A Cena Heel Turn Analyzed

**Graveler** · 10-05-2010, 09:37 PM

On these forums and many other in the IWC, I have noticed a common suggestion when it comes to John Cena. This, as you know, is the idea of a heel turn. Now, I'm not a Cena mark by any means, but I don't feel that people think a decision like that through. There are a lot of potential risks that the WWE would face.

First, we have to look at the "character" of John Cena. One of the biggest criticisms that he gets is having a limited move set. Besides adding a few heel tactics(using the title as a weapon, holding the STF after the bell,etc), a heel turn won't help his move-set. Plus, what would his gimmick be now? I know that you're thinking of the "Doctor of Thuganomics" but we live in a PG rated WWE now. He would be completely limited as to the things he could say and it would come completely of left field considering it was so long ago. Plus, it would look goofy now vs during a time where Nu Metal was the craze and white boy rappers were "cool".

Second, we need to look at it from a business standpoint. If it wasn't made from his loss to Wade Barrett at Hell In a Cell, he draws the most from young kids and the ladies. So far he ranks the most in from these demographics. With a heel turn, the WWE would lose their revenue from the kid sales and revenue from the new fans who like the heel Cena I think wouldn't be enough to match the former.Now it's still my understanding that he's considered one of the better representatives of the company. Now, would you, if you were the WWE, want that guy to be hated by the fans(well the marks anyway)? Who could fill that spot right now?

Now don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind a heel turn in his future. But to think it's as simple as waving a magic wand is ridiculous. So I ask you this. If you were in charge of managing the change, when and how would you do it? Also what gimmick would you give him?

**Xero** · 10-05-2010, 09:39 PM

I've said it before, they first have to build someone up with not only the overness but the merch-pushing power of Cena. Orton is the closest one, but even he isn't on Cena-levels yet.

Without a replacement, the heel turn cannot happen. And I honestly don't feel Orton could carry it by himself.

A heel turn would freshen up Cena, but without the big face for him to go up against, it's a lost cause.

**What Would Kevin Do?** · 10-05-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xero

I've said it before, they first have to build someone up with not only the overness but the merch-pushing power of Cena. Orton is the closest one, but even he isn't on Cena-levels yet.

Without a replacement, the heel turn cannot happen. And I honestly don't feel Orton could carry it by himself.

A heel turn would freshen up Cena, but without the big face for him to go up against, it's a lost cause.

The question is, could a heel Cena push Orton to that level?

I mean, Austin was over huge, but would he have been as over without Vince?

I think what's keeping Orton from being elevated is that there's no real threat to him. People aren't going to buy Sheamus as a huge, insurmountable threat yet. No matter what they do, people aren't going to think Orton can't beat Sheamus.

The real options for him are HHH, or Cena. Both guys could play great heels, be bad ass unstoppable heels, and really get people behind Orton, because not only do they want to see Orton win, but it means something when he does.

**Tom Guycott** · 10-06-2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What Would Kevin Do?

I think what's keeping Orton from being elevated is that there's no real threat to him. People aren't going to buy Sheamus as a huge, insurmountable threat yet. No matter what they do, people aren't going to think Orton can't beat Sheamus.

That's kind of the fault of WWE themselves. They made Mr. Fiery Red Hand out to be "THE JUGGERNAUT, BITCH!!!", then, after winning the title, a chicken-shit heel who rarely defended. He lost all that momentum of injuring/retiring people on that downswing.

Now he's after the belt again, they're back to him being hungry and ruthless, but the damage of that "weakening" period has been done. Making him a legit threat to Randall can be done, but it will take another build, which will take time to do it right... time they wouldn't have needed if they kept him as a brutal bastard.

**Xero** · 10-05-2010, 09:40 PM

**The Naitch** · 10-05-2010, 09:49 PM

fuck if it all revolved around merchandise, WWE should just turn into a t-shirt company

Stone Cold still sold shirts when he turned heel. He actually had a shitload of new ones. He wore like a new one each week, and they had a different feel to them

Rock had a HIT STONG HIT IT FAST shirt, which I bought

I think Cena needs an iconic shirt, fresh off the heel turn. He doesn't need a Nexus N on it to get over. I think the older, and smarter fans will buy a Cena heel shirt. It would feel "cooler" to own one of them. They would probably look less corny too. I think alot people bought his "Word Life shirt (his very first ones, the white one with the blue trim on the neck and sleeves from 2003)

ps- I still rock my Word Life trucker hat to this day

(I know that was a babyface item, but still)

**BollywoodSingh** · 10-05-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Naitch

fuck if it all revolved around merchandise, WWE should just turn into a t-shirt company

Stone Cold still sold shirts when he turned heel. He actually had a shitload of new ones. He wore like a new one each week, and they had a different feel to them

Rock had a HIT STONG HIT IT FAST shirt, which I bought

I think Cena needs an iconic shirt, fresh off the heel turn. He doesn't need a Nexus N on it to get over. I think the older, and smarter fans will buy a Cena heel shirt. It would feel "cooler" to own one of them. They would probably look less corny too. I think alot people bought his "Word Life shirt (his very first ones, the white one with the blue trim on the neck and sleeves from 2003)

ps- I still rock my Word Life trucker hat to this day

(I know that was a babyface item, but still)

Cena isn't just a merchandise draw, he's also their biggest PPV draw in a time where buyrates are very low.

Also, you can't compare to how Austin drew when he was a heel as business was a lot better then than it is now and plus, Austin is a different level of star that Cena is.

**jskinnyg** · 10-06-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Naitch

fuck if it all revolved around merchandise, WWE should just turn into a t-shirt company

Stone Cold still sold shirts when he turned heel. He actually had a shitload of new ones. He wore like a new one each week, and they had a different feel to them

Rock had a HIT STONG HIT IT FAST shirt, which I bought

I think Cena needs an iconic shirt, fresh off the heel turn. He doesn't need a Nexus N on it to get over. I think the older, and smarter fans will buy a Cena heel shirt. It would feel "cooler" to own one of them. They would probably look less corny too. I think alot people bought his "Word Life shirt (his very first ones, the white one with the blue trim on the neck and sleeves from 2003)

ps- I still rock my Word Life trucker hat to this day

(I know that was a babyface item, but still)

I would buy a Cena heel shirt just for the proof that it actually happened... And to piss my brother off...

**DLVH84** · 10-05-2010, 10:26 PM

Orton is this generation's Austin. Why not?

**The Naitch** · 10-05-2010, 10:30 PM

Orton puts a little too much baby oil on his arms. He's trying too hard to look like a bronze statue

**FourFifty** · 10-05-2010, 10:39 PM

Can someone que up an auto start video of the price is right fail horn in NSFW or Spoiler tags? k, thx, bai.

**The Pope** · 10-07-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FourFifty

Can someone que up an auto start video of the price is right fail horn in NSFW or Spoiler tags? k, thx, bai.

SPOILER: show

**Juan** · 10-05-2010, 10:41 PM

No

**The Naitch** · 10-05-2010, 10:49 PM

really, was 2001 really that much better than today?

**XCaliber** · 10-05-2010, 10:57 PM

As big of a merch pusher Cena is he still doesn't outsell the likes of Rey Mysterio they could eventually bring him back to RAW as a result of Edge being traded to RAW if they're that hard done by.

**BollywoodSingh** · 10-06-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Naitch

really, was 2001 really that much better than today?

2001 was probably the last "hot" year for WWE in terms of domestic business. It was some time during that year where the boom ended.

**The Naitch** · 10-06-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BollywoodSingh

2001 was probably the last "hot" year for WWE in terms of domestic business. It was some time during that year where the boom ended.

People say that it was the night after WrestleMania X7? Maybe it was once the InVasion angle lost it's appeal?

**BollywoodSingh** · 10-06-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Naitch

People say that it was the night after WrestleMania X7? Maybe it was once the InVasion angle lost it's appeal?

Well I don't think it was one definitive moment or night, and definitely not the night after one of the best PPVs ever.

XL · 10-07-2010, 11:59 AM

Everyone seems to have focused on the merch side of the argument here, but I was more intrigued with this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by geodude91

First, we have to look at the "character" of John Cena. One of the biggest criticisms that he gets is having a limited move set. Besides adding a few heel tactics(using the title as a weapon, holding the STF after the bell,etc), a heel turn won't help his move-set. Plus, what would his gimmick be now? I know that you're thinking of the "Doctor of Thuganomics" but we live in a PG rated WWE now. He would be completely limited as to the things he could say and it would come completely of left field considering it was so long ago. Plus, it would look goofy now vs during a time where Nu Metal was the craze and white boy rappers were "cool".

What makes you think that he's have to revert to his "wigger" gimmick? I've heard people say he is stale, he has 5 moves, he can't sell, he should turn heel, etc but at no point have I ever heard anyone say he should go back to his old gimmick. People said he should have kept the attitude from his old gimmick after he turned face but that's an assessment of the past and so is pretty moot.

Howabout this...Cena turns heel in whatever way you like. He comes out and rounds on WWE itself. "They told me to come out here and smile. To be nice, slap hands with the fans and do poopy jokes. They dressed me like a 5 year old in jean shorts. They said "John, you onky need 5 moves, the fans love those 5 moves". So, I bit my lip and I smiled, I slapped hands, I waved, i made poopy jokes, I wore these stupid shorts...and you all booed. All of you, at some point booed me. So I say screw what they want me to do and screw what you want me to do...from now on I'm gonna do what I wanna do."

Then I'd have him not come out into the arena cos the fans "don't deserve to see him". Have him switch back to wearing trunks.

It's pretty similar to Jericho's turn - stop doing all the things the fans love you for. The equivilent of swapping the spangley tights for a business the suit.

**The Naitch** · 10-07-2010, 12:43 PM

If he can pull off a 2010 version of Dr. of Thuganomics, that would be sweet. I don't think he should go back to trunks. His shorts and attire is fine.

He should just give a big fuck you to management and the fans.

10-05-2010, 09:37 PM	#1
Graveler ROCK SMASH!!!!!! Posts: 806	A Cena Heel Turn Analyzed On these forums and many other in the IWC, I have noticed a common suggestion when it comes to John Cena. This, as you know, is the idea of a heel turn. Now, I'm not a Cena mark by any means, but I don't feel that people think a decision like that through. There are a lot of potential risks that the WWE would face. First, we have to look at the "character" of John Cena. One of the biggest criticisms that he gets is having a limited move set. Besides adding a few heel tactics(using the title as a weapon, holding the STF after the bell,etc), a heel turn won't help his move-set. Plus, what would his gimmick be now? I know that you're thinking of the "Doctor of Thuganomics" but we live in a PG rated WWE now. He would be completely limited as to the things he could say and it would come completely of left field considering it was so long ago. Plus, it would look goofy now vs during a time where Nu Metal was the craze and white boy rappers were "cool". Second, we need to look at it from a business standpoint. If it wasn't made from his loss to Wade Barrett at Hell In a Cell, he draws the most from young kids and the ladies. So far he ranks the most in from these demographics. With a heel turn, the WWE would lose their revenue from the kid sales and revenue from the new fans who like the heel Cena I think wouldn't be enough to match the former.Now it's still my understanding that he's considered one of the better representatives of the company. Now, would you, if you were the WWE, want that guy to be hated by the fans(well the marks anyway)? Who could fill that spot right now? Now don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind a heel turn in his future. But to think it's as simple as waving a magic wand is ridiculous. So I ask you this. If you were in charge of managing the change, when and how would you do it? Also what gimmick would you give him?

10-05-2010, 09:39 PM	#2
Xero He's Here Posts: 60,735	I've said it before, they first have to build someone up with not only the overness but the merch-pushing power of Cena. Orton is the closest one, but even he isn't on Cena-levels yet. Without a replacement, the heel turn cannot happen. And I honestly don't feel Orton could carry it by himself. A heel turn would freshen up Cena, but without the big face for him to go up against, it's a lost cause.

10-05-2010, 09:49 PM	#6
The Naitch RAPTURE READY. Posts: 31,936	fuck if it all revolved around merchandise, WWE should just turn into a t-shirt company Stone Cold still sold shirts when he turned heel. He actually had a shitload of new ones. He wore like a new one each week, and they had a different feel to them Rock had a HIT STONG HIT IT FAST shirt, which I bought I think Cena needs an iconic shirt, fresh off the heel turn. He doesn't need a Nexus N on it to get over. I think the older, and smarter fans will buy a Cena heel shirt. It would feel "cooler" to own one of them. They would probably look less corny too. I think alot people bought his "Word Life shirt (his very first ones, the white one with the blue trim on the neck and sleeves from 2003) ps- I still rock my Word Life trucker hat to this day (I know that was a babyface item, but still)

10-05-2010, 10:26 PM	#9
DLVH84 Samurai Rocker Posts: 2,876	Orton is this generation's Austin. Why not?

10-05-2010, 10:30 PM	#10
The Naitch RAPTURE READY. Posts: 31,936	Orton puts a little too much baby oil on his arms. He's trying too hard to look like a bronze statue

10-05-2010, 10:39 PM	#11
FourFifty As over as Crystal Pepsi Posts: 21,639	Can someone que up an auto start video of the price is right fail horn in NSFW or Spoiler tags? k, thx, bai.

10-05-2010, 10:41 PM	#13
Juan Doin' It Right Posts: 35,460	No

10-05-2010, 10:49 PM	#14
The Naitch RAPTURE READY. Posts: 31,936	really, was 2001 really that much better than today?

10-05-2010, 10:57 PM	#15
XCaliber Posts: 3,743	As big of a merch pusher Cena is he still doesn't outsell the likes of Rey Mysterio they could eventually bring him back to RAW as a result of Edge being traded to RAW if they're that hard done by.

10-07-2010, 12:43 PM	#20
The Naitch RAPTURE READY. Posts: 31,936	If he can pull off a 2010 version of Dr. of Thuganomics, that would be sweet. I don't think he should go back to trunks. His shorts and attire is fine. He should just give a big fuck you to management and the fans.