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Cena's Heel turn affecting Merch.

4K views 44 replies 33 participants last post by  A-C-P 
#1 ·
I was watching the DVD extra of TF the movie, and one point they made was that when Optimus Prime "Died" in the film it was said that youngsters under 8 were so devasted that most of the parents have to write to hasbro for upsetting their kids.

well that was a different time, but if Cena were to turn heel I would only imagine the backlash it would have on their merch since that segment (with Cena) will be gone, maybe the kids themselves would be sophisticated enough to let a few voices be heard, maybe their parents can help out a but, maybe nothing. But what's certain is that they won't be buying his T-Shirts anymore.

But aside from pleasing Smarks (and myself since i personally would prefer a heel cena) I can't see how the WWE can compensate for such monetary loss.

CM Punk and Even Orton aren't on that level.

Thoughts?
 
#15 ·
I never really believed that Cena's heel turn would effect merch that much. I always look at Hulk Hogan and how when became a heel he still managed to bring money into WCW. If he remains over and marketable then it shouldn't be too bad. But I believe that a heel turn will refresh and rejuvinate his character, enough so that when he does turn face again it will all be for the best. As someone already said the benefits outweight the negatives.
 
#27 ·
Agreed with this 100%. A short-term hit would all that it would be IMO. Also, the kids that were cheering for and buying Cena merchandise would most likely just start cheering for Sheamus, Ryder, Punk, and Orton and start buying their stuff.
 
#3 ·
I was watching the DVD extra of TF the movie, and one point they made was that when Optimus Prime "Died" in the film it was said that youngsters under 8 were so devasted that most of the parents have to write to hasbro for upsetting their kids.

well that was a different time, but if Cena were to turn heel I would only imagine the backlash it would have on their merch since that segment (with Cena) will be gone, maybe the kids themselves would be sophisticated enough to let a few voices be heard, maybe their parents can help out a but, maybe nothing. But what's certain is that they won't be buying his T-Shirts anymore.

But aside from pleasing Smarks (and myself since i personally would prefer a heel cena) I can't see how the WWE can compensate for such monetary loss.

CM Punk and Even Orton aren't on that level.

Thoughts?
Hahaha, dumb kids & parents.
 
#4 ·
I Absolutely agree with this, though that was the 80's and it was in the DVD

and indeed a hot feud can increase buyrates.. but the thing is we don't know if it would be substantial enough to fill the void left of the regular cashflow generated by the youngsters for a Cena merchandise?

This is Business and if Vince thinks Screwing us over (say produce a KOTR 1995 quality PPV that sells vs a WM 17 PPV that doesn't of course he'll stick with the KOTR 1995 model.) is profitable he'll do it anyway, even if it means exploiting our hate in most inhumane way possible.

because wrestling is a unique product where a dissatisfied customer can still garner repeat purchase (I dunno if any other product does that)

The only thing i can really imagine that would send a message is a walkout (which won't happen since we paid) so Vince has everything by the throat.

and once again he says "Checkmate"
 
#6 ·
Cena will eventually turn heel someday. That day is probably will not be in 2012. Hogan turned heel and turned the business on its head in the process. When Cena finally does go for a heel run, it will have a similar effect.
 
#7 ·
Not that I have anything against children or films that are made for children, but parents are way, way too sensitive about that kind of stuff. It should be a good sign when the kids get upset about Prime dying. It shows that they're invested in what they're seeing. I used to worry for my heros all the time. That's what made them so great. When they came back and beat the bad guy, saved the day, etc. Get over it. You can't shelter your children from everything.

As for a Cena heel turn effecting merchandise, yeah it would probably take a big hit when the kids stop buying all the John Cena gear, but that's why it's up to the WWE to make a positive out of a negative. Make a new heel t-shirt for him and watch that shirt sell like crazy. Or, here's an idea, create a new superstar. Quit being lazy and just relying on one guy. Do something different.
 
#8 ·
I doubt WWE has the balls to turn Cena heel & they don't really need to either.

They make a tonne of money from the guy & have no competition to worry about so there is absolutely no need to take the risk in turning Cena heel. All it would do is give internet fans who want to see it something to talk about & considering they make up the minority of the audience then I just don't see it happening.

WWE will keep the majority happy i.e. kids so Cena will still be a face this time next year & the year after & probably the year after that.
 
#10 ·
^^ Upset with that either and to add insult to injury they made Ultra Magnus "Unworthy" to wield the matrix, this just makes a Dying Prime give poor judgement rather than showing one last ounce of strength.

The Question in topic is whether WWE is willing to take a Hit with the reduced Merch.. Grown up haters are still haters, and now the kids won't get his merch, they'd have to find a way to bounce back somehow.
 
#12 ·
If they would just think though... Sure, they might take a hit when he turns heel, but a few years later when he turns face again? That's biiiiiiiiiiig money right there. Not to mention, as others have said, they can use him to put over Punk, Sheamus and Kofi as huge top faces.

The potential long term positives far outweigh any short term monetary negatives.
 
#17 ·
I never really believed that Cena's heel turn would effect merch that much. I always look at Hulk Hogan and how when became a heel he still managed to bring money into WCW.
Though during that time the entire Marketing Value of the nWo filled the gaps for any potential loss of merch, plus Hogan pre-nWo in WCW didn't have as high a stock that he had during his heyday in the 80's.. Cena or at least the WWE would need huge whatever (not necessarily a faction) that would compensate for a loss or at least a feasible damage control.

Plus the youngsters would probably take it as though the WWE gave the Finger to them.

My Friend's Kid is already in denial when i keep telling him that Cena's likely to turn heel, i couldn't rub it in of course.
 
#25 ·
The WWE seems to be in a lose lose situation here. If he turns heel (Which he should) it'll affect merchandise but if he stays face more and more fans will keep tuning out the product. Wouldn't want to be in Vince's shoes right now.
 
#26 ·
I was very saddened when Prime died, but it was awesome. Made the movie more memorable though.

"Remember the Transformers movie?"
"The Michael Bay one?"
"The one where Optimus Prime dies."

I hope this is the case for Cena. I love seeing somone turning heel with people throwing shit in the ring, children crying asking "why Cena why" and parents writing angry letters to the WWE as they go on their kids twitter account to unfollow Cena.

I would write a rebuttal thank you letter to the WWE if they make Cena into a great heel.
 
#29 ·
How many times must we go over this. The biggest, most important revenue source from a wrestling company is NOT merchandise, but buyrates, which has been steadily dropping ever since Cena has been made face of the company with his goody two-shoes character. And even if they were more important, why are some high t-shirt sales automatic entitlement for a single wrestler to dominate an entire company for 6+ years like Cena has been?

You people seem so certain that if Cena turns heel merch sales will go down the toilet to the point of record low sales. When in reality, heels do sell merch; they sell plenty. nWo, Austin, Taker, Rock, Randy Orton, HHH, DX, even the Nexus.

As far as Optimus Prime? LOL, can't compare. Unlike Cena, he was likeable, and not just by kids. Secondly, the WWE overall isn't some kid-friendly cartoon nor should it be booked as one. We endured the effects of it in 1995, late 2007 and from 2009-2010, all excellent periods were they not?
 
#30 ·
WWE's highest revenue stream is from live events not buyrates. If you look at the audiences at Raw each monday there are a lot of kids in attendance. Therefore if they turned him heel those attendances at live events would drop. A heel cena to a heel austin or NWO isn't comparable. They were anti-heroes targeted at older demo's.
 
#31 ·
Like someone else said already, you guys are giving Cena WAY to much credit. Comparing his heel turn to Hogans???? Not even in the same league. Hogans heel turn was unexpected and turned the wrestling world on its head. Cena is... well just Cena. Face or heel he will still sell, and in the long run he will turn face again and sell even more. Cena heel merchandise will still sell. Just not maybe to the kids who grew up watching face Cena. People act like Cena turning heel would be the end of the WWE. Almost EVERY face of the company has turned heel at some point and Cena will be no exception. It will not hurt the WWE and they will survive. Hogan, Austin, Rock, HHH, Michaels, Taker, Orton, etc. etc., they have all been faces and they have all been heels and the WWE is still around to tell the story.
 
#34 ·
I dislike Cena unconditionally (because he sucks) and therefore don't care to see him turn heel. I also think it would be stupid and out of character for him, I don't think he wants to do it and I don't see the WWE going that route.

As far as merch sales go, if Cena turned heel then the t-shirt sales of whoever is chosen to take him down (Punk, Orton, Sheamus) will skyrocket.
 
#36 ·
I read the link and although i agree that cena isn't a brand by himself this guy seems too dismissive of the WWE, almost feel like the typical MMA fan's anti-wrestling sentiment talking.

"BrainSmasher on January 11th, 2012 6:35 PM
Just like in other sports it will be rare that someone reaches that status because in real life you done have scripted situations to ramble off scripted catch phrases and come off as cool as the Fanz from happy days. WWE always creates a guy like this and they always fade within a few years. They never last because the WWE wont allow them to. The star cant keep winning because it would be predicable. So the torch is passed to someone else. I dont even watch wrestling but i know they WWE has had dozens of “huge” stars in the last 10 years. Stone Cold was a big star as was the Rock. I think both had bigger success in Hollywood.
I think the success of WWE wrestlers is limited. You are built by them and you work for them and they are also the ones who bring you down because they control the outcome of your matches. There is no way around it. You cant quit wrestling because they own your movie career and everything about you. Its like winning American Idiot. They own a piece of you and without them you are nothing. That isnt the case in other sports. Because if you get big you can actually control your career. Of Course the UFC can give you bad match ups and get you beat. BUt if a fighters career was taking off in Hollywood they could quit fighting. Their movies are not produced by the UFC. That is the same for other sports also.
IMO John Cena isnt worth much as a brand. I wouldnt even call it a brand. He is a character owned by the WWE Brand. He is an asset to the WWe Brand. The UFC can show that tgheir belt can add a couple hundred thousand PPV buys to a PPV. That doesnt make the Belt a Brand. It is an asset of the UFC Brand and has little value without being under the umbrella of that brand. Just like Cena.
 
#40 ·
They could destroy Cena in a week, then shove someone else down children's throats to love. WWE does it all the time. It's called booking; done correctly they could lose Cena tomorrow and make someone else a great face for the company.

maybe not tomorrow with WM28 next week, but you get my point.
 
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