My thoughts on John Cena

Dr. Giganto

Regardless of what you think of him character/wrestling-wise (and I happen to be a fan), it's hard to deny he's been one of the most poorly-booked champions ever. It really frustrates me for a couple of reasons:

1. He's not nearly as bad in the ring as he's shown lately, or people believe. The trendy thing to do now is to say "Cena has never had a good match in his life" which is not true at all. He just hasnt had a particularly good match since he fought the Undertaker like 2 years ago. I dont know what happened, but before he turned face, he was a solid in-ring wrestler

2. He is very charismatic, and SHOULD be a major player. I mean, he kinda just has that superstar presence. Just like I always say Christian doesnt have "it", Cena has "it"

3. The WWE hasnt created a legitimate super-duper-star since Kurt Angle. Now, they've had stars, like Eddie, Benoit, Batista, etc. (Brock wasnt around long enough) but nobody on that really high Austin/Rock/Foley/Angle/Taker/HBK level. I thought Cena would be it, but if they don't change the way he's booked, it's never going to happen.

4. He's actually not a terrible rapper. He's not exactly "good", but he's not terrible. And his early raps were clever sometimes, such as the first time he feuded for the title with Brock and he incorporated the names of all these former champions into the rap.

So, like I said, it's so frustrating seeing a talented performer use two moves the entire match, get his ass kicked 90% of the match, be forced to rehash old Stone Cold Steve Austin angles, and not utilize the talent that actually got him over in the first place, his rapping ability. It's really frustrating

Blitzkrieg

Good post D.. I'll try to pick up from where you left off.


1. I do realize that he's better in the ring than he's shown of late. Nobody will ever confuse himas a GREAT wrestler, but I do remember back to when he fouhgt the likes of Taker and Guerrero and put on solid performances. The reason why he only does two moves now to me, is very simple. They want him to live up to that "Street" mentality.. It's a combination of his gimmick and the Stone Cold booking that has created what we see now.

2. Agreed.. He's very good on the mic, but to me, he's not somebody I want to see in the playing up the crowd role. He's much better as a heel, but if they want to keep him face, he at least needs to be edgier like he once was. His new lines are soft.

3. You hit right on the head why they are ramming Cena down our thoats so much. WWE is desperate to have a new big name star who has cross over potential. Cena is a semi-rapper at the moment and WWE see a lot of promise in him.. They are hoping fo the next Rock but on a smaller scale so he stays with the company. People are just pissed because guys like Kurt Angle who deserve better than what they are getting have to take the fall.

4. He's not a bad rapper.. All I have to say is "Cash Money" and people can realize he's not that bad. They should be letting him do his raps about his oppnents ike he used to and also keep them edgy like I said.

I don't neccesarily HATE Cena.. I just can't stand this same tired formula.

thirty7

That quote says it all.

They need to let Cena be the guy that got insanely over. let him cut his freestyles, without toning it down or censorship.

And let him be the same guy in the ring that took on Angle and Jericho in his first month or so on Smackdown!

I wish my sex life was like ECW, first you get a One Night Stand followed by 2 months of nostalgic orgasms and then 6 months of constant sucking.

Dr. Giganto

exactly

And, like Blitz, I understand the "He's from the streets (even though he isn't) so he's just gonna be a brawler" approach to his character, but it's hard to deny it's been a poor decision thus far.

Also, I think we should take a second to give a nod to Cena, Bischoff, Jericho, and Angle, who have used their talent and charisma to actually make this Stone Cold ripoff angle semi-enjoyable to watch

Blitzkrieg

Definitely. I don't agree with "Cena is from the street, should be a brawler" type of thinking. I just think this has been WWE's approach and like a lot of times, THEY ARE WRONG..

I don't want to see anything but the best from wrestlers. That's why I get pissed when they sign a guy like London and then take away half of his offense, or even RVD is a really good example. Don't want them to get injured? Then don't take the risk and sign them.. jesus. Of course they are gonna suck if you don't let them do what they do.

Back to Cena, I do think the match with Angle will be a good one, I think Angle will carry a lot of it, but Cena will do a pretty decent job. I just have that feeling. Of course, I also have the feeling that the ending will be booked horribly

Dr. Giganto

I agree Blitz. I also think that, like the Summerslam match versus Jericho, the crowd will slowly turn on Cena during the match and start cheering for Angle

thirty7

Without doubt, Angle will leave the babyface at unforgiven. however, i think that'd happen whether he was facing Cena or not. As Jv has said, Angle has reached that level where people want to cheer him regardless.

Although, it's also not a good thing that your golden boy could have the crowd turn on him just because of a great superstar.

I wish my sex life was like ECW, first you get a One Night Stand followed by 2 months of nostalgic orgasms and then 6 months of constant sucking.

Blitzkrieg

Crowd seems to be taking to Angle no matter who he faces. I think people just have given up and realize he's so damn talented you almost have to root for the guy. I think Angle should be a face again.. Huge face.

And cena.. Well, I think he can still work as a face, but they just need to tweak him a little. And when I say tweak him, I mean get the writers the hell away from him and let him do what he's capable of.

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

I just think he needs a new gimmick. I hate the whole rapper gimmick. I remember the first couple of times he was on t.v. he just came out and wrestled as kind of like a hometown favorite type of guy and I actually enjoyed his in ring performance. Then came the rapper gimmick and it all went down hill.