13 Most Profitable Years In WWE History

7. 2005 - $47,047,000

In 2005, WWE had established John Cena and Batista at the top of the company. It was also a period in which WWE were looking for growth in their distribution and multimedia, with Cena spearheading the drive into a range of franchises. He wasn't just a wrestler, he was a star, and the company were intent on him representing the brand for years to come.

Also at the disposal of the company were legends like Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Triple H and Kurt Angle. It was a star studded product.

In his annual report, Vince McMahon put over the international expansion, including "power periods" of increased activity in foreign markets.

"Fiscal 2005 was the year we firmly established our WWE business model outside North America and demonstrated the global appeal of our WWE brands. We put into motion plans for new businesses using the Internet, video on demand, film, and our legendary Superstars as a way to invigorate and diversify our revenue streams," McMahon stated in his annual report when explaining the profits growth.