Does Cena NEED to win at Mania

[dablackguy]

Not to ask should he win, that's really subjective amongst each fan. Part of what Cena has said is true. If the Rock loses at Mania, he's still a movie star, still a novelty act and doesn't really lose anything in translation. I've heard a number of viewpoints on the matter and I found one of them to be very interesting albeit not where I would ideally get my wrestling opinions from:

There’s not necessarily an easy road to compromise, either. The most logical compromise would be for Rock to win, but Cena gets much of the match and is seen as having given an admirable effort. Rock shakes Cena's hand in a sign of respect, and even though Cena gets the loss, he also gets the rub. I bet that's what's attempted.

Thing is, Cena already has the rub. He’s worked with Rock, at some level, for a YEAR. Cena’s already a top guy, anyway – THE top guy in terms of WWE full-timers. Does he really need the rub? Is anyone big enough to give Cena a rub that helps more than a loss in a Mania main event hurts?

But if Cena doesn’t lose in just the right way, WWE Universe is gonna stick it up his ass FOREVER. Rock will dog him FOREVER. At that point, maybe a heel turn is forced. But who’s gonna be a top babyface? Who's gonna sell merch? There’s a lot at stake.

If this were a one shot deal, like Goldberg and Lesnar, it wouldn't matter. But its hard to justify Cena losing when he's still going to be there in 1 weeks, 1 month, etc. Really, does a loss even hurt the Rock? Most wrestling fans will still regard Rock among Hogan, Austin, Etc with Cena way below them.

So again I ask, Does Cena NEED to win?

[Rammsteinmad]

A win or a loss won't really effect either man. So instead of trying to examine the fine technicality's of what a loss will do to Cena, on the day of the event, just shut up and enjoy the PPV.

[Rammsteinmad]

No idea why my sig was included in that post.

[RVDmark]

It depends on the match and the finish, if its via interference it doesn't matter who wins as it can be made moot by either party referencing the interference. This could be used to set up a rematch at WM29, which would have the other guy win again via a dusty finish, with The Big One at 30, which Cena will undoubtably win.

The match I see right now has Cena almost winning a few times only for him to become frustrated and beat the living crap out of The Rock with a chair (or similar) to win. Cena would win, but it wouldn't hurt Rock too much as a weapon was used. This fits with Cena saying Rock would have to kill him to beat him, Cena saying he "NEEDS the win" on monday, Shawn Michaels possible tease about how you act the next night when questioned about this match, and it also fits with WWE's method of the match telling a story.

And Its about the only outcome (other than a clean pin)I can come up with that has any real meaning, and doesn't do any damage to either party.

If its a clean pin then there is no doubt in my mind that Cena will take the victory.

At the end of the fued Cena has to come out on top, without that it furthers the void between the pedestal of Rock, Hogan, and Austin. But does the fued end at wrestlemania 28?

But at the end of the day when all is said and done, its wrestling, with the right writing anyone can take a loss like this and still look a million bucks.

For me the only thing Cena NEEDS to do is carry on with the momentum his character has at the end of this. Cena has been very watchable over the past few weeks thanks to The Rock.

If he continues to be as watchable after Rock has gone, then its all good. If he goes back to poopy jokes it all been for nothing.

[JKWJRMON]

I originally thought that WWE has more to push if Cena loses, they can have Cena prove himself over and over. If the Rock loses, he loses, it's over. Now with Lesnar and Bautista maybe in the picture, we might have something where neither wins in a double DQ.

[RVDmark]

I see the logic but rule #1 is you don't end Wrestlemania on a double DQ.

[Droford]

I originally thought that WWE has more to push if Cena loses, they can have Cena prove himself over and over. If the Rock loses, he loses, it's over. Now with Lesnar and Bautista maybe in the picture, we might have something where neither wins in a double DQ.

If theres a double dq, dq, countout, or any other fucking stupid finish to this match other than a clean 1-2-3 or submission in the middle of the ring, they might have a riot on their hands.

[Fox]

I see one of two things happening:

- Cena wins after a very hard fought match with lots of false finishes, so it looks like either man could have won. They shake hands and it's a WrestleMania moment.

- Rock wins clean with the Rock Bottom after a hard fought match. Cena loses it and beats his ass bloody in the middle of the ring. WrestleMania fades to black with Cena standing over a bloodied and beaten down Rock.


I know Cena has talked about how he's not going to turn heel because of this reason and that reason, but isn't that exactly what you would say if you were preparing for the biggest heel turn in history at WrestleMania? Cena "embracing the hate" and leaving Miami's hometown boy down and out at Mania would be the way to turn him and would flip WWE on its ear for the "new season."

[legendkillerRKO]

for all the talk of being the "Company guy" that Cena is, i think the Rock is just as much a company guy. There is no doubt in my mind that if they asked Rock to job to Cena to further the business he would, just as Hogan did for him.

[Pintint]

I hope he wins, but he doesn't "need" to.

[Damian Rey]

Depends on where they want to go with Cena's character after Mania. I think there's definately some interesting angles they could run with that keep Cena interesting and help further his characer. It would be a huge change of pace, since Cena overcomes the odds more times than not. I have little doubt he goes over, and Rock has never been too big to do the job, but I think Cena losing makes the potential fallout and return to glory much more intriguing.

[FourFifty]

dablackguy? Really? Pretty sure we have at least black guy here. Your screen name is highly misleading as it insinuates that you are the only black guy here.

[Kane Knight]

A win or a loss won't really affect either man.
http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpe6w7XGSP1qle0jco1_500.jpg

[Emperor Smeat]

No but it does need a memorable moment where the crowd ends up cheering for both guys after the match is over like they did with Hogan vs Rock.

The win won't be as special as Hogan vs Rock was nor as memorable like Hogan vs Andre because Cena has been an established top star for the company for years.

[Shadrick]

for all the talk of being the "Company guy" that Cena is, i think the Rock is just as much a company guy. There is no doubt in my mind that if they asked Rock to job to Cena to further the business he would, just as Hogan did for him.

This. Rock has always been a company guy and will do whats right for business. He came back to put over Evolution, Lesnar, etc.


dablackguy? Really? Pretty sure we have at least black guy here. Your screen name is highly misleading as it insinuates that you are the only black guy here.

*raises hand*

[Rock Bottom]

I agree that The Rock has been willing to do jobs.

That being said, he won't be jobbing tonight. There is little to nothing left in the WWE for Cena without The Rock. This feud has to continue, and you're not going to continue it with a clean Cena victory. You're either turning one of them heel (good luck turning The Rock heel against Cena, especially in Miami) or Rock's getting the win. Cena winning this makes zero sense. Dumb posts/threads aside, I'm really surprised at how many people don't seem to understand this.

John Cena beating The Rock without a heel turn would be one of the worst moves the WWE could make as it stands right now, and would be a devastating blow to Cena's career on top of the company. A lot of fans are going to resent him (even more) if he wins, which is why this is the perfect time to turn Cena. If Rock were to take a victory over Cena, and then lose to him later on, you're going to get more of the "rub" effect you're after by jobbing The Rock out to Cena.

Then, there is the slightly related fact that if you serve The Rock up on a plate tonight, it isn't going to mean much if he works with anyone else. They have to knock any possibility of The Rock working a (good) program with anyone else until the heat from this thing dies down. It's not going to mean anything to anyone if The Rock loses to Cena, and comes back in 6 months to lose to somebody else. A loss tonight takes a great deal of steam out of The Rock.

One of the reasons The Rock was able to keep himself over before, win or lose, was the fact that he was a full-time wrestler, with his finger on the pulse of the crowds every single week, with great creative direction. Today, he will appear scarcely. You can't just show up, lose, come back, show up, lose, come back, and keep your image intact with the WWE. Mick Foley lost the match against Evolution. Obviously, they could have chosen to have The Rock lose that one directly to put someone over. You could have given him to anyone in that group with the exception of Ric Flair. The other two were, at the time, future main eventers.

Catchphrases and sing-along with The Rock are not going to keep him where he is today as far as the fans are concerned, especially casual fans. The Rock needs this win too. At least, I feel, the company needs The Rock to win tonight to get the most out of him in the future. Cena, on the other hand, has plenty of options. Yes, he "needs" to win, but a heel turn or winning a return match after this one is the logical thing to do.

Consider that I am not the only complete mark for the Attitude Era and that there are tons of us that would just flip the switch on the WWE if one of our precious main eventers lost to some big fish in the little pond. I am much more enthusiastic about pushing CM Punk than John Cena. I think of this less as The Rock coming back to put someone over, or pass the torch, and more of the WWE wanting to get the absolute most they can out of a star like Rock.

[XCaliber]

No he doesn't need to win yet he will continue to be shoved down our throats whether we like it or not but regardless of what happens he will never be The People's Champ.

[Mr Burns]

Excellent

[Indifferent Clox]

Hmmm.

[HellFireRider666]

I think its dumb that he lost, he is the top of the company, the top face, and they just throw him out and make him look like crap. Its BS if u ask me...

[Rock Bottom]

SOCK BOTTOM! SOCK BOTTOM!

[Rock Bottom]

ANOTHER ONE! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTEH!

[Rock Bottom]

OH... IS HE GONNA DO IT?

NOT A THIRD TIME.

SOCK BOTTOM!