At some point in life you've seen or heard of some reference to the Bible verse John 3:16. Try driving ten miles anywhere in rural Georgia or Alabama and not see a billboard with a Bible reference, least of all John 3:16.
For those uninitiated, John 3:16 is apparently one of the most oft-quoted and well known lines in the New Testament. I wouldn't know, as I tend to spontaneously combust into flames anytime I walk past a church, but here's the passage:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
In the late 1990s, the WWE (then known as the WWF) had a character/wrestler named Stone Cold Steve Austin who referenced the Book of John passage, but later rebranded it as "Austin 3:16." Millions of fans started adorning themselves in t-shirts with the new title, they chanted it, Steve Austin reveled in it, and a wannabe wrestling cult was born for a handful of years.
Due to knee and neck injuries, Austin retired as a wrestler in 2003. Fast forward to this past week in the year 2017, and the WWE has successfully trademarked the term "3:16" to use for marketing purposes.
The WWE has trademarked the term "3:16". This will be used for shirts going forward for live events "City Name 3:16" pic.twitter.com/JES2Y4d0S6— Heel By Nature (@HeelByNatureYT) July 31, 2017
Only 14-years after the wrestling reference was remotely popular! The WWE clearly has their fingers on the pulse of good timing.
The trademark is only good for clothing, though, so fans can insert their hometown city's name onto a shirt. In essence, a shirt might say "Boise 3:16" or "Des Moines 3:16."
I know, you're probably confused why someone would wear a shirt like that. I mean, I wouldn't want anyone to know I was from Des Moines either.
tweet by: HeelByNatureYT
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