Major difference, Nedew.
High jump don't make money. Football does.
When I was doing track, the Cross Country team was treated like second class citizens. The other teams (high jump, broad jump, shot put, etc) were even lower than them. It was the short distancers that got to say 'I'm on the track team' even down to merchandising. Our sweat suits said 'Track Team' while the Cross Country (basically long distance track) got 'Cross Country' on theirs and the others got their specific niche of the team on their suits. That was only because short distances (sprinters, in common parlance) were the "sexier" events. Heck, the bowling team only got funding because several of the football, basketball, and baseball team players were on it (and the "meets" were often used as 'team building exercises' by the coaches).
Sad but it's the reality in many places here. If a sport doesn't support itself, it doesn't make itself immune to being cut. The same can be said for music programs here (which is why VH1's Save the Music Foundation was formed).
On topic: Mick is probably the only person on TNA's roster that has any appeal to mainstream entertainment outlets. Unless there's another multi-time World champion AND multi-time New York Times bestselling author on the payroll. If not for his recent issues, Kurt Angle could've (and might still be able to for London) gotten some press commentating Olympic wrestling events. Granted, it wouldn't be in prime time (Olympic and Greco-Roman wrestling aren't "sexy" after all) but it would garner some buzz.