JOHN CENA - WORD LIFE!

[Marc the Smark]

Okay, his gimmick works. It got him over, and that's the full purpose of any gimmick. But he hasn't been doing it for long, and it's already getting bland. Now that we've taken to him, we need to know him more. If he's going to main event, he needs to show that he's more than a gimmick. We need to know he's a wrestler (who happens to rap), not a rapper (who happens to wrestle).

Also, sometimes his ability is criticised, but he has all the basics covered. It's just the little things like timing and transitions that need improving. And these are all things that will come with time and experience. His charisma shines through in his matches, which is a really good thing. But he needs to be able to make the fans care more. Again, this would come down to his ability to tell a story in a match, something that will come with experience.

Pros: Fantastic physique- look is so important; Good verbal skills; good ring work; successful gimmick; he's now over; still young.

Cons: Can seem over-gimmicky, we must start to see more of the real john Cena before the gimmick inevitably turns stale and interest in Cena falls away... he needs to prove that he can still be over without it. It's only one con - but it's a big one!

Let me know what you think.

[The CyNick]

Actually, I think what we see is the real John Cena.

Obviously he needs to get better in the ring in order to main event, but that will come with experience.

In terms of promos, I'd like to see him steer away from rapping every promo, and cut some standard wrestling promos that drive people to buy tix (see Mick Foley's work). I wouldn't lose the rapping altogether, but I dont think he should do it in every promo.

[James Steele]

And quit looking (that damn glove) and acting liek Michael Jackson!


And get rid of that stupid "Choke On Deez Nutz" thing... it sounds like when a 12 year old tries to make fun of somebody, but is trying way way too hard.

[Shadow]

Choak on Deez Nutz! But, yeah, the rap gimmick is getting a little stale. He needs to get back to his original gimmick. "Ruthless Agression." That's what I wanna see.

[Marc the Smark]

Originally Posted by Shadow Choak on Deez Nutz! But, yeah, the rap gimmick is getting a little stale. He needs to get back to his original gimmick. "Ruthless Agression." That's what I wanna see.

Hell yeah. He's had three gimmicks during his young career (that I'm aware of): "The Prototype," "Ruthless Aggression," and "Thuganomics." He's pulled them all off with absolute perfection. And yes, I know he's still "over" with the mainstream crowd, but how much longer will this last? I want him to do well, but I'm afraid he's getting stale (like you said).

[ColdwaVer]

Originally Posted by Red Hot Scott ...sometimes his ability is criticised, but he has all the basics covered. It's just the little things like timing and transitions that need improving. And these are all things that will come with time and experience.

For these and some other reasons, WWE made a good choice by giving him the US title and not forcing him into full-time main event status.

[Marc the Smark]

Originally Posted by ColdwaVer For these and some other reasons, WWE made a good choice by giving him the US title and not forcing him into full-time main event status.

But I don't think with this gimmick he'd be able to be there anyway. It's really a shame. They've taken a decent worker and turned him into a gimmick. I think he's better than this.

[Sting Fan]

I have no problem with Cenas gimmick i think it is gold but i think what he needs is to be driven to the edge and to crack. I think they need to find someone who someone who just goes to far and he walks to the ring and there is no "Yo Yo Check It" just either a complete rage and no rhymes or a slow deliberate speech about how he is going to destroy that person. He needs to show that when it comes down to it he can be intense and then add it to his match like no 5 knuckle shuffle or you cant see me stuff just pure war and i think it could add another dimension to his charachter.

Oh and yeah the whole "Choke on these nutz" thing has to go its to childish.

[MVP]

If Cena can ditch the rapping promos and come up with a bunch of catch phrases like The Rock, and have a second finisher I think he's all set.

Cena is pretty talented in the ring, it's just that he's always booked to look like a pussy in the ring sometimes, and it pisses me off.

[PureHatred]

I agree with CyNick. The rapping should start fading away and be left for "special occassions." Just start cutting regular promos and let some of his natural charisma show through.

He could stop pumping up his shoes, though. That's full-fledged corny.

[Xero]

I dont see the current gimmick being dropped, especially with his CD coming out this summer...

That said, I wish he had debuted in the WWE as the Prototype... I remember seeing a documentry and he was new and got the job... I never saw it, but Im sure it was a kick ass gimmick...

[Kane Knight]

Cena's got the goods. He's a mad entertaining guy, he's hugely over, and he's a better wrestler than most of the people with his level of charisma (There are obvious exceptions, as I think Jericho blows his fucking ass away).

The problem is, his freestyles are getting stale, and he could use some more experience before he's put in the main event. If they don't have him cut a freestyle for every promo, as other people have said, that could be remedied fast.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by PureHatred I agree with CyNick. The rapping should start fading away and be left for "special occassions." Just start cutting regular promos and let some of his natural charisma show through. He could stop pumping up his shoes, though. That's full-fledged corny.

I'd rather see him get rid of "choke on these nuts" first.

[Rock Bottom]

I think John Cena is going to be stale, but LOL at the thought of him going back to that ruthless aggression shit.

[Wondermouse]

Cena also needs a new finisher.

He could turn his standing fireman's carry into a powerbomb. After he throws the person off, he could fall down with it. Call it the "F-U 2."

[spd10000]

Originally Posted by ColdwaVer For these and some other reasons, WWE made a good choice by giving him the US title and not forcing him into full-time main event status.

Oh I get it now. They gave him the U.S. title, in hopes that he'd magically improve and get prepared for the next level. Please, he was cool in the beginning, but the novelty's worn off. He's awful in the ring - he doesn't even do a drop kick - and the people only like him because they think he's a good rapper.

Originally Posted by Wondermouse Cena also needs a new finisher. He could turn his standing fireman's carry into a powerbomb. After he throws the person off, he could fall down with it. Call it the "F-U 2."

A modified Whiplash?

Where is Lash LeRoux these days anyway?

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by spd10000 Oh I get it now. They gave him the U.S. title, in hopes that he'd magically improve and get prepared for the next level.

Wow. Did you take Stupid Lessons to come to this conclusion or what?

[spd10000]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight Wow. Did you take Stupid Lessons to come to this conclusion or what?

It's called "sarcasm."

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by spd10000 It's called "sarcasm."

No, I got the sarcasm.

Your underlying comment was stupid.

[blake639raw]

Cena is the shit, but he has no direction right now. He's stuck feuding with Rene Dupree. Nothing against Dupree, who I really like, and think has unlimited potential, but the most over guy in the company shouldn't be feuding with somebody like Dupree. Orton just put on a classic with Foley, now Cena is feuding with Dupree? Cena needs a big time feud, ala Orton, to really establish himself.

[PureHatred]

He's on Smackdown. Who exactly is he going to have a "big time" feud with? He's probably more established as far as his charater than anyone on that roster. Booker is just turning heel, Bradshaw is in the midst of a push, Show and Angle are on the DL...so unless you turn either RVD, Eddie, Undertaker, or Cena himself, this feud with Dupree makes the most sense.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

I actually like his gimmick. But, I agree with everybody else as much of a rap fan I am I would like him to just cut a promo once in a while instead of cutting a freestyle every week

[blake639raw]

Originally Posted by PureHatred He's on Smackdown. Who exactly is he going to have a "big time" feud with? He's probably more established as far as his charater than anyone on that roster. Booker is just turning heel, Bradshaw is in the midst of a push, Show and Angle are on the DL...so unless you turn either RVD, Eddie, Undertaker, or Cena himself, this feud with Dupree makes the most sense.

I just think their feud would have been better if Dupree would have been established for a few months beforehand. You have a point about their not being any big names for him to feud with, but I think Haas would have been a better opponent before Dupree.

[Marc the Smark]

Should Cena be on RAW?

[SeanMC]

^ i think he should but the thing is that would destroy the SD! roster even further, so mayeb not at this present time. I also think one way they could stop him from getting stale is by becoming heel, that way he could refuse to do all that rapping shit(even though i like that kinda music, but his freestyles are getting stale, and they ain't even freestyles) and it would make sense. It would be cool to see him turn heel to, and plus SD! has a lack of heels, so IMO that's what they should do...

[Marc the Smark]

Originally Posted by SeanMC ^ i think he should but the thing is that would destroy the SD! roster even further, so mayeb not at this present time. I also think one way they could stop him from getting stale is by becoming heel, that way he could refuse to do all that rapping shit(even though i like that kinda music, but his freestyles are getting stale, and they ain't even freestyles) and it would make sense. It would be cool to see him turn heel to, and plus SD! has a lack of heels, so IMO that's what they should do...

But would he get the same push on RAW that he's getting on Smackdown?

[SeanMC]

Doubt it until he would be a really established heel on SD! or something, maybe he should just stay on SD! but im desperate to see an Orton/Cena feud for some reason

[Marc the Smark]

Originally Posted by SeanMC Doubt it until he would be a really established heel on SD! or something, maybe he should just stay on SD! but im desperate to see an Orton/Cena feud for some reason

Yeah, that'd be great, and I'm sure it'll happen eventually. The problem with Cena being on Monday Night Raw is that he'd probably get squashed by the man called Triple H. I wouldn't want that to happen.

[Fox]

Originally Posted by blake639raw I just think their feud would have been better if Dupree would have been established for a few months beforehand. You have a point about their not being any big names for him to feud with, but I think Haas would have been a better opponent before Dupree.

As good as Haas is, he's even less over than Rene Dupree is, and atleast Rene has a great gimmick going for him. As has been said before, Cena vs. Dupree was the best decision at this time.

[SeanMC]

Cena V Dupree seems ok i guess just to build up Cena's experience as mentioned earlier the more feuds he has the more experience he'll gain at how to tell a story through a match, there's no point in rushing him into main event status, otherwise you'll all complain he's being shoved down your throats.

[Marc the Smark]

Originally Posted by spd10000 He's awful in the ring - he doesn't even do a drop kick - and the people only like him because they think he's a good rapper.

I wouldn't say he's "awful." In fact, he's actually a decent worker, but his gimmick precludes him from showing that. Did you see his debut match against the Olympic gold medalist???

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Red Hot Scott Should Cena be on RAW?

Depends. Do you want Smackdown to be totally devoid of big and established names?

[Marc the Smark]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight Depends. Do you want Smackdown to be totally devoid of big and established names?

No, I meant, should he have been traded to Raw in exchange for someone else. (I should've been clearer.)

[Wondermouse]

Originally Posted by Funky Fly A modified Whiplash? Where is Lash LeRoux these days anyway?

Lash showed up in TNA a few weeks ago, and he's a bit larger now.




I've always been a huge Lash mark. He's not really from Louisiana, but his father was born in my - and his kayfabe - hometown, Lafayette, Louisiana. "Ragin' Cajun" is actually the local school nickname: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns.

He also draws cartoons in his spare time.

[PureHatred]

Originally Posted by Red Hot Scott No, I meant, should he have been traded to Raw in exchange for someone else. (I should've been clearer.)

Listen, you can only give out so many big pushes on one show. Between Orton and Shelton and Kane getting re-established and the Xtian/Jericho feud, where would Cena fit in? Who's going to out him over? Flair, again, as if that has any meaning any more?

The purpose of the brand extension is to have two reasonably blanced shows. Cena is a mainstay on Smackdown. The fact that they can match up Renee with someone as new as Cena and this feud is going to get Renee madly over as a heel is just sign of how popular Cena really is. He's basically doing what The Rock has done in his last few runs in the WWE: come in, get the crowd worked up, and put over the new guy to get them heat with the crowd. And because Rocky, and now Cena, are so damn popular, whether or not they actually go over doesn't matter; fans still love them.

As a matter of fact, after this Dupree thing is done, I wouldn;t be surprised if Cena was fed another midcarder like Jindrak or Haas just to get that worker over, too. And by the end of the year he'll get a big name feud against Booker T (who might be SD's biggest heel by then) or Undertaker (who if he turned, would definitely be SD's biggest heel).

Either way, outside of some minor tweaks, I don't see one damn thing wrong with the way the WWE has used John Cena--he got over ridiculously fast and now he's being given some time to establish himself while still being one of the main stars on Smackdown. With Angle out, he and Eddie are the guys that show should be built around.

[El Santo]

I'd be for Cena moving to Raw, since I'd like to see a Cena/Orton feud as well, but only if they trade for someone who is equal in status. Jericho for example. Really, does Jericho have anything on his horizons after his feud with Christian is over?

[PureHatred]

With enough build-up Cena and Orton could do Rock/Hogan numbers. Why should the WWE blow their load now when there's no real reason to?

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight I'd rather see him get rid of "choke on these nuts" first.

I agree. John Cena has really been watered down since he turned face

[Kane Knight]

The problem is, I think moving people from Show to Show kind of hampers their momentum.

some people only get/watch Raw.

Some people only get/watch Smackdown!

I mean, it's not like these guys are coming from Japan or WcW anymore, out of the blue, but they are less interesting to a lot of people than the established stars. So Raw might be a better place for Cena (or not), but we have to play musical chairs and risk killing a couple people's momentum.

Plus, I think Smackdown needs people with massive charisma. If the show is all cruiserweights and such, It'll be boring to a LOT of people. Eddie's got some real personality, and Cena does, and after that, you have to dig pretty hard to find people (Not counting Rico, because his gimmick will bury him for sure). They're great in the athetics dept, but a little lacking elsewhere.