Should John Cena be the World Heavyweight Champion?

[Mr. Nerfect]

It's been so long since the franchise player in the WWE has held gold, and despite stepping away from the title scene to allow fresh talent an opportunity to work in the main event -- Cena is still the biggest attraction the WWE has.

CM Punk has a tight grip on the WWE Championship, and he could be holding that title for quite a while yet, since his current character is pretty dependent on being the champion. Sheamus and Big Show have been having a well-structured, if somewhat less publicised feud over the World Heavyweight Title. While both Sheamus and Big Show are undoubtedly big stars for the WWE --neither is quite at the level that John Cena is. Sheamus has expressed interest in being in that position, but for the moment he remains chasing it. If it's chasing it behind the scenes, perhaps it would make for the best television if he were doing it on-air as well?

Cena is the WWE's biggest star, and while the World Heavyweight Title seems to have settled firmly into the #2 championship on the WWE's priority list, Cena winning it for only the third time in his career would almost certainly return it to a state of glory that it has not been in for quite some time. There is no doubt that John Cena is the franchise player in the WWE and any championship he holds is automatically going to be a goal on par with the WWE Championship, regardless of where the World Title match places in the duration of a show.

With the WWE now really only having the brand split for house shows, John Cena would be more available to work the Tuesday tapings, and has been involved on SmackDown more frequently as of late.

WrestleMania XXIX is approaching and John Cena defending the World Heavyweight Title in an advertised main event would be great, both for the show, and for the championship in general.

[XCaliber]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me6eo31Wrr1r4411xo1_250.gif

[DLVH84]

No.

[The Condor]

You put a lot of thought into this, and initially I thought it wasn't a good idea. However, with some thought I do see it as a decent idea but it has to be used to elevate somebody else, which Cena is in no position to do, I feel. Otherwise it is giving Cena a title which only perpetuates the feud with Punk because they will inevitably squabble over the prestige and meaning of their respective titles. The only resolution to that would seem to be a unification match, which the WWE seems reluctant to do at this juncture. Or maybe I'm putting too much thought into it myself.

[Kane Knight]

It can't be worse than what's going on now.

[Tazz Dan]

No.

Why?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Why?

Cause Dean Ambrose said nope.

[Poit]

Yeah, I think I'd like that.

[weather vane]

Yes.

[Tazz Dan]

Cause Dean Ambrose said nope.

Did I ask you asshole?? :mad:

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Tazz Dan is Cenation? :nono:

[Tazz Dan]

So you have no trouble answers the questions I haven't asked you to.... Poor form.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

They are just going to do some sort of switcheroo and let Cena use the briefcase for the WWE Championship. The Shield will either try to prevent Cena from winning the briefcase or from cashing in.

Blatantly changing the rules of the briefcase will get the Shield deeply involved with an angle with Cena cause it's wrrrrong!

[Mercenary]

Looking at the current state of WWE it couldn't hurt.

[Tommy Gunn]

I'd laugh if Ziggler cashes in on Big Show at TLC before his match with Cena, then Vince comes out and says Ziggler now has to put the WHC on the line with Cena in the ladder match. That'd make for an exciting night.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Love Cena. Him and Ziggler feuding over that belt could do wonders for it and their feud, but Sheamus and Show aren't exactly making the belt look bad.

[MoFo]

Yes, so we can moan about how Cena is champ again, doesn't need the belt and is hogging the spotlight

[Rhaps]

Was just having a similar idea, except....

Ziggler cashes in before his match with Cena and *loses*

McMahon comes out and insists that the ladder match will still take place, except instead the loser will be forced to take the number one spot in the Royal Rumble.

Ziggler puts up an epic effort against Cena and looks to have him beat, looking like a real bonafide star in the process, but loses anyway.

The Royal Rumble comes around and Ziggler enters at number one but, look who's number two! It's John Cena!

The two last throughout the Rumble match and go through being the first two entrants to being the final two men left in the ring.

Again Ziggler looks like a star but Cena goes over, heading into his WWE title match against The Rock that most of us have kinda figured will happen at Mania whilst Ziggler goes off to keep busy with, I dunno, Sheamus or something.

The big match at Mania happens and Ziggler gets involved, except instead of costing Cena the match, he purposely helps him WIN.

The next night on Raw, Ziggler comes out with a microphone:

"Cena, I almost had you beaten TWICE. The first time at TLC in December and then at the Royal Rumble I came *THIS* close to throwing you over the top rope. Because of that, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I finally beat you fair and square in the middle of the ring, but I wanted more. I always want MORE (cos I'm a baddy and stuff), and I want the WWE title TOO, so I got involved in your match with The Rock because I KNEW that there was no way you could beat him on your own, you proved that last year. So I helped you win, and now you owe me, give me a title shot and let me prove to the world once and for all that I can beat you,"

Bunch of matches happen.

-END SCENE-

[Rhaps]

On an entirely different note, they should so give somebody a pompous actor/theatre director gimmick who ends all his promos with "End Scene"

[Nicky Fives]

No more titles on Cena for a while, thank you.....

[Schlomey]

Unless it leads to a unification match at mania, no.

[Theo Dious]

If Punk had taken the title from someone other than Cena before he "left the company" it wouldn't have meant as much. There is a need for him to be champion again at some point. For now though things are good as they are.

[Savio]

I think everyone should be champion again.

[Theo Dious]

http://s3.vidimg.popscreen.com/original/20/eGN0OThqMTI=_o_friday-night-smackdown-the-great-khali-vs-dolph-ziggler.jpg

Here's someone who agrees with you.

[Theo Dious]

Unless it leads to a unification match at mania, no.

Every time I hear someone say this it sounds stupider. Do people realize that there is no Eddie Gurrerro, CM Punk, or Daniel Bryan as a world champion but for the 2 world title scenerio?

[DLVH84]

Why?

Seems to me like he doesn't need it.

[ace3025]

No. If Cena is champion we will see all the same old feuds that failed to elevate anyone in the first place. Cena v Any heel on Smackdown that jumps into the RAW title scene for no reason, punk,Ziggler, and watered down rock. With punk we at least an opportunity for an edgier rock, more ryback, more Heyman, and Im enjoying the "Vince making punks life hell" angle. While its not top notch, it has been fun to watch.
Flipping the title for the sake of flipping it does nothing but start another set of hot potato. There will come a time when a new champion is needed but it's not right now. Mania maybe.....the summerslam or MITB would be better

[bigslimjj]

Never. Ever. Again. Until he goes heel.

[GSP]

I was thinking a lot about their match and what they could do between them to finally put Ziggler in the main event where he belongs.

Have the Cena and Ziggler match last for 30ish minutes. They both can handle it and would obviously be the match of the show. Have Ziggler in his usual spots and look very strong with Cena winning.

At the Rumble have cash in the brief case beating the Show.
Ziggler enters in a really low number and win.

Months leading up to Mania have the Show fued with Cena because their last feud wasn't awful and we can't Shemmoo going heel.

Mania have Ziggler finally get one over on Cena for the title looking very Strong. Thus leading into a 3 pay-per-view fued with Ziggler winning every title match.

Survivor Series have a Cena/Ryback vs Ziggler/Punk team of 5. With it coming down to those 2 and Punk/Ziggler winning.

[Mr. Pierre]

I can see Cena winning MITB, and Ziggler takes his frustrations out on Vince. Things escalate over the weeks, and Ziggler ends up beating the crap out of Vince, enter Triple H to defend pops. You have a huge match set up for Mania with Triple H vs. Ziggler that will be fresh for HHH and puts Ziggler into the next level.

A losing effort for Ziggler after a Vince return/run in and a Pedigree would be a memorable WM moment. This route would help Ziggler's career more long term rather than the standard cheap MITB title win with a few forgettable title defenses over Orton and Sheamus.

[DLVH84]

I can see Cena winning MITB, and Ziggler takes his frustrations out on Vince. Things escalate over the weeks, and Ziggler ends up beating the crap out of Vince, enter Triple H to defend pops. You have a huge match set up for Mania with Triple H vs. Ziggler that will be fresh for HHH and puts Ziggler into the next level.

A losing effort for Ziggler after a Vince return/run in and a Pedigree would be a memorable WM moment. This route would help Ziggler's career more long term rather than the standard cheap MITB title win with a few forgettable title defenses over Orton and Sheamus.

That would be a great idea.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I can see Cena winning MITB, and Ziggler takes his frustrations out on Vince. Things escalate over the weeks, and Ziggler ends up beating the crap out of Vince, enter Triple H to defend pops. You have a huge match set up for Mania with Triple H vs. Ziggler that will be fresh for HHH and puts Ziggler into the next level.

A losing effort for Ziggler after a Vince return/run in and a Pedigree would be a memorable WM moment. This route would help Ziggler's career more long term rather than the standard cheap MITB title win with a few forgettable title defenses over Orton and Sheamus.

That is something I never thought of. When I first read rumours that there was backstage talk of bringing Ric Flair in to manage Ziggler (not sure of their accuracy), I imagined Triple H vs. Ziggler being a pretty high profile WrestleMania match to get Ziggler to that next level. Flair hasn't come in, but you still managed to get to Triple H/Ziggler, which I think is nice. :y:

I'm actually thinking the WWE might put the briefcase on Cena, not to bury Ziggler, but at this point, he's getting over without the briefcase and a cheap cash-in has been done and may not be too fulfilling for Ziggler's character. A lot of people think that Cena is "too big" for a championship, but I am not against the WWE putting the belt on their main guy at all. The Intercontinental and United States Championships are for elevation.

How's this scenario:

Cena beats Ziggler in a hard-fought Ladder Match, and then later that night cashes in on Big Show after something happens to Big Show. Maybe Orton RKOs Show to declare himself as a potential challenger or something?

The Rock announces that at the Royal Rumble, he has changed his mind about what championship he is challenging for at WrestleMania -- he wants to face John Cena again. CM Punk is offended by this notion and interferes in Cena/Rock II, helping Cena retain the WHC and setting up a WWE Title match with The Rock at WrestleMania.

Later that night, Dolph Ziggler puts in the miles and wins the 2013 Royal Rumble Match, and he announces on RAW that he plans to challenge for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania -- in an attempt to prove that he can beat John Cena and be the new franchise player in WWE.

Cena vs. Ziggler could almost be an inverse face/heel dynamic, with Cena being the cocky defending champion, who is certain he has Ziggler's number, and Ziggler being an almost plucky heel with something to prove. It'll play nicely into the split crowd you can imagine a match between the two at Mania would have.

There, Dolph manages to win the World Title after he debuts a new finishing move (perhaps the Superkick permanently) and Ziggler gets a huge celebration as his "boyhood dream" comes true. It'd be a nice reward for the hard work Ziggler has put into becoming a guy that seems like he belongs as full-time main eventer in WWE.

[Emperor Smeat]

No, Cena doesn't really need the title anymore to be in the spotlight or as a main event attraction. It would also look like a bit of a step down if he spent all these months going after the WWE title only to end up winning the lower status WHC title.

Ziggler needs the title shot more than Cena does while the Rumble is still an option and so is just randomly adding him into the WWE title match like its been done countless times before.

Best situation for him would be Rock wins the title at the Rumble and the Chamber is used to find the #1 contender for Mania due to the Rumble being won by a Smackdown star. Cena wins the RAW chamber and all the mess involving him winning a blue case or the Rock unable to be around is solved pretty easily.

[#1-norm-fan]

It would bring the credibility of the World Title to a new level. It would also make the "identity" of the titles more ambiguous. I don't know. They need to distinguish between the two rosters again so there's a reason to have two titles or just have one title and raise the IC/US titles to near main event status.

[#1-norm-fan]

No, Cena doesn't really need the title anymore to be in the spotlight or as a main event attraction.

Why do people always say "____ doesn't need the title" as opposed to thinking if maybe the title needs them?

If someone is "too big" for the title, doesn't that mean that them holding it would make the title look pretty damn prestigious? That kind of thinking is what gives you belts that look like shit.

Hogan didn't "need" the title. Austin didn't "need" the title. They made it look like something to strive for by holding it though. That's the point.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

The World Heavyweight Championship has been defended in probably the best two matches in the last two PPVs. It is doing fine.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Why do people always say "____ doesn't need the title" as opposed to thinking if maybe the title needs them?

If someone is "too big" for the title, doesn't that mean that them holding it would make the title look pretty damn prestigious? That kind of thinking is what gives you belts that look like shit.

Hogan didn't "need" the title. Austin didn't "need" the title. They made it look like something to strive for by holding it though. That's the point.

I agree with this thinking. I'm not saying that John Cena should be WWE Champion all the time, but I think it makes it look more meaningful when someone wins the title if it has been sitting on the top guys.

Right now CM Punk as WWE Champion is working fine. I can understand them keeping that title there. In fact, I would not mind it if they kept the WWE Title on him until late spring/early summer next year. With two World Titles, however, they do have the opportunity to have one title sitting on the biggest/best. The biggest is easily John Cena.

And I entirely agree with the proposition that the WWE needs to do something with the World Titles to make their separate existence still justifiable.

[Kane Knight]

Yes, so we can moan about how Cena is champ again, doesn't need the belt and is hogging the spotlight

Sounds good to me.

I think everyone should be champion again.

EVERYONE GETS ONE LAST RUN!

Never. Ever. Again. Until he goes heel.

Should Cena turn heel, I can't wait to see people suddenly discover it doesn't really do anything.


If someone is "too big" for the title, doesn't that mean that them holding it would make the title look pretty damn prestigious? That kind of thinking is what gives you belts that look like shit.

I'd say treating the belt like shit is what made it look like shit. I don't think this thinking is the cause so much as a symptom.

[Innovator]

Turning Cena doesn't solve bad writing.

[#1-norm-fan]

I'd say treating the belt like shit is what made it look like shit. I don't think this thinking is the cause so much as a symptom.

And deciding to put guys over by throwing the belt on them because "the top guy doesn't need it" is an example of treating the belt like shit. It's like if back in the day they decided Hogan was "too big" for the title so instead of actually putting it on him and making it look like you had to reach a fucking high level to hold it, they threw it on Tito Santana for a while and tried to get him to that level.

[#1-norm-fan]

Turning Cena doesn't solve bad writing.

Also, this.

You'd still have to make the character interesting.

[DAMN iNATOR]

No. Would much rather see Ziggler retain at TLC and cash in sometime between Royal Rumble ’13 and WM XXIX and have an actual title run that lasts longer than 5 days. He needs it to be built as a constant main-eventer. Right now he’s just sorta floating around the mid-upper card. Cena’s been to the top 10 times before, I say let him put DZ over at TLC.

[Rock Bottom]

I think having Cena as the WHC would actually be a great idea. I'd love him on SmackDown.

Off Raw, in other words.

I can dig some of his matches when he pushes himself, but not his mic work. Tone him down just a notch. Sick of his face. Let Ryback run Raw for a while, let both of them feud with fresh talent.

[Kane Knight]

Turning Cena doesn't solve bad writing.
Indeed.

Though in a company run by easy answers, I'm surprised they haven't tried it.

[Savio]

He brings in a lot of money the merch, they only understand the bottom line.

I am not trying to imply that I want to see him turn heel.

[Kane Knight]

He brings in a lot of money the merch, they only understand the bottom line.

I am not trying to imply that I want to see him turn heel.

They usually don't even understand that, which was sort of the point.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

I think having Cena as the WHC would actually be a great idea. I'd love him on SmackDown.

Off Raw, in other words.

I can dig some of his matches when he pushes himself, but not his mic work. Tone him down just a notch. Sick of his face. Let Ryback run Raw for a while, let both of them feud with fresh talent.

You do know there's very little brand identity anymore right? Even if he was the World Champion he'd still probably be on Raw like every week.

[bigslimjj]

Also, this.

You'd still have to make the character interesting.

I have confidence that they could turn Cena effectively and easily. If he wins the title during the heel turn it elevates the belt IMO. We haven't seen Cena as heel for years, and it would be something different with a stale played out character.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm still thinking that Cena beating Dolph would be the better overall direction for the company. Yeah, Dolph is on the verge of "breaking out," but I think he is going to do that regardless of whether he has a blue briefcase or not. In fact, losing it might give him "drive" and enough of a character evolution to seem more dangerous and less "light" in the ring.

People always talk about the Money in the Bank Winner cashing in and losing as a possibility, and I don't think that ever really made sense. But I can totally get behind someone being forced into a situation where they are forced to defend their briefcase, and then they lose it before they even get a chance to cash it in.

Ziggler, as good as he is, doesn't seem like a bigger deal than Cena right now, and I don't even think clean victorious against Cena are going to help with that. I think it's a character thing, and losing his guaranteed ticket to the big dance seems like something that could shake Dolph out of that.

[DAMN iNATOR]

I'm still thinking that Cena beating Dolph would be the better overall direction for the company. Yeah, Dolph is on the verge of "breaking out," but I think he is going to do that regardless of whether he has a blue briefcase or not. In fact, losing it might give him "drive" and enough of a character evolution to seem more dangerous and less "light" in the ring.

People always talk about the Money in the Bank Winner cashing in and losing as a possibility, and I don't think that ever really made sense. But I can totally get behind someone being forced into a situation where they are forced to defend their briefcase, and then they lose it before they even get a chance to cash it in.

Ziggler, as good as he is, doesn't seem like a bigger deal than Cena right now, and I don't even think clean victorious against Cena are going to help with that. I think it's a character thing, and losing his guaranteed ticket to the big dance seems like something that could shake Dolph out of that.

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[Mr. Pierre]

Agree with Noid 100%. Losing his MITB is unique and will help his character evolve, especially if it leads to a Vince ass kicking and a feud with Triple H.

With Cena though, I'd have him win the case and fail AGAIN when he cashes in. It'll build more sympathy for his character and also help Cena evolve, as he has never had such failure in his career. It would then obviously culminate with him finally winning the WWE championship from The Rock at Mania.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Agree with Noid 100%. Losing his MITB is unique and will help his character evolve, especially if it leads to a Vince ass kicking and a feud with Triple H.

With Cena though, I'd have him win the case and fail AGAIN when he cashes in. It'll build more sympathy for his character and also help Cena evolve, as he has never had such failure in his career. It would then obviously culminate with him finally winning the WWE championship from The Rock at Mania.

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Still think it would be “unique”?! :mad:

[Mr. Pierre]

An unadvertised match where the winner was chosen due to a sudden injury and the loser left TV. Not quite the same thing..

[DAMN iNATOR]

An unadvertised match where the winner was chosen due to a sudden injury and the loser left TV. Not quite the same thing..

It still happened. My point stands. :|

[Mr. Nerfect]

Agree with Noid 100%. Losing his MITB is unique and will help his character evolve, especially if it leads to a Vince ass kicking and a feud with Triple H.

With Cena though, I'd have him win the case and fail AGAIN when he cashes in. It'll build more sympathy for his character and also help Cena evolve, as he has never had such failure in his career. It would then obviously culminate with him finally winning the WWE championship from The Rock at Mania.

Not sure I agree with Cena failing to cash in again. Unless he announces the match ahead of time and Sheamus beats him cleanly or something.

[Mr. Pierre]

Or Show. Whatever works to build to a meaningful WWE title win for Cena at Mania. And then Ryback can beat Show at Mania in the undercard for the WHC.

[Krimzon7]

There's only one man who should be the next WHC

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcfk9xr5621qcds4qo2_r1_500.gif

[#1-norm-fan]

It would be tough to fuck this up. I feel like Zigger should come out of this looking like a million bucks regardless of the outcome.

... Should.