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

[Emperor Smeat]

Originally Posted by Noid Cena was not great by many metrics. Television ratings, PPV buys, etc. For a top babyface, he really didn't move the needle much, or however you want to express it. But they've invested so much into him now, and now he is actually great enough, that when they don't have him they are in much worse shape. It was a very co-dependent relationship that Cena is starting to outgrow. I think the biggest credit to Cena is how the company sort of restructured around him. They shifted into a PG era, and have expanded to dip their hands into all these other different pots. If it pays off for them, Cena is likely going to be remembered as the guy that held the fort during those growing pains.

Biggest problem with Cena as a mega star was WWE failing miserably to take his base and mold it into the future base for the WWE. Kids love Cena but after a few years they leave en masse because they get bored of his booking and nothing else being as interesting because of WWE's neglect. His era being really long and Vince being very stubborn on building up future mega stars till recently is another reason for the lack of a future base.

Only reason it hasn't been catastrophic for the WWE is because they always had a constantly supply of kid fans to replace those that left during Cena's era.