Cena: The Wrestler.

[Xero]

Now, I understand why most people hate Cena, his gimmick. But let's take the gimmick and his super push away and look at his wrestling, which is something I hear people bash time and time again (myself included, admittedly, but out of parody).

When I look at his wrestling, I do not see much of a difference between him and someone like Rock and Austin (in his Attitude prime). He pulls out decent matches when he's wrestling in a brawler style (Umaga/Cena from the Rumble) and is very comparable to Austin in style.

My question is, why do the people who think it think his wrestling sucks when there have been main eventers who did less than him in his past and some of the biggest names in the industry (Hogan, Austin, Rock) did about the same or even less?

And before anyone points it out, yes, Austin WAS a good wrestler, but he got over on his brawling and THAT'S what I'm comparing Cena to, not from before the Stone Cold gimmick/style.

[Rammsteinmad]

I agree. Like everyone else I'm sick of the super push etc, but I've always said Cena can deliver in the ring. Especially in gimmick matches where brawling comes in handy.

Last Man Standing matches, Elimination Chambers etc... he can deliver. Also I was watching the Silvervision Edge VS Cena DVD yesterday, and I gotta say Cena does throw some awesome punches.

And despite no-selling his leg at Wrestlemania, I think he can be good at selling. Whenever there is a high impact move (chokeslam, Khalis Choke Drop etc) he can really hit hard and sell the impact.

I like Cena. He will just never be my favourite wrestler. (and the push :nono: )

[Rammsteinmad]

Plus his strength can still give us some "holy shit" moments. His FU on the Big Show, if he could do one of Khali... his FU off the steps through the table on Edge.

[Kane Knight]

Cena has the main event moveset. About five moves, and pputs on solid, if unspectacular matches.

What makes Austin or the Rock Awesome in their matches is generally the vibe they create, and that comes back to three things that suck on Cena: Crowd Reaction, Charisma, and "taunts." Sorry for the last one, I couldn't think of a word which worked, beyond the one used generically in wrestling games.

The three are tied together, and a guy who's getting booed can't create the same electricity as a babyface that Rocky or Hogan did. When you're getting "controversial" responses, when people don't jump for the non-wrestling move portions of your matches, when you can't build the crowd up to a frenzy, your matches are lackluster.

A five star match doesn't necessarily mean a technical masterpiece, and even if Cena was a better wrestler than the Rock (Which hje probably is), his matches wouldn't be looked upon as well.

[Nark Order]

I feel a bit bad for Cena sometimes because you're right, he isn't too far off from the style of almost every main eventer in history. Has about 5 solid moves that are done every match that gets him the victory. I just honestly think that in this particular time in wrestling, we just can't tolerate the same 90's era main event mentality anymore. It's just getting boring to us all now. The storylines are recycled (Austin/McMahon, Cena/Bischoff, Lashley, McMahon), mic skills in the main event are especially limited in WWE at the moment (Lashley, Batista, Mark Henry) and the main thing is that there isn't any alternative (Unless you count TNA, which many don't). I've always said that if Cena's push had happened during the attitude era then he would, in my opinion, be one of the biggest draws in history.

They are following a stale, basic equation to hurdle guys into the main event and it just can't work anymore the way the business is today. I was about to say "due to the evolution of the business", but I couldn't really say that with a clear conscience because the business has no way evolved in the past couple years. I use Cena as a prime example of this, not due to his talent, not due to his moveset, but due to the state that the business is in right now.

[chrisat928]

Anyone remember Prototype?
I remember 5 or 6 years ago people raving over this guy, people saying he should be in WWE, making the big money.
Well he's there now, the champ, and WWE is handicapping his abilities, because they want to turn him into the next Austin.
And the bullshit people spout about his limited move set, which goes for about 99% of pro-wrestlers today, drives me nuts.

[Rammsteinmad]

Slightly off-topic, but something that bothers me about matches these days...

I remember about a year ago somebody made a post saying how wrestling in it's prime was awesome (especially ECW fueds) because wrestlers were always learning counteres.

Week One: RVD Counters Jerry Lynn's move with Move 1.
Week Two: Jerry Lynn counters RVD's move with Move 2.
Week Three: RVD goes for Move 1, Lynn counters with Move 2, RVD counters with Move 3. Etc.

The order of Cena's second wind moves goes: 2 clotheslines, 2 shoulder tackles, weird-spinning-powerbomb thing, 5 knuckle shuffle...

Despite doing this every week, after the 2 clotheslines and shoulder tackles why does everyone go for a haymaker which Cena ducks and hits his powerbomb? Surely someone (in kayfabe) should have picked up on this by now...

Anyhow it just bothers me because Cena does this in EVERY match yet nobody seems to pick up on it.

[Kane Knight]

Slightly off-topic, but something that bothers me about matches these days...

I remember about a year ago somebody made a post saying how wrestling in it's prime was awesome (especially ECW fueds) because wrestlers were always learning counteres.

Week One: RVD Counters Jerry Lynn's move with Move 1.
Week Two: Jerry Lynn counters RVD's move with Move 2.
Week Three: RVD goes for Move 1, Lynn counters with Move 2, RVD counters with Move 3. Etc.

The order of Cena's second wind moves goes: 2 clotheslines, 2 shoulder tackles, weird-spinning-powerbomb thing, 5 knuckle shuffle...

Despite doing this every week, after the 2 clotheslines and shoulder tackles why does everyone go for a haymaker which Cena ducks and hits his powerbomb? Surely someone (in kayfabe) should have picked up on this by now...

Anyhow it just bothers me because Cena does this in EVERY match yet nobody seems to pick up on it.Yeah, and that's the problem. They're forcing Cena.

[McLegend]

Woah now Cena is not a better wrestler then the Rock.

I don't even think Cena is that bad, but he is no where near the Rock when it comes to in ring ability.

[Xero]

Woah now Cena is not a better wrestler then the Rock.

I don't even think Cena is that bad, but he is no where near the Rock when it comes to in ring ability.
Let's see...

Punch, big running clothesline, Spinebuster, People's Elbow, Rock Bottom and later Sharpshooter.

As far as primary movesets goes, they're pretty similar. Rock was the superior showman, no doubt, but as far as straight wrestling goes, they're about even.

As far as I'm concerned, and I do love Rock, from the big four players in the past 20 years, he's just above Hogan in match ability in his prime.

(Austin, Cena, Rock, Hogan BTW)

[McLegend]

C'mon now wrestling is more then about movesets.

It's more about bumping and being able to on great matches with different people who have different styles, and the Rock could do that better then a lot of people.

Watching the Rock wrestle is a beautiful thing.

[Rob]

Now, I understand why most people hate Cena, his gimmick. But let's take the gimmick and his super push away and look at his wrestling, which is something I hear people bash time and time again (myself included, admittedly, but out of parody).

When I look at his wrestling, I do not see much of a difference between him and someone like Rock and Austin (in his Attitude prime). He pulls out decent matches when he's wrestling in a brawler style (Umaga/Cena from the Rumble) and is very comparable to Austin in style.

My question is, why do the people who think it think his wrestling sucks when there have been main eventers who did less than him in his past and some of the biggest names in the industry (Hogan, Austin, Rock) did about the same or even less?

And before anyone points it out, yes, Austin WAS a good wrestler, but he got over on his brawling and THAT'S what I'm comparing Cena to, not from before the Stone Cold gimmick/style.

I think Cena is extremely underrated as a wrestler within the IWC.

However, you must be high as a motherfucker if you are even thinking of putting him in the same league as Steve Austin or The Rock as a worker.

[Kane Knight]

Woah now Cena is not a better wrestler then the Rock.

I don't even think Cena is that bad, but he is no where near the Rock when it comes to in ring ability.

In Ring Ability, no, but I think I made it VERY clear I was addressing things other than Charisma by separately addressing them. I'm talking about wrestling skills here, and Cena showed off great wrestling skills.

[McLegend]

Alright fine if you want to call wrestling skills, but still Cena is no where near the Rock.

I like Cena's matches to and think he is a fine wrestler, but still not in the Rock's league.

[The One]

From an execution and technical stand point, Cena is actually one of the better Main Eventers of the past decade or so. Remember that for every HHH or Jericho we've had as Champion, we've also had a Hulk Hogan or Bobby Lashley champion. Truthfully, Cena isn't that bad.

His gimmick is annoying, but you know what, that's just kind of entertaining in it's own right to see how the crowd chews into him. What makes Cena a terrible wrestler is that it's completely crossed the line from novel to "get it off my screen." Cena's push is honestly the worst thing about him, not his "ability." I mean truthfully, Cena is kind of middle of the road as far as in ring work goes, and on the mic he is certainly in the better 50% of former MEs. FU and STFU are the two most powerful moves in WWE right now as far as matches they've ended or who's tapped to it. That's insane.

[Rob]

In Ring Ability, no, but I think I made it VERY clear I was addressing things other than Charisma by separately addressing them. I'm talking about wrestling skills here, and Cena showed off great wrestling skills.

We are addressing that too. I'd dread watching Cena agasint Big Show or Kane or Batista. I'd watch Austin and Rocky against anyone in the world all night long.

[Kane Knight]

Right. and I'm sure thathas to do with the Rock's mad technical skills.