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Post by Snaptastic on Mar 29, 2011 22:33:57 GMT -5
Last year it was reported that only 22% of the audience are under the age of 18 (arguably Cena's prime demographic). Also 40% of the audience overall is female (also arguably Cena's prime demographic when it comes to sex). Cena is appealing for the most part to a "minority" audience share, and when it comes to largely male (sometimes smarky I'll say) audiences...the guy is booed out of the building. I don't think it's anything to do with they hate the guy, or are supporting everyone against him. It's more so that they want to see a revamped Cena. How long before his main demographic appeal group becomes burned out? You can't keep changing the colour of his merch and expect it to keep selling. Eventually the audience will say enough is enough (and it's time for a change). I think the demographics issue is a little bit more complicated. A kid is different than an adult. An adult represents one adult. A kid represents at least one kid and at least one guardian. If 40% of the audience is women, that's a significant share of your audience and I'd be shocked if the majority of them (and a sizable portion of the men) don't go to shows as an aforementioned guardian. When it comes to merch and stuff, kids are going to be more eager to want it, purchased by their parents. When it comes to PPV a single adult is going to be a lot less likely to actually pay for it to watch it than a parent, who may want to be setting a good example for their children. WWE's entire business model revolves around children, and the children revolve around John Cena at this time. When I went to Raw there could be no question that the majority of the audience were families with children. I do regret that I overlooked the parental element in the equation. This is the problem, how long can you keep Cena on top before your entire (almost at least) male over 18 demographic stops watching for good? Yes, I get that the WWE is centered around children at this stage, but if you lose the huge over 18 demographic then what point is there? Unfortunately, they're not Disney...and families & kids won't keep the afloat forever.
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Post by Chuckie Finster on Mar 29, 2011 22:42:12 GMT -5
WWE lost a lot of business when they turned Austin heel in 2001 so unless they have a plan to keep him or someone else marketable, they won't do it.
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"Magic" Mark Hurr
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Post by "Magic" Mark Hurr on Mar 29, 2011 22:46:27 GMT -5
Aside from the whole merchandise thing, there has been so many years of the likely face rivals being fed to the top guys and being handled in a way that some fans just won't cling to them the way they should for as something as big as a Cena heel turn.
As much as we armchair book this thing we can undo what WWE has done to the guys who are the would-be heroes.
I would be big business to turn him heel if the WWE had atleast two or three other huge faces that haven't been fed to the maineventers consistently for the last five years to the point where we know that they won't be the ones to topple a mega heel John Cena.
Unless they do some convincing booking for a top contender to not only Cena but a believable world title reign then we shouldn't worry about it.
I'd love if they suprise us with it, I truely would, but there has to be more preparation than a few wins against over here and there.
S to add to the above post, there are to many things to consider at this point which WWE has kinda drove themselves to where they are.
I'd love to see it myself.
Imagine if Sting joining the Four Horsemen and it would have stuck instead of being another episode of "Don't Trust'em Sting", or if Hogan would have joined Slaughter or allowed himeself to be bought by the Mllion Dollar Man. Would people then would have said f*** this wrestling shit or pay to boo the men that betrayed them. Yes it was a different time but you see my point.
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Post by celticjobber on Mar 29, 2011 22:54:35 GMT -5
Stuff like this makes me think there's no way Cena is turning heel at WM: "WWE's John Cena is about to make a whole bunch of little wishes come true -- because TMZ has learned he's taking 30 kids from Make-A-Wish to WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!! Reps from M.A.W. tell us 30 kids with "life-threatening medical conditions" from the U.S., Canada, and even Australia will attend Wrestlemania XVII this weekend in Atlanta. But that's not all -- the kids will be going to a private autograph session with WWE Superstars and Divas ... and afterward, they'll hit a pizza party hosted by Cena!!!" www.tmz.com/2011/03/28/john-cena-wrestlemania-make-wish-wwe-atlanta-georgia-dome-hulk-hogan-jeff-gordon-dale-earnhardt-jr-wrestling/
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Chuck Conry
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Post by Chuck Conry on Mar 29, 2011 23:07:53 GMT -5
I don't think Cena is going heel anytime soon. We don't have a clear cut guy in sight that could be THE #1 guy. Orton just isn't in that group and the closes to it would probably be Miz with his shirts and catchphrases, BUT he's soo damn hate-able (in a good way). Maybe if Miz could show he's got a likeable side, but I'm not sure he's ever shown one.
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"Magic" Mark Hurr
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Here, have some chili dogs
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Post by "Magic" Mark Hurr on Mar 29, 2011 23:17:54 GMT -5
Stuff like this makes me think there's no way Cena is turning heel at WM: "WWE's John Cena is about to make a whole bunch of little wishes come true -- because TMZ has learned he's taking 30 kids from Make-A-Wish to WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!! Reps from M.A.W. tell us 30 kids with "life-threatening medical conditions" from the U.S., Canada, and even Australia will attend Wrestlemania XVII this weekend in Atlanta. But that's not all -- the kids will be going to a private autograph session with WWE Superstars and Divas ... and afterward, they'll hit a pizza party hosted by Cena!!!" www.tmz.com/2011/03/28/john-cena-wrestlemania-make-wish-wwe-atlanta-georgia-dome-hulk-hogan-jeff-gordon-dale-earnhardt-jr-wrestling/Honestly a smug heel Cena hosting a pizza party wearing a suit and a bluetooth walking around asking the sickest kid if he made his wish come true to see a truely evil John Cena destroy the Rock and the Miz and take his title back at Wrestlemania, and the kid smiled and said "yes" with Dale and Jeff just shaking their heads in disgust. Dale and Jeff have to be wearing their jumpsuits and taking swig from their sponsers products.
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Post by MichaelMartini on Mar 29, 2011 23:21:19 GMT -5
WWE lost a lot of business when they turned Austin heel in 2001 so unless they have a plan to keep him or someone else marketable, they won't do it. I think 9/11 had more to do with a downturn in business for frivilous entertainment than Austin's heel turn. When Hogan turned heel not only did they move a lot of merch, they became the number 1 wrestling promotion. There's a lot of money to be made with heel Cena.
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CJ
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Post by CJ on Mar 29, 2011 23:33:55 GMT -5
If they switched gears and tried to shy away from the whole superhero who saves the day thing (because that's what John Cena is)
I'd like it if they went into a more edgy and realistic sort of movement. Not saying Attitude Era or anything like that, but you gotta change with the times. The all American white-meat babyface is so passe. The fans want something cool. In this day and age where MMA is kicking pro wrestling's ass, you can't be all goody good.
They should have never changed Cena into what he is today. He used to be cool, he used to be anti authority, he used to have an edge. Now you see this guy in this purple shirt parading around catering to kids... it's too cutesy and nothing is badass or cool about it.
If they switched gears and got away from the whole superhero thing. Orton would be perfect in the position of the top face. Sure he's boring to a lot of us... but you don't see him getting the negative reactions that Cena gets. Losing a few kids won't change anything because kids are gonna watch out of curiosity to see what the hell is wrong with John Cena. They probably already like Orton... so some harm is done, but not a lot
Turning Cena heel is major money that could be made. Instead everything is always done the safe way
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2011 23:38:05 GMT -5
Stuff like this makes me think there's no way Cena is turning heel at WM: "WWE's John Cena is about to make a whole bunch of little wishes come true -- because TMZ has learned he's taking 30 kids from Make-A-Wish to WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!! Reps from M.A.W. tell us 30 kids with "life-threatening medical conditions" from the U.S., Canada, and even Australia will attend Wrestlemania XVII this weekend in Atlanta. But that's not all -- the kids will be going to a private autograph session with WWE Superstars and Divas ... and afterward, they'll hit a pizza party hosted by Cena!!!" www.tmz.com/2011/03/28/john-cena-wrestlemania-make-wish-wwe-atlanta-georgia-dome-hulk-hogan-jeff-gordon-dale-earnhardt-jr-wrestling/He'll turn heel by going around popping their WWE balloons!
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Post by MichaelMartini on Mar 29, 2011 23:38:09 GMT -5
Orton is as over exposed as Cena is though.
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Post by kevservo on Mar 29, 2011 23:40:49 GMT -5
Orton is as over exposed as Cena is though. The difference is, Cena justifies it.
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Post by Twincest on Mar 29, 2011 23:46:12 GMT -5
At the end of the day, the quality of the overall WWE product is what brings in the money. If turning Cena heel would be the shot in the arm the WWE needs to improve ratings and PPV buyrates, it would be worth it.
In terms of merchandise sales, more viewers means a larger merchandise customer base, whether said customers are buying merch featuring heel Cena, whatever face he's up against, or anyone else on the roster.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Mar 30, 2011 0:46:35 GMT -5
This is the thing you should consider. You turn heel...will the younger Cena fans take to a new hero, or will they just stop watching? The young fans didn't stop watching when Hogan turned heel. And if there were some that stopped watching, the new fans more than made up for it. I really doubt that the kids would stop watching just b/c Cena went bad. That's dumbing down children to absurd levels. Would there be heartbroken kids? Probably...but he would be their new #1 enemy and they would cheer whoever was taking him on. I don't think a Cena turn would be as disastrous as people seem to believe. Not even in terms of merchandise. People act like nobody would buy Cena merch anymore because he's a heel. That's just silly. He would still have fans. Sure, his merch sales would probably go down, but somebody else's would go up. A lot of fans buy merch just for the sake of having a souvenir. If they're not buying Cena stuff, they'll buy HHH stuff or Orton stuff or Rock stuff.
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Post by MichaelMartini on Mar 30, 2011 2:00:16 GMT -5
People bought tons of nWo stuff. Even Nexus has sold a lot shirts judging by the crowd shots.
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Post by Citizen Zero on Mar 30, 2011 2:19:52 GMT -5
Just have him wail on Mysterio.
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Post by rrm15 on Mar 30, 2011 3:03:13 GMT -5
I honestly don't think Cena's going to turn heel. They just can't push someone else to that level.
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Post by FUNK_US/BRODUS on Mar 30, 2011 5:01:03 GMT -5
They can turn him heel easily. And it will rival Cena vs Barrett at Hell In a Cell for epic crowd reaction.
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Post by Snaptastic on Mar 30, 2011 6:06:16 GMT -5
I must concede after much deliberation that they've gone past the point of no return with Cena.
The ONLY way they could turn him heel would be if Rock came back on a regular/almost full-time basis. But do they really want Rock back on top again?
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BIG DUNC
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Post by BIG DUNC on Mar 30, 2011 6:10:23 GMT -5
Whilst it is a good point that only 22% of the viewing population are under 18, it needs to be stated that this is the demographic with the highest turnover of fans.
Someone made the point that eventually children will get burnt out by him, but for every kid that gets to 15/16/17/whatever and decides enough is enough, a new 9/10/11/12 year old will come along and start eating up cena merch. Whilst a woman will always be a woman (obviously), the parts of the 22% of children who are at the cena merch age(i don't buy many 17 year olds still eating up merch) will be almost completely different to the 22% of a few years ago, and that's why vince's business model works, and that's why they'll never turn him heel.
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Remix
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Post by Remix on Mar 30, 2011 6:31:22 GMT -5
Not until there's someone who can make as much or more money than Cena as face of the company.
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