Paddy Power releases WM odds?

I would say that on the roster, Swagger is probably on the receiving end of the worst booking decisions.

Such a character may have been popular in the 1993-1995 era but now, people aren't interested. It's cool to like the tough guy.

Swagger got beat pretty much every week by Rusev - he's basically a US whipping boy.

They need to reinvent him completely. The other issue is that he has a lisp and whilst it may sound harsh, that holds him back.

He's an extremely good wrestler so it would make total sense to change his gimmick into one that doesn't rely on promos and a US gimmick.

Believe it or not, i'd send him toward the Abyss route - he certainly has the physique and power.

Yet early on Swagger was World Champion. At that time everyone got it early e.g. Sheamus. Then they filter down to midcard as former World Champ as if it gives them kudos that their standing has declined.

They don't build people up slowly any more

How can Sena turn when he sells SO much merch? He's there biggest cash cow
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Because WWE have historically manipulated sales trends, merchandise designs and on-screen booking to ensure Cena can't be challenged for that mantel. Late last year Ambrose was outselling Cena in merchandise around about the time they fed him to Bray Wyatt. He's WWE's cash cow by design, not by virtue.

The difference here is Reigns is someone WWE actually have plans for attacking the market Cena's plugged into with the intention of replacing him as their alpha promotional tool. If Reigns manages to appease WWE as much as Cena has, be as successful of a propaganda machine as Cena has, Cena will be freed up for his heel run. Might take a year, might take five, but while WWE remain behind Reigns the potential for Cena's turn has never been greater.

Remember that Cena mostly sells to kids, and a lot of them will be put off if he's heel.

So while others may have a surge in merch for a while, generally Cena is THE big seller, to all the kids, who when they attend also have to bring a ticket buying adult with them as well.

Would be a HUGE risk to turn him heel, unless they can get Bryan or Reigns regularly turning over the quantities Cena has for several years.

Reigns seems to have fallen foul of the pro Bryan brigade booing anyone that wins over him, just like Batista did last year. When you win the RR, are stood next to The Rock, and people are booing, that says a lot.

True. But the key difference with Reigns is WWE want him to be a merchandise generator - they never had such plans for the Punk's, Bryan's, Ambrose's, etc... so never capitalised on the windows of opportunity.

It's up to Reigns himself, and how effective he proves in attracting another generation of kids to the product. He's already got the women (which is a rapidly emerging market for WWE), if he can sell for the kids as well he'll render Cena's drawing power redundant as many of his generation are of age where a heel turn wouldn't put them off.

But whenever and however it happens, it absolutely will even if it's his retirement angle. A heel John Cena will produce an enormous surge in sales in it's infancy, and if they pit him against the correct face during this period of time they'll have their first cash cow feud since Rock & Austin. In a perfect world, Reigns vs. Cena for the title with Cena working as the heel would main event WM32.

"they never had such plans for the Punk's, Bryan's, Ambrose's, etc... so never capitalised on the windows of opportunity."


This is what confuses me about WWE. If the opportunity is there for them to make more money, why wouldn't they? Surely that's their ultimate aim? Why would they let that chance pass by just because it isn't the guy they had planned?

You would think it would make their job easier that someone starts to bring in money without them needing to put absolutely everything behind that person in order for them to do so.

My guess, like many others, is they're petrified of committing to a talent who could become disillusioned and leave. And in fairness to them, irritatingly, they were kind of proven right with CM Punk. It's not just the fact Reigns has a great look, he has a blood line that runs deep through the business and WWE in particular. You look at the roster and he is a safe commodity to invest their resources into.

The fact they're a PLC gives them no encouragement to back anybody they don't feel is 100% committed to their cause, which is sad.

Good point.

Although they're so far above their "competition" both in terms of exposure and salaries I don't see why anyone would want to leave if they became the top dog in the company.

They see their competition as Hollywood and UFC, not other wrestling promotions.

Brocks odds on favourite now

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