HERE

WE

GO!!

I have two things I'd like to ask you to do. First, imagine you are a booker for the WWE. Second? Well think about this scenario. What if I told you that waiting in the wings right now, is a wrestler/sports entertainer who could charm the crowds and fill the arenas, would you hire him? What if I also told you that this man has a skill that is so rare, he could actually end up being the face of your company for years to come? Well, if you're truly a booker worth your salt you're going to want to know who is this guy? So I go to my video tape collection and show you the Ultimate Pro Wrestling videoes of one John Cena. The Prototype. In watching this virtual unknown, you see intensity. You see a chiselled muscle tone fit for a body builder. You a fast paced wrestler who is not afraid to give and take a beating. So after viewing the tapes and reading some more scouting reports, you decide to give him a test run. During this test run, you just happen to have one of the best technical wrestlers on your roster and who BETTER than Kurt Angle to test this new blood? So here comes John Cena to take on Kurt Angle. They go toe to toe and man, it's unreal how well Cena meshes with Angle in their FIRST meeting. Slowly but surely, John gains noteriety for his in ring performance but he doesn't really gain any ground. Until a chance occurance where Stephanie McMahon overhears John Cena 'freestyle' rapping during a tour. That's when his star catches FIRE and John Cena becomes a huge favorite. Fans BEG for him to get that shot at the US Title. He gets it and wins. All the while, fans are talking about how he needs the big push for the World title. And he gets it! John Cena goes to Mania and beats JBL. He beats him, wins the World title, and suddenly things begin to take a scary turn in the opposite direction with fans. And you, as a booker, can do what everyone in your position would do- scratch your head and wonder what went wrong...

Now see, I can understand why you'd throw your beer at me right now. No really, I get it. It's just that I can't help but laugh at how fickle we, as wrestling fans, really are. I mean, we all got up and screamed for more when he was doing his freestyle thing. We were diggin it when he got B-2 as his sidekick and he was having street fights with Eddie Guerrero. This guy had some awesome matches with Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, and even JBL while he was in the hunt. And we loved it! Then, as quickly as we loved it, we crapped all over it. Maybe it was because the guy we knew and loved, stopped rapping and starting leading the way. Maybe its because we saw the guy we enjoyed so much become a figurehead and then the 'Superman' for WWE. Let's face it, nobody really enjoys the good guys anymore, right?

Well, all kidding aside, I do enjoy John Cena's work from time to time. Don't all walk off at once! Please, hear me out! When Hulk Hogan was on WWE television back in the day, I know we all got tired of watching the comebacks, the no selling of moves, and the instant wins. I know we did. To be honest, the reason I got so agrivated was because I grew up and started wanting to see a more realistic wrestling match. That was when I started watching more of WCW/NWA and started enjoying the matches of Flair, Anderson, Sting, and even Dustin Rhodes. I have to admit, I NEVER enjoy watched Dusty roll his tub of goo all over the ring. It was NEVER entertaining for me. I was the guy cheering for the Road Warriors to hit his cornea and end his career before it hit the peak. Anyway, back to Cena. So, when I started watching the more realistic styles, I enjoyed the back and forth. I enjoyed close finishes where I never really knew who the better man was. It was exciting and gave me cause to watch again and again. But you know something? Sooner than later, I found myself watching WWE/WWF again. Why? Because I wanted to see more of the hero against the villain. I wanted to see the hero come out on top again. Too many times I watched the villain who did the same old tired cheating routine get the win over the hero who beat him up for twenty minutes. Yeah, that used to bother me so much I would turn it off and swear I wouldn't watch again. With John Cena, we have it both ways. That's what amazes me about how many people dislike this guy. With Cena, we have a guy who will literally get tortured for a half hour and then somehow find the way to mount a comeback and win the match. And also with Cena, we have a hero who overcomes all odds to defeat the villain. Nevermind that the guy puts over anyone. I mean, he has been pinned more times than Triple H, Hulk Hogan, HBK, and even Kurt Angle the entire time he's been in main events. I mean he put over Rob Van Dam for crying out loud! Don't misunderstand, I think RVD is pretty awesome. Who else was going to put RVD over? I mean HHH refused. HBK didn't. Angle wouldn't. Brock didn't. Let's also not forget that Cena has been doing what he's been told by WWE upper management since he got there. ANother trait unseen by HHH, HBK, Hogan, Austin, Flair, Angle, Brock, and even Bret Hart. Here we have someone who will put the business first. Cena has put over RVD, Carlito, Eddie Guerrero, the Big Show, HBK, Edge and all because it was in the best interest of business. Now, is it really his doing that he didn't drop the title to some of these guys and some others as well?

While I don't want to see him no sell every move in the last 2 minutes of each match, he does work his ass off in making a match all that it can be regardless of opponent. He goes out and he takes whatever the crowd gives him and he works with it. And I think that is what bugs a lot of fans right now. John Cena has become the image of what fans are now tired of. His routine has become stale. It's not the entertainer himself. It's not the fact that he's a main eventer that bothers them. It is the fact that John Cena is the top guy on the same show he's been on for the past several years and people what a change. It's sad that Cena becomes the embodiment of what people are tired of, but I guess that is what this industry is about.

Still, I encourage all of you to take a minute before you break out you 'F U Cena' chants. Remember that for a time, you cheered for this man. Most likely, you were one of the people who enjoyed his 'battle raps' and possibly even dug the US Title 'Spinner' belt. It was new back then, and you liked new. I think we all get like this. The difference here, is that I don't dislike John Cena. No, in fact while he is not my FAVORITE, I actually believe John Cena is one hard working sonnuva gun. He has my respect both as an entertainer but as a top guy in this business as well. You can send me emails about how this guy from ROH is better, or how the new guys in WWE will surpass Cena, or how AJ Styles would destroy him. Really you could do that and then some, but then you'd be proving my point. Everytime someone comes along and becomes the focal point of the show it grows stale. People get tired of the same old thing. They want to see Kofi, Swagger, Ted Dibiase, and maybe even Cody Rhodes move up the ladder and shine ahead of Cena for awhile. The public LOVES variety after all. Well, that is until variety gets stale too. And then, well, I guess we could always get that Cena guy to come back and rap a little for us. Yeah, that'd be fun for awhile...

Hey, I'm not telling you that you have to love John, but I am saying 'Don't be Hatin!' See you next week.

Click my name and send me your thoughts. Just do me a favor- no 'CENA SUKZ' nonsense. I'll read and try to respond to each email I get. I still owe someone an email from my debut. Anyhow, I always love feedback.



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