Balancing the Financial Books on John Cena’s Last Fight

With a professional career in the wrestling space dating back to 1999, there’s no doubting John Cena’s legacy in the world of WWE. While fans debate his last match, the WWE is taking a slightly different tack in exploring the economic impact of his departure. As one of the biggest draws in wrestling history, Cena leaves a superhero-sized hole in WWE’s finances, and we’re left wondering what this means for the company and Cena as an individual.
By the Numbers

According to analysis from Sport Finance Expert Dr. Rob Wilson, the loss the WWE expects from the departure of John Cena is likely to have a profoundly negative effect on the company’s bottom line. This parting is expected to fall somewhere in the range of $40 to $70 million per year. Even on the conservative end, this loss is enough for even the WWE to feel it, especially if they can’t groom an appropriate replacement.
Wrestling Will Survive

As a whole, professional wrestling is under no threat of financial collapse from the loss of Cena and the departure of fellow big names like Bautista and Johnson. The company as a whole has been experiencing constant revenue growth since 2009, to the current tune of more than $1.3 billion a year. Ironically, the departure of many of the most famous wrestlers into other forms of media might have done more to grow the pro wrestling brand, with the standout examples becoming household names.

This is mirrored by the success that wrestling has had in other forms of media, such as interactive entertainment. Online casino games now available on mobile and desktop systems lean on the popularity of wrestling in the public eye for great success. Tiles like WWE: Clash of the Wilds effectively capitalise on the weight of wrestling, and thanks to licensing fees, pay back into the growing fame of WWE as a whole.

Next for Cena

As Cena leaves his professional wrestling career, the obvious next direction for him is to further explore Hollywood opportunities. Cena has already made waves in this space, most notably and recently in his role as Peacemaker in the DCU. While we’re yet to hear any definitive news of the third season of this show, season 2 leaves considerable room for exploration, and we know director James Gunn is interested in more.

While it’s unlikely that Cena could match the financial pull of The Rock, he’s still effectively found a place as one of the most celebrated and accepted athletes turned actors. Usually placed somewhere between The Rock and Dave Bautista in the scale of entertaining–serious actor, Cena still has room to explore and grow. Plus, with more time on his hands, he could find new levels of success.

It’s difficult to find fault with John Cena, even if you’re not personally a fan of his wrestling persona. With more Make-A-Wish foundation visits than any other human at over 650, the man is more than just an advertising machine; he seems a genuinely good person. We have to imagine that the WWE appreciates the financial positivity that his career has brought to their organisation, and hope that translates to Cena’s further success in the years to come.