Merchandise will always be important for the pro-wrestling business. Building top stars and creating merchandise for them gives a very wide margin for profit outside of ticket sales.
This measures a Superstar’s popularity: the more they are being talked about, the more merchandise they are most likely to sell. When a Superstar creates a lot of buzz, people are always going to want to spend so that they, too, can wear their cool catchphrase with so much pride. This then keeps the interest growing.
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With that said, have you ever wondered who the top 5 merchandise movers of all time are? We’ve got you covered.
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#5. D-Generation X
The late 90s’ hottest stable, D-Generation X, takes our 5th spot on our list. With its members constantly promoting their merchandise in their promos and being a part of some of the most controversial and entertaining storylines in pro-wrestling history; it is beyond doubt that DX surely gave the other top stars of the company a run for their money. Their rebellious ways inspired so many young people that you were probably a loser in middle school if you didn’t own a t-shirt of theirs. I know I still have mine.
#4. Hulk Hogan
In the 80s, Hulk Hogan surely made his mark in the industry being in the main event of the very first WrestleMania. He was the company’s top star and babyface, and was perceived as everybody’s indestructible, all-American superhero.
Hogan’s popularity led him to break company records whilst selling his red and yellow Hulkamania t-shirts. In an era without social media to promote, nor any Internet to order merchandise, Hogan’s sales just make everything all the more impressive.
Also, a very large chunk of his merchandise sales is thanks to his faction, the NWO, when he was working as Hollywood Hogan. In the 90s, with pro-wrestling as hot as it was with the Monday Night Wars, you didn’t even have to be a wrestling fan to wear an NWO t-shirt.
#3. The Rock
In the wrestling industry, The Rock is inarguably one of the biggest names of all-time. He’s been able to draw the most viewers for the company and has definitely helped make pro-wrestling mainstream.
His designs are fairly simple: the Brahma bull, his name, and sometimes a simple catchphrase such as “Just Bring It”, but every one of the millions…and millions of The Great One’s fans deem it essential to own one. The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment also drew an incredible amount of merchandise sales for the company being on the cover of the video games. It’s the crazy power of face value.
#2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold deserves this number 2 spot on our list for top merchandise movers of all time, surpassing the previous 3 with a design so simple, yet so effective – his plain “Austin 3:16” t-shirts made history, selling more than 12 million t-shirts during his prime in the Attitude Era, and is still selling to this day!
There is no questioning the Texas Rattlesnake’s popularity in the pro-wrestling industry. Being the top star in a very successful and lucrative era for the WWE, it was clear that his merchandise was an essential to anybody’s collection. Even non-wrestling fans can recognize his logo and catchphrase, because it was THAT cool, and really badass.
#1. John Cena
I think many of you saw this one coming. As the top face of the company for a decade, it is no surprise that John Cena is number one on our list of merchandise movers. He attracts many, notably women and children who want to dress just like their superhero.
Due to his longevity, Cena has surpassed every WWE Superstar in merchandise sales. Though he may not have broken Stone Cold and The Rock’s records in terms of peak sales, the leader of the Cenation’s merchandise still surely remains at an all-time high in terms of variety.
Apart from a new t-shirt design roughly every quarter, the WWE Shop comes out with many other items to sell under Cena’s category, such as towels, wrist bands, foam fingers, pajamas, lamps, phone cases, etc. Much more of these are then produced when he comes out with a new color scheme!
