Cody Rhodes Tops Payback Merch Sales, Beats John Cena & LA Knight

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In a surprising turn of events at WWE's Payback live event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "The American Nightmare," Cody Rhodes emerged as the top earner in individual talent merchandise sales. This remarkable feat saw him surpass his formidable opponents in the ring and one of the biggest stars in WWE history, John Cena, who secured the second position in this coveted ranking.

L.A. Knight, another rising star in the wrestling world, rounded out the top three in merchandise sales. This unexpected outcome has raised eyebrows within the wrestling community, considering Cena's continued popularity and his merchandise remains a perennial fan favourite, especially when new items hit the shelves.

According to insights from Fightful Select, a reliable source for wrestling news and statistics, it's unusual for anyone to outshine John Cena in merchandise sales. Cena's enduring appeal has consistently translated into robust sales figures, making him a merchandising juggernaut for WWE.

However, at Payback, Cody Rhodes managed to eclipse this formidable competition.

Merchandise Sales Highlights

As usual, the merchandise sales rankings at Payback were dominated by generic WWE merchandise, including WWE-branded and Payback-branded items, as well as coveted championship title belts.

Interestingly, L.A. Knight's merchandise had performed exceptionally well online through Fanatics. Still, WWE made a strategic move to enhance the availability of Knight's merchandise at live events, possibly contributing to his third-place finish in the sales race.

One of the highlights of the Payback event was Cody Rhodes' appearance on "The Grayson Waller Effect" talk show segment. During this segment, Rhodes made a surprise announcement, unveiling Jimmy Uso and revealing that he had utilized all his resources to secure Uso's appearance on "WWE Raw." This unexpected twist added an element of excitement to the event.

Additionally, John Cena played a pivotal role in the evening's entertainment, being announced as the guest host and the special guest referee for L.A. Knight's high-stakes match against The Miz. The game reached its climax with Knight emerging victorious, and Cena, displaying his sportsmanship, raised Knight's hand in victory on the entrance stage, concluding a memorable evening of wrestling action.

Cody Rhodes' triumph in merchandise sales at Payback may mark a significant milestone in his career, potentially indicating a shift in fan preferences within the WWE Universe. As the wrestling world continues to evolve, the rise of new stars and the resurgence of established ones like Rhodes make every event a must-watch spectacle for fans around the globe.