After my post on Randy Orton being a baby face I've decided to extend the 'feature' into a general, daily/weekly/whenever I feel like it feature on the general perception/mis-perception of wrestling, wrestlers, and general things in the world. After tackling the issue of Randy Orton being a baby face in my opinion, I decided that the next issue to take a whack at is the perception that John Cena absolutely sucks as a wrestler. So now we dive into:
Excalibur's Edge II: Why John Cena Dosen't Suck
For me it's hard to pinpoint the exact date that this phenomenon of "Cena Sucks" started. An educated guess would be around 2005 after he won the WWE title the first time. Fans, internet fans I mean, started to turn on him slightly. Then it escalated a bit when he debuted on Raw and got in the face of then internet darling, Christian. Christian was looked at as a guy who wasn't getting his fair shake in the WWE, while Cena someone who the fans percieved as an inferior talent was. Another point to look at is during the first match of the ECW One Night Stand reunion show in 2005. Lance Storm vs Chris Jericho. Two athletic wrestlers putting on a...well athletic match. During the middle of the match the ECW faithful started chanting "Fuck John Cena", among other things. Watching this at home, many casual fans would probably think "why are they saying that? Is he bad or something?" Through the rest of the year it began to blossom a bit, especially when he was paired up with uber wrestler Kurt Angle, who many believe is one of the best wrestlers in the world, ever. And truly to his credit he is. Angle has everything a promoter would want, charisma, a good look, and someone who can put on a great performance. The year continued and another Internet darling who in turn was somewhat hated by the same community for screwing over his best friend, supposedly. Edge. Edge cashed in his Money in the bank opportunity to take advantage of Cena in his most weak state.
This propelled Edge, who just beat the guy who fans were beginning to dislike more and more, and made him a babyface, somewhat. Edge was another guy, like Christian who a majority of fans percieved as someone with talent, who wasnt getting his deserved main event spot. Moving on, the event grew to a head at ECW One Night Stand 2006. Where the entire arena was against John Cena, and behind 100% Rob Van Dam, yet another man who was percieved as being held back. From then on a majority of fans dis-liked Cena. And basically it had a domino effect. One group of fans goes to a show, happen to dis-like Cena, start chanting "Cena Sucks", then others join in thinking "Well if that many people say so, then it must be true." And so it continued, until it became "Cool" to hate on John Cena. But what are the reasons that these people say he sucks?
I. His gimmick is of a white rapper, or a wanna be black man, IE: Wigger
Excalibur's Edge II: Why John Cena Dosen't Suck
For me it's hard to pinpoint the exact date that this phenomenon of "Cena Sucks" started. An educated guess would be around 2005 after he won the WWE title the first time. Fans, internet fans I mean, started to turn on him slightly. Then it escalated a bit when he debuted on Raw and got in the face of then internet darling, Christian. Christian was looked at as a guy who wasn't getting his fair shake in the WWE, while Cena someone who the fans percieved as an inferior talent was. Another point to look at is during the first match of the ECW One Night Stand reunion show in 2005. Lance Storm vs Chris Jericho. Two athletic wrestlers putting on a...well athletic match. During the middle of the match the ECW faithful started chanting "Fuck John Cena", among other things. Watching this at home, many casual fans would probably think "why are they saying that? Is he bad or something?" Through the rest of the year it began to blossom a bit, especially when he was paired up with uber wrestler Kurt Angle, who many believe is one of the best wrestlers in the world, ever. And truly to his credit he is. Angle has everything a promoter would want, charisma, a good look, and someone who can put on a great performance. The year continued and another Internet darling who in turn was somewhat hated by the same community for screwing over his best friend, supposedly. Edge. Edge cashed in his Money in the bank opportunity to take advantage of Cena in his most weak state.
This propelled Edge, who just beat the guy who fans were beginning to dislike more and more, and made him a babyface, somewhat. Edge was another guy, like Christian who a majority of fans percieved as someone with talent, who wasnt getting his deserved main event spot. Moving on, the event grew to a head at ECW One Night Stand 2006. Where the entire arena was against John Cena, and behind 100% Rob Van Dam, yet another man who was percieved as being held back. From then on a majority of fans dis-liked Cena. And basically it had a domino effect. One group of fans goes to a show, happen to dis-like Cena, start chanting "Cena Sucks", then others join in thinking "Well if that many people say so, then it must be true." And so it continued, until it became "Cool" to hate on John Cena. But what are the reasons that these people say he sucks?
I. His gimmick is of a white rapper, or a wanna be black man, IE: Wigger
The black man is the most imitated man in the world, a saying from Paul Mooney, "Everyone wants to be black, but nobody wants to be black" Ok. Mooney used a different word, but you get me. Some fans believe that Cena's early gimmick of a white rapper was just a really bad gimmick. He'd spout out this ingenius, risque phrases to rile up the crowd and get his desired reaction, either good or bad. Fans thought it was stupid, after all white rappers are just imitators, they can never be as accepted as guys like Tupac, Biggy, 50 Cent, Gucci Mane, etc. White guys who act black, wiggers, are just stupid and no body likes them. Well, try telling that to one of the most sucessful hip-hop acts of the last 20 years. Respected by his peers, and fans. One of the top selling artists of the decade. Eminem. A skinny white boy from Detroit. So obviously Eminem gives some, a lot even, credibility to 'wiggers'. So Cena was simply being a parody of such, and now just uses that culture in the way he dresses. This however died out really quickly when people found out he was an entertaining heel.
II. He only uses five moves.
The "Five Moves of Doom" people call Cena's reputaure. The moves are 1. Flying shoulder block, 2. Sitout hip toss or multiple clotheslines, 3. Side release spinout slam, 4. Five Knuckle Shuffle, 4. Attitude Adjustment/FU. You can even throw in the STF/STFU if you want too. This argument is so quickly dis-spelled I dont know why I even list it. Look, every babyface has a comeback routine, this one is John Cena's. Bret Hart was known for his "Five moves of doom" the vertical suplex, Russian legsweep, backbreaker, elbowdrop from the second rope, and Sharpshooter. And Bret Hart is, was, always will be, regarded as one of the best wrestlers ever. Every babyface has a come back. Even Cena's and Bret's rival Shawn Michaels who people look at today as the best worker ever, with his being. Inverted Atomic Drop, ( Flying Forearm, scoop slam, Eblow Drop, and finally his finisher the Sweet Chin Music, right before the academic pinfall. Every face has this type of routine.
III. He Just cant wrestle.
Really? Since when, really in todays time did wrestling count for anything? You want real quality wrestling, go watch your highschool or college team wrestle, thats real wrestling, and really good at that too. The enviroment today, just like every other era, in the WWE isn't about athetlics, it's about playing to the crowd. That's what Professional wrestling is. Putting two guys into a match, creating a conflict and letting the audience know whose good, and whose bad, and then using that heat to make them more involved in the match. If wrestling fans really truly cared about 'wrestling' and 'work rate' more than entertainment and having fun, then Ring of Honor would be the top drawing wrestling program on pay-per-view and television. Simple fact, John Cena dose what every wrestler does, he plays to the crowd, only he dosent do five hundred spins in a row from the top rope. (Side bar: How does anyone think that someone doing a shooting star press, suicide dive, etc after getting their ass kicked for 30 minutes makes them a good wrestler? if I had my ass handed to me for that long, I could barely move, you expect me to believe you can do that? Yeah ok.)
IV. Cena is too "Kiddy" or "PG"
This one I believe isnt his fault, its because Vince and co. decided to go another direction with their shows. Make them more family friendly. So you have to tone it down in every department
There, most of the theories on why Cena sucks, is more or less debunked. But why dosen't he suck? Well simple:
I. Psychology:
Cena's psychology is great. He can play the baby face in peril, the cocky young star, or man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. And it shows in his matches at times, hes getting destroyed by a giant. Another time he takes his opponent too lightly, and mostly, he dosent stop, he keeps coming. He's like Joe Frazier, hell take two hits to give one. He an ultimate Ass kicker.
II. Moves
Cena's moves are a classic babyface move set. And because hes a face, well he can't be in control of his matches, that's the heels. Sure his moves arent crisp. But whoes are? CM Punk's a big guy on the net, yet hes somewhat sloppy. And so were Austin, Rock, Michaels, etc at times. No Body is perfect.
III. Charisma
John Cena has the charisma of well, John Cena. He gets the fans excited for everything, and I don't mean just on the mic. He knows how to work a crowd over in his matches. How to make the fans clap their hands to get him to comeback, Do everything he can to get them involved, that is true charisma, and the true art of pro-wrestling.
IV. Gimmick
Cena's gimmick is well, the ultimate ass-kicker. Everyone loves an ass-kicker. And it's easy to get behind someone whose always winning. Someone who wont let you down. And when hes on the microphone he tells you so too. He stops at nothing, never rests. Not for one second. And most people respect a person like that.
Any Improvements?
Can anything be improved upon? Of course theres always room for improvements, for everyone. The main thing that could be improved with Cena is the way he is booked. Everytime he faces a contemporary like Randy Orton, Edge, etc. The fans seem to get behind him easily. Because he comes across as knowing he can beat him, he becomes confident, and lets us know he means business. However when he faces someone from the late 90s, like HBK, HHH, etc. He gets all superfan. He acts like how some think we would. "OMG I'm FIGHTING HBK, HHH, UNDERTAKER, OMG!" and gets so excited. This is his downfall, because basically hes saying "Everyone in my age group sucks, you guys rock!" If he stepped to them with that same confidence, then when hes paired up with those guys, he would get a completely different reaction. The way hes booked against the veterans is really his only downfall. In closing, Ric Flair once said. "Weather you like it, or dont like it. Learn to love it, 'cause its the best thing going!"II. He only uses five moves.
The "Five Moves of Doom" people call Cena's reputaure. The moves are 1. Flying shoulder block, 2. Sitout hip toss or multiple clotheslines, 3. Side release spinout slam, 4. Five Knuckle Shuffle, 4. Attitude Adjustment/FU. You can even throw in the STF/STFU if you want too. This argument is so quickly dis-spelled I dont know why I even list it. Look, every babyface has a comeback routine, this one is John Cena's. Bret Hart was known for his "Five moves of doom" the vertical suplex, Russian legsweep, backbreaker, elbowdrop from the second rope, and Sharpshooter. And Bret Hart is, was, always will be, regarded as one of the best wrestlers ever. Every babyface has a come back. Even Cena's and Bret's rival Shawn Michaels who people look at today as the best worker ever, with his being. Inverted Atomic Drop, ( Flying Forearm, scoop slam, Eblow Drop, and finally his finisher the Sweet Chin Music, right before the academic pinfall. Every face has this type of routine.
III. He Just cant wrestle.
Really? Since when, really in todays time did wrestling count for anything? You want real quality wrestling, go watch your highschool or college team wrestle, thats real wrestling, and really good at that too. The enviroment today, just like every other era, in the WWE isn't about athetlics, it's about playing to the crowd. That's what Professional wrestling is. Putting two guys into a match, creating a conflict and letting the audience know whose good, and whose bad, and then using that heat to make them more involved in the match. If wrestling fans really truly cared about 'wrestling' and 'work rate' more than entertainment and having fun, then Ring of Honor would be the top drawing wrestling program on pay-per-view and television. Simple fact, John Cena dose what every wrestler does, he plays to the crowd, only he dosent do five hundred spins in a row from the top rope. (Side bar: How does anyone think that someone doing a shooting star press, suicide dive, etc after getting their ass kicked for 30 minutes makes them a good wrestler? if I had my ass handed to me for that long, I could barely move, you expect me to believe you can do that? Yeah ok.)
IV. Cena is too "Kiddy" or "PG"
This one I believe isnt his fault, its because Vince and co. decided to go another direction with their shows. Make them more family friendly. So you have to tone it down in every department
There, most of the theories on why Cena sucks, is more or less debunked. But why dosen't he suck? Well simple:
I. Psychology:
Cena's psychology is great. He can play the baby face in peril, the cocky young star, or man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. And it shows in his matches at times, hes getting destroyed by a giant. Another time he takes his opponent too lightly, and mostly, he dosent stop, he keeps coming. He's like Joe Frazier, hell take two hits to give one. He an ultimate Ass kicker.
II. Moves
Cena's moves are a classic babyface move set. And because hes a face, well he can't be in control of his matches, that's the heels. Sure his moves arent crisp. But whoes are? CM Punk's a big guy on the net, yet hes somewhat sloppy. And so were Austin, Rock, Michaels, etc at times. No Body is perfect.
III. Charisma
John Cena has the charisma of well, John Cena. He gets the fans excited for everything, and I don't mean just on the mic. He knows how to work a crowd over in his matches. How to make the fans clap their hands to get him to comeback, Do everything he can to get them involved, that is true charisma, and the true art of pro-wrestling.
IV. Gimmick
Cena's gimmick is well, the ultimate ass-kicker. Everyone loves an ass-kicker. And it's easy to get behind someone whose always winning. Someone who wont let you down. And when hes on the microphone he tells you so too. He stops at nothing, never rests. Not for one second. And most people respect a person like that.
Any Improvements?
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