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Yesterday, we looked at WWE's women's division. Today we're going to look at the popularity of WWE's full-time male talent. Measurements are made in Google trends' "shopping and fashion" section, meaning popularity should correlate with merchandise sales, although the degree to which this is so is a mystery. Google trends can show us interest, but not actual purchases.
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As before, the age-old chicken and egg question presents itself - is a superstar being pushed because he's popular or is he popular because he's being pushed?
If crowd responses are any indication, they roughly correlate with the names on this list. The names involved here all get loud reactions from fans in attendance.
This list only measures WWE's full-time superstars, the ones we see on TV every week. John Cena is far and away WWE's most popular superstar when everyone is being measured.
The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Triple H also rank in the top five in terms of search volume. How much merchandise these figures sell is debatable, but according to Google, people are searching for their stuff.
What about the full-time superstars? According to Google, people are searching for the merchandise of these 10 guys.
#10 Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan hasn't been back for long, but he's secured a place on the top 10 list, and not of the SmackDown top 10 kinds.
His return has gotten him a lot of buzz compared to where he was before, and it would be interesting to see where he ranks at the end of the year.
When Bryan's feud with The Miz begins, probably later this summer, I expect to see his stock rise, though the competition is stiff, as we'll soon see. Bryan might not be able to enter the top five.
#9 Jeff Hardy
The Charismatic Enigma's reign as United States Champion has reportedly been plagued with injuries, but he's still put on excellent matches with The Miz.
According to Google trends, he ranks ninth in search volume of WWE's full-time active superstars.
His title win didn't appear to do much to move the needle, either way, so he probably will stay popular even when he ultimately drops the United States Championship.
His Extreme Rules match should generate some interest, given that it's against another superstar on this list.
#8 Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura's main roster career has felt like a disappointment, but it's been successful according to Google. In a little over a year on SmackDown, he's become the company's 8th most searched superstar.
Nakamura has probably reached his ceiling, however, given that it's unlikely he'll become WWE Champion anytime soon. Where he goes from here is anyone's guess, though it's possible he wins the United States championship from Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules.
#7 Dean Ambrose and Finn Balor (tie)
Dean Ambrose is on the injury shelf. Finn Balor has meandered for over a year. That hasn't dented their popularity though, and they're tied in Google trends.
Their ongoing popularity is a testament to their staying power. Despite the injuries and bad booking, they've remained steady for over a year. That should warrant a big push for both of them in the future, but it's unknown if the company will give the fans what they're searching for.
Dean Ambrose will probably pull away soon, as his return is sure to generate a lot of buzz.
#6 Seth Rollins
The Kingslayer has had a blistering 2018. Where he goes from here is still an open question. Will he cool off or will rivalries with Jason Jordan and especially Ambrose pull him further ahead of the pack? Or might he bound to even greater heights once the Brock Lesnar mess is over with?
Whatever happens with him, Seth Rollins is close to bulletproof. He's maintained his popularity for a long time, and his push this year is a case study in the company finally capitalizing on a hot trend.
#5 The Miz
The Miz is arguably WWE's most well-rounded performer. He excels at all aspects of the business. His ring work has greatly improved over the years. He's one of the best talkers in the company. He has charisma that makes him naturally come across as a jerk. He can wake up even the sleepiest crowds.
Fans have noticed this, and his popularity has remained steady. It might shoot up still higher, depending on where his coming feud with Daniel Bryan takes him, but the competition on the charts will get stiffer.
#4 AJ Styles
AJ Styles' main roster run has truly been phenomenal. Though his second reign as WWE Champion has fallen far short of the standards set by his first, he's remained as popular as ever. He's as close to bulletproof as it gets.
As good as AJ is, he's also probably reached his ceiling. It's a high one, but a new feud probably won't gain him any more ground. Hopefully he can use his popularity to make others look great. A feud with Samoa Joe would be just what the doctor ordered.
#3 Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman is one of the biggest WWE success stories this decade. In only a year, he's shot nearly to the top of the popularity list. People are searching for his merchandise in great volume. He gets thunderous reactions every week. Most frightening of all, he's nowhere close to his ceiling yet.
His victory at Money in the Bank was a career game-changer. A run with the Universal Championship is now inevitable, and hopefully imminent. If he's this popular now, imagine how far he'll go when he carries the red brand every week with the strap over one of his massive shoulders?
#2 Randy Orton
Randy Orton hasn't been seen in a few months (he's recovering from injuries) and his performances over the past year or so are far from inspired, but with over a decade of success behind him, it shouldn't be a surprise that he ranks this high.
He'll return sooner rather than later, and it would be nice to see him elevate Andrade "Cien" Almas when he does. Elevating newer talent is what made men like him should eventually do, and Almas could certainly use a rub.
#1 Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is one of the most unusual superstars in WWE history.
He gets thunderous boos anywhere he goes. Fans have become disconnected to his pay per view matches to the extent that some have begun walking out. And yet, he still currently gets far more worldwide search volume for his merchandise than any other full-time superstar, or even part-time for that matter. He's far short of John Cena, but well ahead of even the likes of The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar.
Perhaps the disconnect comes from an American versus a worldwide audience, or maybe it's something else entirely.
Whatever the case, WWE has built a superstar that captures a lot of attention, and persuasion science tells us that attention is important, no matter if it's good or bad. If that was the goal, WWE has made Roman Reigns a success.
What do you think about this list? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
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