10 Reasons WWE Can't Care About Their TV Ratings Anymore
7. WWE Never Turned John Cena Heel
Yes, WWE would be shooting themselves in the foot regarding potential gimmick sales. However, regarding creative storytelling that could keep ratings high, heel John Cena instead of Seth Rollins as the showpiece of The Authority could've spurred a huge ratings boost. Moreso than great matches, what made the Attitude Era great was the importance of captivating storylines. In a manner similar to Hulk Hogan turning heel in WCW, John Cena turning heel in WWE would've sparked TV ratings in a huge way. As well, with the right design, the number of smart-mark internet fans who could've bought into "Move Happy Wrestler" Cena being indoctrinated into this new heel persona could've led to Cena's gimmick sales not tanking, but rather Cena's gimmick sales remaining high. Instead of kids buying Cena t-shirts, grown men would be his new "fans," and his merch sales wouldn't slip.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
