWWE/YouTube:A&EThe debate as to whether icons Savage and Steamboat were underpaid or paid too much for one night’s work might make for fascinating reading in 2025, but there seems no doubt about the match’s place in wrestling folklore.For the glitz and superhero stardom gifted by Hogan and Andre at WrestleMania III, it was the wrestler’s wrestling match that captured the hearts of just as many – regardless of how much they earned.