Randy Orton vs John Cena, The future of the WWE?

Crockerinho

Wrestling Moderator

John Cena and Randy Orton.

When you talk about the future of the business and the two biggest breakout stars the WWE has, these are the two names that get mentioned the most. The WWE knows this as well. One need only look at the current roster split to figure it out. The WWE is banking on these two being their biggest stars, and they are banking on a big money match between the two some day. You notice they are still on different shows, right?

Anyways, I'm going to come right out and say this. Ten years from now, Orton will be the bigger name after all is said and done. Orton will have been the HBK, the Triple H, and Cena will have been the Jericho, the Benoit, etc. Why? Take a look at the treatment each man is recieving.

John Cena and Randy Orton were equal throughout the first half of 2004. Both were making thier mark, both were rapidly rising up the card, both men's names were thrown about as being the 'future of the WWE'. As loud as the cheers were for Cena, the boos for Orton were just as loud. They were equally over, Cena as a face and Orton as a heel. The WWE even gave the title to Orton, and many were predicting that he would take over Evolution, and kick Triple H out of the group and becoming the top heel on Raw. Didn't happen. Orton bounced through mediocrity throughout the winter.

In the meantime, John Cena's popularity kept on rising. At WM 21, he became WWE champion. It seemed as if Orton was forgotten about while Orton took a backseat. Or did he?

What we are seeing here is a slow, mythodical and in my opinion, brilliant build for Orton. I think that's the keyword, buildup. It's not a push. What John Cena recieved is a push. What Orton is recieving is a slow, steady and effective buildup to being a major WWE superstar. The legend killer deal is working brilliantly. They are starting from the ground up with him, and I think it's going to be the key to making him what he is.

John Cena is resented by some fans. It's clear. I'm not going to take away from what he is: a talented charismatic young athlete with a bright future. The problem is, he recieves far more criticism and boos than a top face such as himself should. I'm not saying it hasn't happened before, but this is a young guy. The WWE was bright to put the strap on him, but I think that speaks volumes about how the WWE feels about Cena: maybe they are getting what they can out of him now just in case he's a star that's burning so brightly he's going to fade out soon. Maybe they said "Hmmm, you know, I'm not sure if Cena can mantain this popularity for as long as some of our other top superstars have. Well, maybe we should get while the going is good."

Orton, on the other hand, may be someone who the WWE thinks is going to be big one day regardless, and thus they don't feel the need for urgency. Remember, people always say the WWE would be crazy not to push Cena to the moon right now (and I agree), but on the same note, Orton was just as over as a heel as Cena was a face, so the same arguement could easily be said of him. But like I said, I think the WWE sees that Orton is going to be a huge WWE star, and they are taking their time. I think it's phenomenal. I have been high on Orton ever since his joining Evolution, and ever since his trade to Smackdown, I think it's very obvious what they are doing with Orton, a slow but steady buildup into supertardom

Duke

i could not agree more. mad reps

Blitzkrieg

Great post Crock. I've never really looked at it like that before. I just wonder what would have become of Orton if he was kept heel instead of rushing his face turn. Would he still be champion? That's my ONLY issue with your argument, is that WWE may have pulled the trigger on a massive push if they didn't blow it with the turn.. but they did blow it, so now we have what we have..

I was never worried about Orton though and I'm still not. People say that Orton has been traded to the "dead show" while Cena is the top dog on Monday nights..

Please.. Does anyone really think Orton is dying over there on SD!? What Orton is doing on SD! is making his "legend" grow even bigger for his eventual return to the RAW roster.. Orton is getting more legends notched on his belt, he is making the slow build like Crock has said, and in no time he will be the most hated man in the company..

Not hated like JBL is hated.. I mean, like Triple H is hated.. Orton has got that kind of potential in him. To be the next Game.. To make people ask "where's Orton tonight?"

I'm not sure if Cena will die off or not, I still don't really know for sure, but I do know that Orton will be around forever, and he'll be "The Man" for many years to come.

ICEMAN

Crocker,
Great post man. I agree with all of your major points. Orton is the star of the future and I can see him being the next WWE Legend ala HBK, Bret Hart. WWE made a mistake with his face turn, but luckily they realized it early enough and were able to turn him back with an effective storyline and now he's back at the top of the card.

I think you're right about Cena. His gimmick can only last for so long before a big backlash ensues. Not that it's a bad thing b/c then you can just turn him heel and there you go.

I'd like to see Cena-Orton as the WM 23 main event (that's 2006).

Slimdust

Yes censa gimmick will get old, and is already old to a lot of people. But Im sure he will always take time off for movies and his rap career. And what does WWE always do when someone is getting stale? Turn him heel. So Cena will be around for awhile.

angle does not suck

I have felt this way before either of them had won titles. As much as I don't like Orton in some ways he has the talent and can actually wrestle a good match and even carry a match. I don't think I have ever once been entertained by something that Cena himself has done. He has been carried to the top on the backs of talented wrestlers. I'm not sure who the hell cheers for this guy, must be 15 year old aspiring white rappers. He needs a heel turn BAD to get any remote amount of interest out of me.

I agree with pretty much everything in the previous posts.

<A HREF="http://www.mmadb.com/">www.mmadb.com</A>
I know, I'm working on it...

The Phantom

Terrific post Crocker.

The idea of building up a character rather than a massive push is something I really like. When WWE pushes someone it's as though they push them down our throats, which then leads to some people resenting that character. A little bit like whats happening with John Cena.

Jfreeze101

Orton is the man, has been since beatin up on foley. Cena on the other hand i belive he sucks as a face but is good as a heel. They both have promising careers and will be like rock hhh of the first half of this decade

The Phenom

Any momentum lost Cena can get back by feuding with Triple H with Angle and Jericho mix reactions will happen because people like them, whereas Trips is the consummate heel that everyone hates. But the future of the WWE if we are talking five years lies in four names Cena, Orton, Batista, and Lesnar those guys can all interchange and have main events for the next few years. But beyond that who knows who be the true future maybe someone no one has ever heard of before. But I see the true marquee matchup being Cena vs Brock that will be the biggest match ever(as the WWE hype machine says about nearly every match) in two years after Brock lays down Batista that is.

AznPeoplesChamp

I agree, man I think orton is gonna be the bigger star in the future. Instead of shoving Orton down our throats like they are doing with Cena, they are slowly building him up. He is already big right now, but you know what I mean. I think the fans are gonna turn on Cena one day a la the Rock if he doesn't change his sthick soon.

Thanks for the memories Eddie!