TL;DR
- John Cena surprised fans by cheering for LPL teams in perfect Mandarin ahead of 2019 Worlds
- WWE strategically partnered with League of Legends through wrestler gaming personalities
- Cross-industry events like WWE vs NXT LoL matches bridged wrestling and esports audiences
- WWE wrestlers identified strong cultural parallels between traditional and esports fanbases
- The collaboration represented WWE’s broader China market expansion efforts
In a surprising move that caught Western League of Legends organizations off guard, WWE superstar and Hollywood actor John Cena publicly declared his support for LPL teams competing in the 2019 World Championship. This endorsement represented a significant crossover moment between professional wrestling and competitive gaming.
The wrestling icon delivered his enthusiastic message through a video that stunned viewers not just for its content, but for its delivery—Cena spoke in flawless Mandarin Chinese, demonstrating his commitment to connecting with the Chinese esports audience.
“My colleagues Austin and Cesaro informed me that LPL stands as China’s premier esports organization,” Cena explained in the video. “They requested I show support for LPL during the 2019 World Championship tournament. I want to express my full support: LPL, advance with determination!”
Cena has consistently served as the face of WWE’s strategic initiative to establish professional wrestling within Chinese entertainment markets. His appearance at the WWE Live Shanghai event on September 21, while not involving an official match, strategically aligned with this brand expansion effort.
WWE’s Multi-Pronged Esports Crossover Strategy
Professional wrestlers Austin “Xavier Woods” Watson and Claudio “Cesaro” Castagnoli represent WWE’s bridge into gaming culture. Both maintain active involvement in League of Legends beyond casual interest, with Watson operating the highly successful UpUpDownDown YouTube gaming channel that regularly features WWE talent in gaming content.
These wrestlers participated in the groundbreaking WWE versus NXT exhibition match where professional athletes competed in League of Legends. The innovative event format combined four wrestlers with one established streamer per team, hosted at the LCS studio facilities during October.
The wrestling stars further strengthened connections through direct engagement with LPL organizations. During discussions with Score esports, they highlighted remarkable similarities in audience demographics and fan engagement patterns between traditional sports entertainment and competitive gaming spheres.
“I believe we share similar community foundations,” Austin Creed elaborated. “Many of us experienced social challenges during younger years for enjoying wrestling or video gaming pursuits. As adults, we maintained these interests that have now achieved mainstream popularity, with newcomers recently discovering what dedicated fans have valued for years.”
Both wrestlers expressed genuine passion for League of Legends and provided detailed predictions for the 2019 World Championship outcomes. Cesaro, having attended the LCS Summer finals firsthand, projected that Invictus Gaming would successfully retain their championship status. Watson countered with his belief in Royal Never Give Up’s potential to claim victory this competitive season.
Strategic Insight: This crossover represents WWE’s understanding that modern entertainment brands must transcend traditional boundaries. Similar to how our Class Guide explains strategic role selection, WWE recognized the value in connecting with gaming’s engaged, tech-savvy audience.
Action Checklist
- Identify authentic gaming enthusiasts within your organization who can bridge communities
- Develop crossover content that respects both fan cultures while highlighting shared values
- Create participation events that allow genuine interaction between different fan bases
- Leverage existing popular platforms (like YouTube gaming channels) to reach target audiences
- Measure engagement metrics across both communities to refine future collaborations
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