There has been a lot of talk on this website for many months about current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and his “popularity” in WWE. Well, the August 6th Wrestling Observer Newsletter sheds some light on this subject, as they released their mid-year look at wrestling, boxing, and MMA personalities as it relates to Google searches and Google activity. Sheamus chimed in at #39 on this list, and The Observer reports the following analysis of the Celtic Warrior:
“Sheamus is also notable. Sheamus is a star, but for a world champion who beats everyone with his move, he is also not over at the level of his push, which is something many in WWE have noted to me. It’s not said negatively and it is that he’s a star who has something, and he is over and it’s not that he shouldn’t be pushed. But with the push he’s gotten this year, he should be No. 2 in the promotion when it comes to popularity. This coincides with the reaction at every Smackdown house show. Sheamus is a star. But to the people, Randy Orton, even though he’s been phased into a secondary role, is still Smackdown’s primary star. And WWE is well aware of it, because when Orton went down, instead of having the confidence to allow Sheamus on his own to carry the “B” brand, they immediately moved Punk and Bryan over to replace Orton.”
The Top 40 personalities, in order, are listed below. For the full report, click here to subscribe to The Wrestling Observer.
1. John Cena
2. Floyd Mayweather
3. Manny Pacquiao
4. Dwayne Johnson
5. Brock Lesnar
6. Muhammad Ali
7. Gina Carano
8. Anderson Silva
9. Mike Tyson
10. Hulk Hogan
11. C.M. Punk
12. Jon Jones
13. Chael Sonnen
14. Randy Orton
15. Batista
16. George Foreman
17. HHH
18. Georges St. Pierre
19. Ronda Rousey
20. Miguel Cotto
21. Big Show
22. Rashad Evans
23. Nick Diaz
24. Undertaker
25. Steve Austin
26. Rey Mysterio
27. Alistair Overeem
28. Jeff Hardy
29. Dana White
30. Chris Jericho
31. A.J.
32. Amir Khan
33. Sin Cara
34. Shawn Michaels
35. Kimbo Slice
36. Frank Mir
37. Ric Flair
38. Canelo Alvarez
39. Sheamus
40. The Miz
