Is there a small chance that Cena has done more harm than good?

[Maluco]

I will start off knowing I will get flack for a thread like this, but keep in mind it is just for a discussion. After his US run, the internet's opinion of John Cena went through the roof, and everyone knows how hard he works and that he has been the face of a company for a decade. He is solid at most aspects of the business and charismatic.

That argument has to be counterbalanced though and as well as being the face of a company in creative decline for a decade, he was forcibly pushed through fan backlash for many, many years to become firmly cemented as THE man. He had years of mind numbing a and boring feuds and matches. He wasn't chosen by fans like a Stone Cold, or even a Daniel Bryan. He was placed on top by sheer force of will. The fact that he was hardworking and talented has meant he has stayed there. But I certainly wouldn't hold him in as high a regard as guys like Hogan and Stone Cold. They were a different level in terms of popularity.

The reason, however, that I ask about the small chance of him hindering the business is his constant connections over the years to keeping others down.

Today I read a story that he decided that Baron Corbin was "not ready" for his push and that is why he isn't getting one. We heard the same about guys like Alex Riley and Ryback in the past, among others. There was the infamous story Jericho told about his literal burial of the Nexus and Wade Barrett (under chairs), then telling him and edge afterwards, "yeah, I probably shouldn't have done that". So ok, Alex Riley wasn't going to jumpstart a new era, but having a handful of established stars could have helped. A glass ceiling can be very subtle. It's easy to blame the talent for not getting over...but constant pushes and depushes will do that.

He has had a history of being on top for a decade now, and in that time, he has supposedly halted many a push and defeated many a wrestler. Rusev has bags of talent and never recovered from their feud...one more of many. Rusev has a presence, is great in the ring, can talk and is equally adept at comedy. He should be a main guy right now, but he is an afterthought potentially on the verge of release.

The fact that Cena ISN'T a Hogan or an Austin and doesn't do dambuster business, despite his obvious qualities, makes me believe that there could be an argument that he has done more damage than good to the business over his era.

We are kind to him today because he is no longer in our faces at every moment, but I just wonder how history will see John Cena, when the warts and all books start to reveal the man behind the persona.