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WWE Superstars are some of the hardest-working people on the planet. They spend 250+ days away from their family every year and, as we recently saw, they often spend the holiday season in a squared circle rather than at a dinner table.
The positive side to this, however, is that they get paid handsomely – but have you ever wondered what some of your favourite Superstars bought with their very first paycheck from WWE?
In this article, we take a look at five performers and reveal what they decided to purchase when they started raking in the cash at the beginning of their careers.
#5 Heath Slater bought a huge TV
Heath Slater has got kids to feed, so it’s only right that his first big paycheck from WWE went towards something that the whole family can enjoy.
Asked what he bought after receiving his first payday from the company, Heath proudly revealed that he splashed out on a big-screen television.
He said in a WWE YouTube video (embedded above): “The first thing I bought with my first WWE paycheck was a 70-inch big-screen television. That was the first thing I ever bought and I won't forget it either.”
#4 Zack Ryder bought wrestling figures
Of course Zack Ryder bought wrestling figures! What else would the SmackDown Live Superstar – and presenter of figure-related videos on WWE’s YouTube channel – buy with his first big paycheck?
Speaking on the Fully Poseable podcast in August 2017, Ryder revealed that he bought a complete loose LJN collection (wrestlers from the 80s) and a complete loose Hasbro collection (primarily wrestlers from the early 90s).
“Zack Daddy” isn’t the only current WWE performer who is a little obsessed with wrestling figures – his former tag-team partner Curt Hawkins is a big collector of them, too.
The former Edgeheads love them so much that, according to recent tweets from Ryder, they’re thinking of starting a wrestling figure podcast.
#3 Enzo Amore bought sneakers
Speaking on WWE Network show ‘Straight To The Source’ in January 2018, Enzo Amore claimed to Corey Graves that he is so wealthy that he never has to wear the same pair of sneakers twice.
So then, absolutely nobody will be surprised to hear that “The Realest Guy In The Room” purchased some fancy footwear with one of his first WWE paychecks.
“My first week I looked at my bank account and I was like 'damn, man, wait a second, I should buy sneakers',” he said while ‘Sneaker Shopping’ with Complex in March 2017.
His first expensive sneaker of choice? A pair of ‘Ferris Bueller's’, pictured above.
#2 Bad News Barrett bought a speedboat
Forgive us for including a former WWE Superstar, but this revelation was just too good not to include.
Former Nexus leader Wade Barrett, known later in his career as Bad News Barrett and King Barrett, claimed in a WWE YouTube video (embedded above) that his first paycheck from the company allowed him to buy a speedboat.
His tone in answering the question makes us think he might be joking. Then again, when you consider that the Englishman main-evented five pay-per-views in his first five months on the main roster, he might just be telling the truth!
#1 John Cena bought a 1989 Jeep Wrangler
John Cena loves cars. He loves them so much, in fact, that he has more cars in his collection than he has WWE World Championships, which is pretty impressive considering nobody has more World titles than the 16-time champ.
He even has a series called ‘Auto Geek’ on the Bella Twins’ YouTube channel, in which he tells stories about his favourite vehicles while driving around in them.
In one episode (embedded above), Cena revealed that even though his first WWE contract was “peanuts”, he decided to buy a 1989 Jeep Wrangler to mark the accomplishment.
“Dollar for dollar, this one [car] has given me far and away the most joy and this is one I’ll never get rid of,” he said.
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