5. Chris Hero / Kassius Ohno
Hired by WWE to a developmental deal in February 2012 (then re-branded as Kassius Ohno as released in November 2013), Chris Hero is a world-traveled 16-year independent wrestling veteran. As an independent wrestler, Hero has always thrived on having a close relationship with his fanbase, which has only grown in the era of social media. A frequent user of Instagram, Twitter and Youtube, his greatest worth to WWE may come from his ability to engage with fans fitting the lacking-in-WWE's profile urban/hip-hop loving demographic. For as much as John Cena has engendered support in that demo by releasing a rap album, sporting iced-out chains, sports jerseys and wearing jorts (as well as spending a significant portion of his early WWE career actually battle-rapping) Cena's persona has become co-opted in so many directions (support of the the American armed forces, being family friendly, etc.) that the urban/hip-hop tones in his presentation arguably lack the significant connective tie they once had to that particular audience. As well, in the time that Cena has been with the company, hip-hop has evolved from being a dominant (yet still niche by comparison to mainstream tastes) cultural construct, to arguably becoming synonymous with that which guides pop culture overall. Ultimately, for as much as Hero's in-ring work may have underwhelmed WWE suits, his greater worth to the company could easily be as a wrestler subtly nodding and deftly connecting to the core of hip-hop culture's now inclusive to all walks of life ethos. In Hero's indy wrestling history, he successfully reached out to indie rap performers to create entrance themes, and has often received support from other members of both the mainstream and indie communities. At no point has Hero ever in any less than sincere in his appreciation and devotion to the culture, and could be a great person to involve in community outreach. In re-signing Hero and having him as an active contributor in the company, his worth then transfers to social media in the sense that he keeps the company hip, cool, aware and always potentially in-play as an active member of a massively important community.