I don't think Cena takes enough charge of his character

[The Naitch]

Week in week out, he (probably) gets handed the script and goes along with whatever they write for him. (He could be too much of a team player/model employee)

I recall him saying in an interview that he looks at it like an actor, just going out there and doing what's asked, no questions asked. And how he cringed at some of his own merchandise, posters, whatever

Now, look at Stone Cold. Pretty sure, Austin exercises his creative control a bit more, being a bit more aggressive, not being afraid to say "no, I won't do that" and vetoing things that he thinks would make him look bad (ie. Not wanting to lose clean to Brock in 2002. Taking his ball and going home_style)

Cena is in a position to have leverage over things, but I think he could come off as a pushover, just doing what the boss/writers wants him to. As a result, he lost his edge (obviously)

In 2003, he probably had more leeway since "heel Cena" was still a fresh character testing the waters (still being experimented with), but he had that edge. Once he became a main eventer, he had to appeal to the masses, so toning him down was the only way to go

Do you think a 2011 version of "The Doctor of Thuganomics" would work today, or should we just leave it in the past and never expect to see anything close to that again?

Maybe I'm wrong. I DUNNO. fill me in

[Supreme Olajuwon]

You should write a column for TPWW.

[Nicky Fives]

Austin's environment allowed him to be much more creative (no TV restrictions) whereas Cena is very limited with what he could do or even suggest, knowing even if Vince liked the idea, they would have to consider how it would play into the ratings.....

[MoFo]

Was his rapper gimmick really that great? I dont think we need to see it again tbh.

His best stuff IMO came after that anyway, just after he moved to Raw in the draft he had that great feud with Jericho & Christian then Edge in'06.

He just needs the right guy to play off.

[Juan]

It's that darn PG rating

[Xero]

Stop looking to the past.

Even if it would work today, it requires a non-PG enviornment for it to be effective. And since that isn't possible, no. A throwback more than a one night deal or something would not fly today.

And EVEN IF it wasn't PG and he had all the freedom in the world, it wouldn't work after all he's done. He's 6 years older and the character is vastly past that stage. A regression to it wouldn't make sense unless he was heel, and that character, I think, could only work as a face at this point.

Plus, as MoFo said, realistically, his best stuff is post-rapper. It was a decent "real" gimmick, but it wouldn't fly in the main event.

A vast majority (75%+) of Cena's fan base never even saw that character anyway. They know The Marine, not the Wigger.

Also, I'm 70% sure this thread was made by you a while ago. I know it's been done recently.

[Fignuts]

I think that's the problem with almost everyone in the company.

Was watching an old wrestlemania the other day, and everyone that had an interview could talk. EVERYONE. And they clearly weren't reading scripted lines.

Sure they weren't all amazing or anything, but they were at the very least believable. That's the problem with the guys they have today. Good talkers are rare, because due to wwe's youth movement, they never had the oppertunity to develop their skills on their own. They are just thrust into the spotlight, and given a script to stutter lines off of.

[ooTin]

I believe that in the last 2 weeks, Cena has shown his true colors as well as what he is capable of. His attacks on Nexus have been pretty brutal and gotten big pops form the attending crowds. Ill be the first to say that im not a Cena fan but these last couple of weeks I have seen shades of Steve Austin. His attitude and expressions have been very forceful and deeply portrayed his emotions very well. I truly believe that we have a lot more "badass" Cena to look forward to and im excited.

[Lara Emily]

I believe that in the last 2 weeks, Cena has shown his true colors as well as what he is capable of. His attacks on Nexus have been pretty brutal and gotten big pops form the attending crowds. Ill be the first to say that im not a Cena fan but these last couple of weeks I have seen shades of Steve Austin. His attitude and expressions have been very forceful and deeply portrayed his emotions very well. I truly believe that we have a lot more "badass" Cena to look forward to and im excited.

What really shades of Stone Cold. Quoting Step Brothers and acting like a cartoon character is shades of Steve Austin?

[James Diesel]

Simple answer: The thuganomics aren't so basic anymore.

[Tommy Gunn]

Cena has been pretty good this year, the superman days of 06-07 are behind us and he's spent the last few months helping to put over a team of rookies. I can't imagine Stone Cold doing that.

[ooTin]

What really shades of Stone Cold. Quoting Step Brothers and acting like a cartoon character is shades of Steve Austin?
The calculated beat downs, the impressive amount of attitude he has been portraying, I believe WWE is trying to write him as a mild form of stone cold. And yes he has been acting like a "cartoon character", very animated and entertaining to watch..... just like stone cold was.

[Anybody Thrilla]

The Naitch, I will give you a dollar if you stop posting threads in the wrestling forum.

[Aguakate]

The difference between Austin and Cena is that when Austin started to get big, and over with the fans, it was precisely because THE FANS made him the biggest thing since Hulkamania, so Austin was in a position where he could leverage himself because since the fans made him big, and he had their backing, Vince couldn't make Austin angry, and plus, he was in the middle of the Monday Night War, so, he had to cater to Austin a bit.

Cena, on the other hand, became a star simply because the WWE gave him a push, not because the fans were like "Cena is so cool that you, WWE, have to push him".

Two different situations.

[SaskatchewanChamp]

Week in week out, he (probably) gets handed the script and goes along with whatever they write for him. (He could be too much of a team player/model employee)

I recall him saying in an interview that he looks at it like an actor, just going out there and doing what's asked, no questions asked. And how he cringed at some of his own merchandise, posters, whatever

Now, look at Stone Cold. Pretty sure, Austin exercises his creative control a bit more, being a bit more aggressive, not being afraid to say "no, I won't do that" and vetoing things that he thinks would make him look bad (ie. Not wanting to lose clean to Brock in 2002. Taking his ball and going home_style)

Cena is in a position to have leverage over things, but I think he could come off as a pushover, just doing what the boss/writers wants him to. As a result, he lost his edge (obviously)

In 2003, he probably had more leeway since "heel Cena" was still a fresh character testing the waters (still being experimented with), but he had that edge. Once he became a main eventer, he had to appeal to the masses, so toning him down was the only way to go

Do you think a 2011 version of "The Doctor of Thuganomics" would work today, or should we just leave it in the past and never expect to see anything close to that again?

Maybe I'm wrong. I DUNNO. fill me in


You are definitely wrong, and how the hell would you know what creative control Austin had? If I recall he was playing a fucking guitar singing to Mr Mcmahon, along with Kurt Angle. He was following a script just as much as Cena is. I'm sick you you people thinking they know anything about the business. Shut the hell up. Thanks.

[ooTin]

You are definitely wrong, and how the hell would you know what creative control Austin had? If I recall he was playing a fucking guitar singing to Mr Mcmahon, along with Kurt Angle. He was following a script just as much as Cena is. I'm sick you you people thinking they know anything about the business. Shut the hell up. Thanks.

Is this guy 1% serious? So tell me fella... what makes you think you know so much about the biz? There are people in here like me that are actually in the biz and know what the fuck they are talking about. So why don't you do yourself a favor and stop acting like a all knowing pencil dick and go satisfy yourself to a night in chyna.... douche

[Vastardikai]

If you're gonna insult him, go epic on it. Like...

GO FUCK A PENCIL SHARPENER!

[Ultra Mantis]

There are people in here like me that are actually in the biz and know what the fuck they are talking about

Can't wait for Clox to come in here and give us the inside scoop on what really happened in Montreal.

[ooTin]

If you're gonna insult him, go epic on it. Like...

GO FUCK A PENCIL SHARPENER!

well said sir

[Kane Knight]

Austin's environment allowed him to be much more creative (no TV restrictions) whereas Cena is very limited with what he could do or even suggest, knowing even if Vince liked the idea, they would have to consider how it would play into the ratings.....

Regardless, he could still move a lot more freely than what he has done. Even considering the merch response, ratings, and whatever.

We won't see the "Doctor of Thuganomics" in the PG era, but Cena's one of the few guys in a position to be proactive with his character, and he doesn't seem to be. It's only speculation, but I kind of wonder if the inconsistency within his own work is due to boredom with the script. Maybe not, but still.

Cena's a good example of work ethic, but one can still be a workhorse and take control of one's character some.

[Shisen Kopf]

Change his gimmick to like beaver cleaver 2k10

[Anybody Thrilla]

Is this guy 1% serious? So tell me fella... what makes you think you know so much about the biz? There are people in here like me that are actually in the biz and know what the fuck they are talking about. So why don't you do yourself a favor and stop acting like a all knowing pencil dick and go satisfy yourself to a night in chyna.... douche

I'm almost afraid to ask, but how exactly are you involved in 'the biz'?

[Fox]

Don't you know? ooTin is the secondary back-up to the back-up ring announcer for BYWF (BackYard Wrestling Federation), which is LIVE every week in Jimmy's backyard.

[Anybody Thrilla]

The difference between Austin and Cena is that when Austin started to get big, and over with the fans, it was precisely because THE FANS made him the biggest thing since Hulkamania, so Austin was in a position where he could leverage himself because since the fans made him big, and he had their backing, Vince couldn't make Austin angry, and plus, he was in the middle of the Monday Night War, so, he had to cater to Austin a bit.

Cena, on the other hand, became a star simply because the WWE gave him a push, not because the fans were like "Cena is so cool that you, WWE, have to push him".

Two different situations.

I don't know about all that. Cena was shit hot when he started getting his push.

[Damian Rey]

The difference between Austin and Cena is that when Austin started to get big, and over with the fans, it was precisely because THE FANS made him the biggest thing since Hulkamania, so Austin was in a position where he could leverage himself because since the fans made him big, and he had their backing, Vince couldn't make Austin angry, and plus, he was in the middle of the Monday Night War, so, he had to cater to Austin a bit.

Cena, on the other hand, became a star simply because the WWE gave him a push, not because the fans were like "Cena is so cool that you, WWE, have to push him".

Two different situations.

Cena was on fucking fire in 2003/early 2004. His programs with Taker and Brock put him over huge. He was getting good pops, despite being a heel and pissing all over faces with his "freestyles".

Then they turned him face, where he remained one of the more popular wrestlers on SmackDown!, was the last guy eliminated in the 05 Rumble, and then went over JBL at Mania before being drafted to Raw.

Up until the Raw draft, where everything started going downhill with the fan reactions, Cena was their hottest rising star. The fans MADE creative push him.

[sulzerdrone]

Is this guy 1% serious? So tell me fella... what makes you think you know so much about the biz? There are people in here like me that are actually in the biz and know what the fuck they are talking about. So why don't you do yourself a favor and stop acting like a all knowing pencil dick and go satisfy yourself to a night in chyna.... douche

Good god. Go find the guy that told you that you're clever and kick him in the balls for being an asshole.

Don't you know? ooTin is the secondary back-up to the back-up ring announcer for BYWF (BackYard Wrestling Federation), which is LIVE every week in Jimmy's backyard.

This. Anyone that's actually involved in the business in any capacity above towel boy, let alone old enough to have a job, wouldn't spend as much time on this forum trolling trolls as this guy... Oh. Wait... Are you Matt Hardy? :wtf:

[Aguakate]

I don't know about all that. Cena was shit hot when he started getting his push.

Yeah but it was different. John Cena was "hot" because they pushed him from the very beginnning. His first match was against Kurt Angle, and then they had him rapping to Stephanie McMahon and all that. He was pushed from the get-go.

Austin came in as "The Ringmaster". His rise to fame was slower, he had to work with jobbers, Savio Vega, and all that. The fans, in essence, made him a main eventer. The WWE saw that fans were relating and reacting to the Stone Cold character he developed in 1996, and therefore gave him more opportunities and more opportunities, Bret Hart chose to have him be his first opponent when he came back in November of 1996, etc.

[The Naitch]

Jimmy's backyard.

JamesSteele's mom makes wicked Country Time lemonade

[Indifferent Clox]

montreal screwjob was a work that didn't pan out

[SOCCER LEGS]

Is this guy 1% serious? So tell me fella... what makes you think you know so much about the biz? There are people in here like me that are actually in the biz and know what the fuck they are talking about. So why don't you do yourself a favor and stop acting like a all knowing pencil dick and go satisfy yourself to a night in chyna.... douche

are you trying to tell us that you work in the business of pro wrestling?

aren't you the guy who believed that retarded fake story about nash being revealed as the GM, and then made a thread about it?

somehow, i think you're full of shit.

[Attitude99]

Since he turned face he was horibble thats a fact, A Return Of That Thuganomics would be the best thing for cena, screw those pg fans

[dingdongyo]

i think he's in a weird spot where, in any arena, he can get the whole crowd to react, but half love him and half can't stand him. he can get a super face and super heel reaction at the same time. why would you change someone who can get that unique a reception? why not go with it until people start to care less?

[SOCCER LEGS]

cena isn't aging well IMO

[GD]

I don't care about John Cena.

[addy2hotty]

I said all this about 18 months ago and got ripped to shreds.

Cena doesn't particularly care about character direction - as long as the money rolls in.

I'd hazard a guess that the last few months TV would have been far more entertaining had Cena counted 3 for Barrett instead of Orton. And then the Orton/Cena Wrestlemania confrontation that could have come from it would have been golden.

At least Austin and The Rock tried to freshen things up by playing heels after their mega face pushes.

The guy has the gift but seemingly no balls.

[BollywoodSingh]

Now, look at Stone Cold. Pretty sure, Austin exercises his creative control a bit more, being a bit more aggressive, not being afraid to say "no, I won't do that" and vetoing things that he thinks would make him look bad (ie. Not wanting to lose clean to Brock in 2002. Taking his ball and going home_style)
fill me in

I'm not saying Austin didn't use his stroke to not put over guys sometimes, but if you're gonna bring up that point, then him refusing to lose to Lesnar is a terrible example. It wasn't like Austin was refusing to put over an upcoming star here. It was more a case of a money match being thrown away. The plan was for Lesnar (2-3 months into his WWE career and groomed to be the top guy in the company) to beat Austin on an episode of Raw with no prior build up whatsoever. Austin-Lesnar should have been main eventing a huge PPV, not being put on free TV. That match shouldn't have happened that night, no matter who was to go over.

[Juan]

I said all this about 18 months ago and got ripped to shreds.

Cena doesn't particularly care about character direction - as long as the money rolls in.

I'd hazard a guess that the last few months TV would have been far more entertaining had Cena counted 3 for Barrett instead of Orton. And then the Orton/Cena Wrestlemania confrontation that could have come from it would have been golden.

At least Austin and The Rock tried to freshen things up by playing heels after their mega face pushes.

The guy has the gift but seemingly no balls.

lol

[Loose Cannon]

you gotta laugh

[MoFo]

Cant believe ppl are still campaining for rapper Cena back

[Brigstocke]

I can't believe there are people in the IWC who are talking about Cena at all.

[addy2hotty]

lol

lolz