The John Cena Thread

[Marc the Smark]

I don't like admitting it, because he's still one of the best that Smackdown has to offer, but does anyone else think his gimmick is turning stale? Yeah, he's got a great physique (looks are important), good mic skills, and he's a good worker. He's also still young, which means he's still growing, and the fans love him. Hell, don't get me wrong. I still like the guy, and he'll probably be main eventing at Mania 21, but I just think it's time they try something else with him. I'm not saying to can the rap thing, but maybe a new angle? Or something else? What can they do with this guy? Like I said, I like him (and he's a great guy in person), but they should freshen up his character. They need to use his abilities and potential. Post your thoughts about John Cena.

[Ferocious]

Three words

Long John Cena.

I'm calling it now

[HankScorpio]

Only the "Deez nuts" bit is getting real tired, I got tired quick.. real quick

[Ferocious]

Long John Cena is definately the way to go, I havnt seen a Pirate gimmick in the WWF/E ever it's highly original and IMO would work better than Booker Shangoo. Along with a few added extras such as his parrot Squark and him singing old sea shanties, with a Bottle of rum in hand.

Come on people this has legs and you all know it deep down inside.

[Loose Cannon]

To be honest, Cena was my absolute favorite wrestler back when he was heel, even more then Orton. His promos were bad ass, his look was a little more bad ass, and hell, even his walk to the ring was more bad ass. I used get pumped when his music hit and right away he threw up those double horns. And another thing, his sign was totally different before. Before he used to make a "U" with his hands, which stood for "untouchable." Now, he makes the "W" for Word Life. The untouchable thing was better because very few people even knew what that sign meant. I like things that have a certain mystique to it.

His catchphrases were so much better back then too. Remember the "oookkkkk" WTF happened to that. And what happened to throwing the microphone up so the fans could curse (cuss, whatever you prefer) at the end of his rap. I think that's the FCC, but whatever. But seriously, he totally sucks right now and I can't stand the guy. He caters to the fans and he seems like a watered down MTV VJ now. Why couldn't he have the same bad ass edge, but still be face?

[Ferocious]

Why can't he scrap the rap and be a pirate? A bad ass pirate if needs be, as long as he's a pirate, He could be 'Captain Barbosaesque' even.

[Loose Cannon]

This is the John Cena I used to know.

http://smackdown.wwe.com/results/072403/images/STL0019.jpg

[Batsu]

John Cena now = The Rock after fully becoming face in '00. The same 3 moves in each match...a "taunt attack" spot (People's Elbow = 5 Knuckle Shuffle)...he needs to de-babify his matches a little.

Too many factors have watered his on-screen persona down a little...but yeah, from the moment he began with the Ice Ice Cena persona that evolved into what he is today, I've been a fan of John Cena.

[CBright7831]

This is the John Cena I used to know.

http://smackdown.wwe.com/results/072403/images/STL0019.jpg
When the hell was that?!?!?

It's sad I can remember every single detail about the crumbling of the nWo, but I can't remember something that happened last year.

[Wolverine]

When the hell was that?!?!?

It's sad I can remember every single detail about the crumbling of the nWo, but I can't remember something that happened last year.

If I remember correctly that was his promo during the feud with the undertaker where he was in a graveyard...i believe

[sadio8]

Cena's a decent wrestler and is average on the mic. He needs a new finisher desperately

[Gerard]

Cena's a decent wrestler and is average on the mic. He needs a new finisher desperately


Yup, his finisher next to the worm is probably the weakest looking in the wwe, even though lately he seems to make it look better by slamming them down harder. Even that can't disguise the fact its a bog standard slam from a different set-up position. :-\

[Stickman]

I think the Angle Slam is worse, but they both suck the big one.

[Wondermouse]

Angle Slam is great, it's just Angle's not allowed to whip it around correctly.

Cena could turn the F-U into a sitout-slam, a reverse DDT, a TKO or something. Call it the F-U 2

[Nark Order]

Yeah, The FU is nothing more than a Standing Fireman's Carry....

He needs something more feared...

[big_bluto]

Cena:
Bags of potential, but needs a GOOD finishing move (similarities with Orton again!)
I've been impressed with his use of the mic, considering he has only been around for a year or so, and he's already using it better than anyone else on Smackdown.
but as for the rapping- he needs to either
- save it for special occasions
- freshen it up a bit
- get a new catch phrase (no more NUTZ John-boy)

As for the actual wrestling, he's alright, nothing startling or electrifying yet, but that will come with time. Needs a few decent moves to pull, a better finisher than the lame-ass FU, more in line with the amount of moves the Rock pulls.

Aside from that, I think he's doing pretty good, considering he's still really a rookie.

[Hired Hitman]

People loved Cena as a bad guy, well I know I did. While people are saying the "Deez nuts" line is getting old, I agree, I believe the thing we liked most about John Cena as a 'Heel' was that he would say anything to insult the crowd :cool:

as for the FU, like I said in another thread, it needs to look more powerful, I think he should fall down like a dvd but have his opponents head in a side neck-breaker position, while landing on their upper back, I think that would look great.

[RGWhat316]

I'm a huge Cena fan, but one of the problems I've seen lately is that he has become lost in the shuffle of SD stars. He was almost in the main event at the end of '03 and the beginning of '04, but since he won the US Title, its kinda like he's been depushed. Theres even a couple times he was on Velocity. Usually main-eventers aren't on Velocity.

I'll also admit that his raps have been lacking lately. Either he's running out of material, or just can't cut loose as much because of th FCC.

[Wondermouse]

I'm a huge Cena fan, but one of the problems I've seen lately is that he has become lost in the shuffle of SD stars. He was almost in the main event at the end of '03 and the beginning of '04, but since he won the US Title, its kinda like he's been depushed. Theres even a couple times he was on Velocity. Usually main-eventers aren't on Velocity.

I'll also admit that his raps have been lacking lately. Either he's running out of material, or just can't cut loose as much because of th FCC.
Yeah, I guess they were depushing JBL, too, since he was on Velocity...

[Loose Cannon]

You feel me.

<embed src="http://www.superbhostin.com/dftptk/themesel/John%20Cena%205th%20Theme%20Uncensored.mp3">

[Batsu]

Angle Slam is great, it's just Angle's not allowed to whip it around correctly.

Cena could turn the F-U into a sitout-slam, a reverse DDT, a TKO or something. Call it the F-U 2

You and I are eye-to-eye on this one. Right down to the name. The F-U is not finisher caliber... though the Angle Slam is....I think it's the whirl around that Angle does with it...plus it looked like an "old-style American hero" finisher.

also WWE really needs to get off the BS and just allow the head/neck bump moves again. No Ganso Bombs but ...clearly, powerbombs and reportedly the Fameasser can just be as dangerous as a piledriver sometimes.

[Aussie Skier]

Firstly...is Cena a babyface?
I would say he could still be in tweener category...altho, maybe not, after he helped Torrie.

Still, I have never really liked him all that much, I still think there are half a dozen other guys who r better on smackdown

[Marc the Smark]

You feel me.


Yes! Thank you!!! I wanted to put in the music, but didn't know how to. :y:

[Marc the Smark]

there are half a dozen other guys who r better on smackdown


Yes, John Bradshaw Layfield, Scotty Too Hotty, Orlando Jordan, and Nunzio :shifty:

Please, Cena's one of the best on Smackdown.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

I love John Cena, but he needs to change to a ruthless character, and he needs to slow down on the freestyles very soon. I understand it's getting him over now, but it will become stale.

I think if he keeps the gimmick to long, he'll be stuck with it. The character is strong enough that it would stick in the fans mind. Just like Eugene's character, it's so strongly done it's basically carear suicide, he will always be Eugene. Reguardless of what WWE does, and I'm a little scared John Cena's character is in the same boat.

[Wondermouse]

This could definitely be a good career gimmick for Cena, I think. It's basically him to the 3rd power, like Rock, Flair, SCSA, etc. As long as he doesn't make him too much of a caricature, and tone it down a bit, it can work fine.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

This could definitely be a good career gimmick for Cena, I think. It's basically him to the 3rd power, like Rock, Flair, SCSA, etc. As long as he doesn't make him too much of a caricature, and tone it down a bit, it can work fine.

See, I'm not so sure it is a good career gimmick. I mean, it's based off of current pop culture, which right now is the hip hop scene. Austin, Flair, and Rock were basically what everyone yearns to be multiplied by a 100%. Everyone wants to be super cool (Rock), have the finer life (Flair) and wants to be their own man and do what they want (Austin) not everyone wants to be a rapper.

I think Cena slowly needs to change, he needs to become a heel first so he can. Then he needs to slow down his rapping ... maybe say once a month, and take the crowd out of it. Just do a cold hard rap against his opponents. He needs to change his finisher, something with more impact. I like the idea of calling it FU 2.

What I'm scared of is John will be stuck with the stigma of the baby faced white rapper. That would prevent him from getting anywhere. I mean think about it, Val Venis will never escape being the porn star, Eugene will never escape being someone who's mentally handicapped, and Kane will never escape being ... well Kane. When a character is strong enough, the fans will latch onto it. It will become what they expect. When that happens, there's very little room for character development (well, it's possible but WWE has a tendency of blowing that, look at Kane's unmasking.)

John Cena's character is like I said, based on what's hot now, that leaves it very little room to remain strong as cultures change. What happens when rock is popular again ... then you have a white rapper trying to appeal to a group of people who think rap sucks. Then he's stuck.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Eventually Cena will feud with Eddie G. That's when I expect the heel turn to happen. When he turns heel, his raps should not only rip into his opponent, but he should start ripping into the crowd. I don't mean make fun of local teams, I mean actually pick people out of the crowd and start bad mouthing them.

[Wondermouse]

That's the thing, though, I don't think of Cena's gimmick as a "white rapper." Well, it shouldn't be. If it just becomes more of the things associated with rap, but not the actual rapping, it'd be good.

BTW, Kevin, who made the KMFDM avatar for you?

[#1-norm-fan]

Cena is quickly becoming my favorite wrestler despite my falling interest in SD! He's a great wrestler. The rapper gimmick won't last forever but he's got the charisma so that I'm sure he doesn't NEED all his interviews to rhyme. He can put on a good pure promo if need be.

[John la Rock]

To be honest, Cena was my absolute favorite wrestler back when he was heel, even more then Orton. His promos were bad ass, his look was a little more bad ass, and hell, even his walk to the ring was more bad ass. I used get pumped when his music hit and right away he threw up those double horns. And another thing, his sign was totally different before. Before he used to make a "U" with his hands, which stood for "untouchable." Now, he makes the "W" for Word Life. The untouchable thing was better because very few people even knew what that sign meant. I like things that have a certain mystique to it.

His catchphrases were so much better back then too. Remember the "oookkkkk" WTF happened to that. And what happened to throwing the microphone up so the fans could curse (cuss, whatever you prefer) at the end of his rap. I think that's the FCC, but whatever. But seriously, he totally sucks right now and I can't stand the guy. He caters to the fans and he seems like a watered down MTV VJ now. Why couldn't he have the same bad ass edge, but still be face?

dude I totally agree :y:

[uNtOuChAbLe Tim]

It really doesn't matter what you marks think. Cena is the most popular superstar in WWE today, and the future of the business. That might not mean much to you but his millions of fans sure appreciate it. i'm a proud Cena fan/mark and he's the most entertaining and exciting superstar WWE has. He may still be a bit green in the ring, but he'll improve, and he seems to go on instinct in the ring and improvise. He has the "5 moves of doom". All of which bring the crowd to their feet. Five Knuckle Shuffle might not be very impactful, but neither was the people's elbow and that drove fans nuts. Five Knuckle Shuffle is doing the same. Cena is mad over. He'll continue to be pushed to the moon and it's a good thing. Stone Cold has said time and time again that they're needs to be a new superstar who should come in and "GRAB" that brass ring. Well, Cena seems to be doing that. He might not help wrestling's slump, or bring it back to the level it once was, but they used to say Brock was the "next big thing"?, well, Cena seems to be taking that statement as his own. And his rapping is NOT a gimmick. It's who he is. The volume is just turned up. You see him in the ring and it's the same guy you meet on the street. Very rarely do people have the genuine personality that works in wrestling. Cena does. WWE isn't gonna change anything with John and they shouldn't. Turn him heel so he can work with Eddie? Why do that? Turn EDDIE heel. John's more over than Eddie. Sometimes it's 50/50, but Cena is winning the popularity contest. That'd be a big mistake like turning Austin heel at wM 17 WAS. BAD FOR BUSINESS! Cena is good for business. He's the future WWE CHampion. And for those who think he can't rap... WAIT FOR HIS Album to come out and then judge. Cena has all the qualities to be the new Rock of the WWE. The charasma, the style, the confidence, flamboyance, looks (for the women). He's only 27 years old. If you think he's big now, wait 3 years from now or so. He's still learning. He'll get better in the ring. Everyone is green when they come in. If you don't like him, turn the channel. HE WILL WIN THE 2005 Royal Rumble, and win the championship at WM 21! He's taking the similar path as Brock pretty much. He's the biggest thing in the business right now, bar none. Like it or not. Watch Cena. When he comes out, the place goes nuts, and there are FAR more Cena signs than any other, he communicates with the crowd better than anyone. He's added to his character. He now gives his jersey's away which is awesome. Everyone at one time or another has had communication with the fans. There's nothing wrong with it. Rock did it, Austin did it, Hogan did it, Triple H did it, and all the great's. Cena's quest for the WWE title will begin in December 2004. Or maybe November. That might be going a bit fast like they did with Brock, but we'll see.
__________________

[Ferocious]

It really doesn't matter what you marks think. Cena is the most popular superstar in WWE today, and the future of the business. That might not mean much to you but his millions of fans sure appreciate it. i'm a proud Cena fan/mark and he's the most entertaining and exciting superstar WWE has. He may still be a bit green in the ring, but he'll improve, and he seems to go on instinct in the ring and improvise. He has the "5 moves of doom". All of which bring the crowd to their feet. Five Knuckle Shuffle might not be very impactful, but neither was the people's elbow and that drove fans nuts. Five Knuckle Shuffle is doing the same. Cena is mad over. He'll continue to be pushed to the moon and it's a good thing. Stone Cold has said time and time again that they're needs to be a new superstar who should come in and "GRAB" that brass ring. Well, Cena seems to be doing that. He might not help wrestling's slump, or bring it back to the level it once was, but they used to say Brock was the "next big thing"?, well, Cena seems to be taking that statement as his own. And his rapping is NOT a gimmick. It's who he is. The volume is just turned up. You see him in the ring and it's the same guy you meet on the street. Very rarely do people have the genuine personality that works in wrestling. Cena does. WWE isn't gonna change anything with John and they shouldn't. Turn him heel so he can work with Eddie? Why do that? Turn EDDIE heel. John's more over than Eddie. Sometimes it's 50/50, but Cena is winning the popularity contest. That'd be a big mistake like turning Austin heel at wM 17 WAS. BAD FOR BUSINESS! Cena is good for business. He's the future WWE CHampion. And for those who think he can't rap... WAIT FOR HIS Album to come out and then judge. Cena has all the qualities to be the new Rock of the WWE. The charasma, the style, the confidence, flamboyance, looks (for the women). He's only 27 years old. If you think he's big now, wait 3 years from now or so. He's still learning. He'll get better in the ring. Everyone is green when they come in. If you don't like him, turn the channel. HE WILL WIN THE 2005 Royal Rumble, and win the championship at WM 21! He's taking the similar path as Brock pretty much. He's the biggest thing in the business right now, bar none. Like it or not. Watch Cena. When he comes out, the place goes nuts, and there are FAR more Cena signs than any other, he communicates with the crowd better than anyone. He's added to his character. He now gives his jersey's away which is awesome. Everyone at one time or another has had communication with the fans. There's nothing wrong with it. Rock did it, Austin did it, Hogan did it, Triple H did it, and all the great's. Cena's quest for the WWE title will begin in December 2004. Or maybe November. That might be going a bit fast like they did with Brock, but we'll see.
__________________
I so could use that old gimmick right now.

[Goldbird]

Let me continue...


BAHGAWD YOU SPEAK PURE ASS!!!!111!!!!!

[Ferocious]

thanks man

[Goldbird]

wow, that was my first time using that gimmick, and it sure felt good!