5 Reasons Roman Reigns’ WWE Championship Run Has Succeeded
By Josh.0
2. Marketability
This term means, “in demand by buyers or employers” and relates directly to how well a particular superstar can sell tickets and merchandise. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter disclosed the results of a marketability study conducted in 2016 with WWE fans showing Reigns as one of the 5 most popular superstars on the roster. The WON also mentions an “undisclosed” retailer who stated that Reigns was in their top 3 of merchandise sales. Money talks and so long as Reigns merchandise remains a top seller you can expect him to be in the main event picture in one form or another.
Trying to determine the actual net worth of a particular superstar is difficult since there are so many factors to consider and this information isn’t made public by WWE. The best (and very lengthy) break down was done last year by Forbes who considered a myriad of data inputs including lawsuits, SEC filings, and available base salaries. The details of these contracts are super boring but trust me when I tell you that the higher up on the WWE food chain you go, the more revenue streams flow your way.
What each wrestler receives as their share of these streams such as live event expenses is nearly impossible to guess (and WWE isn’t telling) but it’s reasonable to assume that title holders and “main eventers” take home more since they appear at more shows. I don’t typically make assumptions but as an example I’m fairly safe in saying that John Cena makes more money than Kalisto. Along that same line, it’s a safe bet that Reigns has been pulling in more serious cash since his championship run began because of his overall marketability. The more marketable you are, the more money you make. Based on the data compiled by Forbes, Reigns checks in at number 6 in the WWE by making just over $2.1 million in 2015.
But Josh, I don’t have much athletic prowess and I have even less charisma, so how can I get in on this action? According to The Princeton Review, a degree in business is one of the top 5 college majors in the United States that can get you an actual return on your college investment. So throw away your P90X DVDs and pick up an SAT prep book instead.
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