There were times I was getting next to nothing, and even losing money a lot of the time. It makes you thankful for where you are. Everyone in this business knows what I mean. At this stage, the wrestler is akin to a gun for hire in a mutually beneficial arrangement. He needs to work to refine his skills, while the promoter needs young athletes to maintain steady growth.
Most independents have a certain number of veterans who have worked at all levels of the business.
Mind you, some won't make it to the next level. Along with the ability to wrestle, the novice wrestler must learn how to relate to the fans through facial expressions, body language and verbal skills. The constant pounding his body takes causes him pain most of the time. There's little he can do but suck it up and learn to live with it. He has few days off to properly heal.