John Cena - SOS

John Cena's actions of these last few days has caused un-rest on the board and even before that.

People are sick of seeing John Cena and the problem is only going to prolong itself due to the fact that the WWE will not take any drastic directions with their cash cow.

I then started to recall the era before the Attitude Era. From 1992 - 1996. At that time the WWE were still very much gimmicky. Shawn Michaels became HBK. Bret Hart was clean cut. We saw Razor Ramon, Diesel, Goldust, Doink, Repo Man, Body Donna's, Papa Shango turn into Kama, Savio Vega. HHH, Rocky Maivia, The Ringmaster, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart were about to come into a new era that required transformation. 1997 became one of the most important years in the WWE history. HHH and Shawn Michaels formed DX. Rocky Maivia became The Rock and took over the Nation of Domination. Stone Cold Steve Austin was in the ascendancy. Bret Hart re-formed a new Hart Foundation. The Undertaker was the one constant and Kane came along as his 'brother'.

All that happened in a year. It needed to happen as the WWE had embarked on a new image that was to put the company at the forefront of sports entertainment. DX re-invented both Shawn Michaels and HHH. The Hart Foundation re-invented Bret Hart. The Nation re-invented The Rock. Without question Austin 3:16 re-invented Steve Austin. I do wonder where these superstars would've ended up had the changes not happened. Yes Bret's career was cut short, but the heel role he portrayed in that short period was brilliant. Edge underwent a massive change from the long coat running street tramp to the Rated-R Superstar.

I come to John Cena.

CM Punk underwent a change. The leader of Nexus and the Straight Edge Society to pipe bomb straight talking best in the world. Daniel Bryan has finally been given the stage and looks to have really done himself brilliantly from the lady escorting ponce to a heel that done anything to win which has enhanced his profile even higher. Dolph Ziggler has grown in stature. The Miz. With Morrison and the Dirt Shirt. Re-invented himself brilliantly to become a respectable WWE champion. R-Truth with the little Jimmys and a heel turn has refreshed him completely. Randy Orton has gone from cocky legendkiller to a sadistic predator. My point here is that change can be for the better.

In this time John Cena has not changed. The gimmick isn't one that is strong. The caps, sweatbands, T-Shirts, Wannabe Rap Music. It does make you want to kick the crap out of him. He needs change. The Nexus was the best opportunity to date I could see in him becoming something different and refreshing. Someone mentioned on another thread Paul Heyman being his mouthpiece which I think is not such a bad idea. With Y2J and Lesnar returning recently has for further pushed John further behind.

I think Cena needs a new approach and a sidekick that he can bounce of but also help push (sounds ambitious I know)

My question is how would you go changing him and who on the current roster could stand next to him without their position weakening?

John Laurinaitis, David Otunga, The Miz, John Cena and Eve. A Corporation of sorts. I'd love to see that.

And great article

Take him off TV and keep him there for around 6 months, then have him come back. Give the fans time to actually miss him, see what reaction he gets and if it's still negative, build his heel turn.

Let him spend his time influencing the FCW guys that he's so fond off and help them try and get to the level he is.

I remember when he was injured in 2007 and came back at the Royal Rumble and that was the best cheer he had in years. They turned to boo's when he won the WWE title again.

Cause everyone was expecting him to be out for 9 months and he turns up 4 months after the injury?, the initial response is 'Oh shi|t, Cena's back!!!' and then 2 weeks later you remember why you hated him.

I remember he was meant to be out ages and when he did come back I was like 'holy shlt' but then I realised he Flip up the main event I wanted to see of HHH/Orton when he won the Rumble.

I'll repeat what I said in my topic then seeing as it fits here, I think Heyman returning to be with Brock only to be snubbed by him, then align Heyman with Cena for the heel turn. Epic!

does Cena need someone like Heyman as a manager? I thought the role of a manager is to be the mouthpeice for someone who isn't great at talking or cutting promo's.

Cena as the head of a new heel stable could work well. Maybe promote a few guys from FCW to give them the rub of working with Cena, rather than using guys already on the roster......

The problem is that Cena gets more heat now than what he would if he did turn heel. Most heels from past and present would kill to garner as much heat as Cena does as a face. The haters would love him if he turned heel and the boos would turn to pops. The WWE are in a catch 22, do they turn him heel to freshen up his character and potential storylines but see his crowd reaction suffer? Or keep him face and maintain the hot reactions he receives?

The Kane 'embracing the hate' angle, the Roddy Piper segment, and for the first time on Raw he actually acknowledged the possibility of him 'giving people what they want and turning on the WWE Universe'. It all adds fuel to the fire and adds to the slow burning turn before he eventually snaps and cant take it anymore.

I think its a case of when and not if.

Mr H wrote:The problem is that Cena gets more heat now than what he would if he did turn heel. Most heels from past and present would kill to garner as much heat as Cena does as a face. The haters would love him if he turned heel and the boos would turn to pops. The WWE are in a catch 22, do they turn him heel to freshen up his character and potential storylines but see his crowd reaction suffer? Or keep him face and maintain the hot reactions he receives?

The Kane 'embracing the hate' angle, the Roddy Piper segment, and for the first time on Raw he actually acknowledged the possibility of him 'giving people what they want and turning on the WWE Universe'. It all adds fuel to the fire and adds to the slow burning turn before he eventually snaps and cant take it anymore.

I think its a case of when and not if.

If he turned, its true he'd start getting cheers but they could use that to make him into an Austin type character where he's a badass has heel tendencies beating up on everyone. He could say he's sick of the corporate side of wwe and that could start a feud with John boy, and imo that would work better as a feud then Punk and Johnny.

The problem is not Cena's gimmick, but Cena himself. There have been numerous examples of his unprofessionalism lately.

Turning him heel would only allow him to fit the unprofessionalism into his new character trait.

Unprofessionalism is a pretty strong claim.

If I was John Cena, it would feel like a pretty insulting one too.

I reckon they should put Cena with R-Truth and Funkasarous and call them "Rappers Delight"

Electric Demon wrote:Unprofessionalism is a pretty strong claim.

If I was John Cena, it would feel like a pretty insulting one too.

So when he looked at the crowd, smiled and joked when Rock was doing a promo towards him, it wasn't unprofessional? Based upon the Rock giving him common courtesey when Cena delivered his promo the week before.

TwisT wrote:

Electric Demon wrote:Unprofessionalism is a pretty strong claim.

If I was John Cena, it would feel like a pretty insulting one too.

So when he looked at the crowd, smiled and joked when Rock was doing a promo towards him, it wasn't unprofessional? Based upon the Rock giving him common courtesey when Cena delivered his promo the week before.

I don't want to echo any soft touch approach, but I do think that someone like HHH or Taker should pull Cena to one side and make him watch his promos back and just say 'John this looks really cringeworthy. Do you think you could try and sell a bit better on the mic and with your body language'

The Brock spot was just awful to watch. Clapping, smiling. I just think it needs someone to bend his ear that he can't really talk back or down to.

I dont like Cena but out of everyone in the WWE i respect him the most and would be deverstated if he was ever injured for a long time or even worse left the WWE.

I believe the best time to turn him heel was with the nexus at the survior series ppv in 2010.

I think they should continue his babyface at the moment tbh.

Do you not think this could all be intentional? Brock's seriousness and take no cr*p way he went in the ring and took Cena out after Cena looking on so nonchanantly (sp?) could be part of the storyline of making Cena a more serious character or even part of him snapping and turning heel?

MIG wrote:Do you not think this could all be intentional? Brock's seriousness and take no cr*p way he went in the ring and took Cena out after Cena looking on so nonchanantly (sp?) could be part of the storyline of making Cena a more serious character or even part of him snapping and turning heel?

In a word. No

But....as I have said on another thread.....I will wait until next week. Cena has just been F-5'd for no reason at the end of RAW. His reaction next week should highlight this.

He cannot make a joke out of it. He HAS to be serious. I doubt it though.

Cena to 'invite' Lesnar to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Batista returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Batista Bombed.

The following week, Cena invites Batista to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Austin returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Stunnered.

At Extreme Rules its announced that Cena will face The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Batista and Stone Cold in a Handicap I Quit Match, which Cena will win after getting them all to Quit at the same time.

Cena is then killed by the crowd.

Mr H wrote:Cena to 'invite' Lesnar to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Batista returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Batista Bombed.

The following week, Cena invites Batista to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Austin returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Stunnered.

At Extreme Rules its announced that Cena will face The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Batista and Stone Cold in a Handicap I Quit Match, which Cena will win after getting them all to Quit at the same time.

Cena is then killed by the crowd.

Lmao

Mr H wrote:Cena to 'invite' Lesnar to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Batista returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Batista Bombed.

The following week, Cena invites Batista to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Austin returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Stunnered.

At Extreme Rules its announced that Cena will face The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Batista and Stone Cold in a Handicap I Quit Match, which Cena will win after getting them all to Quit at the same time.

Cena is then killed by the crowd.

Brilliant Vince would be tugging himself over that

I think it would be better for everyone if Cena took sometime off tbh.

I am sure Brock would be more than willing to cause an injury via a shooting star press

Mr H wrote:Cena to 'invite' Lesnar to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Batista returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Batista Bombed.

The following week, Cena invites Batista to the ring to congratulate him on his return, but Austin returns, Cena no sells it again and gets Stunnered.

At Extreme Rules its announced that Cena will face The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Batista and Stone Cold in a Handicap I Quit Match, which Cena will win after getting them all to Quit at the same time.

Cena is then killed by the crowd.

Now THAT is a PPV I'd happily pay £15 to see. Awesome booking, ticks all the boxes...