Analyzing Forbes's List Of WWE's Highest Earners
2. John Cena - $8 Million
John Cena debuted in WWE in 2002, and since then, 2016 was his least-active year in the company. It's not Cena's fault - just days into January, he suffered a shoulder injury that forced him into surgery and cancelled his planned WrestleMania 32 match with The Undertaker. Though Cena would still make an appearance at the show of shows, he didn't come back to the ring until May, when he started a feud with AJ Styles.
The Cena-Styles program carried both men through to SummerSlam, and after a brief absence following that event, Cena returned to reprise the rivalry at No Mercy. Styles got the best of Cena at just about every exchange, though, and after No Mercy, a somber Cena took another break to film season two of American Grit.
On WWE programming, Cena didn't do much besides put over AJ Styles (which shouldn't be discounted). Off TV, though, he was an ambassador for the brand. Finally getting some of that mainstream fame that eluded him during his prime, Cena hosted the ESPY Awards and Saturday Night Live, saw American Grit premiere on Fox, co-hosted Today on multiple occasions, starred in commercials, and made a ton of cameos. All in all, he may not be The Rock, but he's the next best thing.
Was he worth it? Yes.