10 Smartest Decisions In Wrestling History
1. WWE Building Around John Cena
John Cena, indirectly, is the biggest draw in WWE history.
By all traditional metrics, he isn't. Hulk Hogan was the biggest draw of the modern era, a crown taken from him by Steve Austin, who drew bigger business, albeit over a shorter run. The Rock in the year 2000 drew the most consecutive five-figure houses in all of history, and will likely forever hold the record for the most-purchased pro wrestling pay-per-view ever. His WrestleMania XXVIII opponent, John Cena, is not in that class.
By all traditional metrics.
But the smiling, mugging, injury impervious Cena, in his role as the face of PG WWE, unlocked an untapped resource of revenue. Pro wrestling helped usher in the golden age of television, but the relationship was never reciprocal. Sponsors were always hesitant to associate themselves with it. That 'blood and guts' comment Vince McMahon aimed at AEW's potential advertisers was calculated. He knows more than most that this perception of wrestling prevails in money circles, which might account for his career-long crusade to get sports entertainment over as a thing.
Cena rid WWE of that stigma, and rehabilitated the company's image post-Benoit with his tireless (and admirable) charity efforts and charismatic PR charm offensive. WWE shaped itself around Cena's slick, family-friendly image, beckoning several major partners into its clutches. The deal with Mattel alone earned $160M in 2010.
His cloak-and-dagger look helped, too. Nobody dressed that brightly could possibly be bad!