Backstage John Cena Update & How WWE Fooled Everyone!

[Outsiders]

When John Cena had surgery four months ago to repair his torn pectoral muscle, WWE reported that the recovery time would be 6-9 months. Recent interviews by Cena confirmed that he was still on that same recovery schedule, which made last night's return at the Royal Rumble a huge surprise.

 

When John Cena and WWE received word that he was physically cleared to wrestle, they immediately decided to keep it a secret to mislead people as to his true health status.

 

News about Cena starring in the new WWE Films project "12 Rounds" is true. What wasn't true is the time it will take to film the movie. Cena told the UK Sun newspaper last week that it would take 5 months to film. In reality, this was greatly exaggerated. WWE has applied for permits to film in New Orleans, which will take 4-6 weeks.

 

Because Cena will be filming in the United States, he'll be able to make appearances on WWE television leading up to WrestleMania.

[Card]

This was the best swerve WWE has done in years. I wish they would do this more often, im tired of always knowing the outcome because its so obvious.

[RobertDeNitro]

I agree that this was played really well. I've never thought of seeing Cena before WM. My jaws hit the floor at the 30th entry big time. However, I'm really disappointed with how RR turned out. I don't want to see Cena vs Orton on WM. I don't want to see Cena win his way all the way to WM. I don't want to see a FACE Cena again EVER!

Cena still sucks to me, and the fact that he threw HHH out of the Rumble makes me hate him even more (if that's even possible by now). Don't get me wrong, I'm not an HHH mark, I didn't want him to win the Rumble at every cost, but I just can't stand to see him beaten by Cena AGAIN!

It was sweet to hear the crowd BOOing Cena on his return, and I'm really excited to see him get BOOOd out of his boots at RAW (I haven't seen RAW yet). But sadly WWE won't realize what's going on, and they won't trun him heel. Sadly, that's the only way I could enjoy another Cena match.

[Bandalero]

I'll give the WWE credit, the whole Cena swerve was well executed and is probably where the biz is going to go in the future to counter all the "smarks". However, booking Cena to win...what was the point of that?

 

Now we find out last night that he wants Orton at next month's PPV instead of WM and Vince thinks up of an elimination chamber where the winners from these matches main event WM? Again they've bucked tradition to try to put Cena over (still to a chorous of boos - frig just turn Cena heel for crying out loud).

 

Anyways, they could have booked another finish to the rumble and keep that person to WM - be it Triple Haitch, Underweartaker, whoever else.

[khamla]

I think the fans underestimate the WWE's intelligence. They know whats going on, they know fans Hate Cena. But Cena's in a situation unlike any other superstar in WWE history and they LOVE IT! The Rock has had this happen to him too. Where he was face but people boo'ed him Rocky Sucks! There sticking with him Face and letting everyone boo him because it draws so much energy. Making him a straight heel? I'm not sure if that would work because of how much face appeal Cena already has. I think from the WWE's standpoint as long as the crowd is Rowdy that's a success! John Cena causes so much noise good and bad all combined together is why he's been so sucessfull. There actually using the hate anti Cena fans give against you guys in a sick way. Its a unique situation the WWE likes and they are going to ride it.

[Bigsexy944]

I'd be interested in seeing i the ratings were any better when Cena wasn't around before I'd back that comment up.

 

Now granted its unfair to measure because during the tenure of his absence you've had almost equally hated and equally ovverrated/overbooked Randy Ortan as champ. And even that seemed like a godsend.

 

Everyone is saying that Cena got a huge pop when he came out but to those people Id have to say if you were THERE and I WAS there, you'd see that that reaction was not a positive one. One of surprise, yes, but you're dealing with a rowdy, smart New York City crowd. They knew damn well when Cena got in there that he'd be winning and the were pissed to say the least.

 

You're right though, he get reactions but is it so much that the fans love to hate him? Lets face it the ratings are not good right now.

 

I don't like Jeff Hardy but the FANS do. Jesus just give him the belt. Jericho is over. why de push him drasticly right off the bat? Try giving the majority of the fans what they want and see what happens. When the fans started to CHEER the Rock by themselves they rode that wave and look what happened. They started to cheer Batista by themselves and I'd tell you this much, of all the force fed faces Batista still gets the best reaction. No doubt about it. the New York Crowd loved him an they booed the hell out of almost every other force fed face like Rey (which pissed me off).

 

Kids like Cena. Yes they do. I don't think its just kids buying the merch though, when I was there the majority of the people buying stuff were adults buying Save Us or Undertaker T shirts. Keep Cena booked high for that matter but don't make him a consistent champ all of the time,

 

The one good thig I see happening out of this is that I can already see Trips' power trip influence shining through, Okay Cena wins the rumble but he originally wanted a wrestlemania title shot against Ortan. So that means Cena uses his title shot at NWO and you never know, maybe loses that too while HHH will clearly win the elimination chamber. Then you have your original main event. atthe very least they will just rush to give Cena back hi stupid spinny belt and book HHH vs. Cena for WM.

[RHINOMAN]

Man, some of you guys are like broken records, always whining & crying about Cena this & Cena that. Face the fact that w/out him, the WWE is very boring. He brings pure energy every time I see him in action. That's more than I can say about 95% of RAW's roster. Can anyone here really say they look forward to watching JBL, Flair, or even DX in the ring? Not me. I use my DVR and blast past their matches...

[Crimson Twins]

I thought it was interesting that someone brought up the Rock in relation to Cena. There are some very apparent similarities between the two, and I've mentioned that before. But, one thing is true about the Rock. When the "Rocky sucks" chants began, they only kept him a face for a short while after that. Then, they hooked him up with the Nation and the rest is history. I can see (hope for) a Cena heel turn coming soon. Let him build up some more boos from the people that used to cheer for him first. Then, he'll turn heel, blame it on those same fans, and they'll hate him for it. Then, they'll get to a point where they like his antics as a heel and begin to cheer for him again. It'll be The Rock all over again. Just give it a little time.

[Bigsexy944]

No. It just won't happen like that. Not with Cena. Sorry if I sound like a prick about it I don't mean dissrespect to anyone but there is no way that people are just itching to love Cena. He appeals to the wigger kids who like hip hop and the little guys who buy into the good guy act. Thats it. He doesn't have that oozing charisma and bad assness that the Rock had. He's not uncharasmatic, but he appeals to a limited demographic. People cheer a heel like the Rock or Batista or even Edge (look at the RR if you don't believe me) because more people can identify with them and it makes them easier to live vicariously through them so to speak.

 

Is it the gimmick with Cena? yeah maybe a bit but since its more of his personality in general its not fair to blame it just on the gimmick. He seems like a decent enough guy but he's the kind of guy I could never identify with in real life so that has a lot to do with why I don't care for him.

 

Would a heel be a better fit? Maybe. I never get tired of JR or Cole screaming about how much "heart a great guy like Rey" shows but I just don't buy it with Cena. Its way too cheesy. The reason why the majority of fan don't like him I think is because of that aspect of how they book him. Not just the gimmick is the problem.

 

And yes, I love watching JBL, Flair and DX matches. I love them. Thats why i watch wrestling. most of those guys can actually wrestle (Flairs past his prime and JBL has always been a bit limited).

 

ALL of those guys, ALL of them also cut FAR better promos too. And no Cena isn't bad on the mic, but he's not quite at the level of Flair HBK or JBL. He is way better than Randy though I'll give you that.

[hamsterboy]

This was not a smart thing to do. Yeah I don't like the guy but even I don't want to see someone that injured brought back this soon. Something will go wrong and make Cena's injury worse than what it is.

[RobertDeNitro]

Without Cena the WWE is boring?!?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I don't even watch his matches. I simply fast forward them, since he's going to win anyway. With his 3 moves, I've seen a hudred times over. I don't even waste my time watching him.

There's some truth in Khamala's words. I mean WWE doesn't care if it's a pop or heat that Cena receives as long as they get the ratings they want. But if I look at my friends I see many guys turning away for WWE because they are simply tired of booing and watching Cena. Many of my friends started to watch WWE again, since Cena was injured. Now they're all rabid, and telling me they'll only watch TNA from now on.

I'm a WWE fan, I won't turn to TNA, but I still fast forward Cena's matches...

[khamla]

As far as the comparisons to the Rock. I was refering POST nation of domination. When he was already an established Icon of the WWE/F. The Rock was doing movies, he was fueding with Austin, Hogan, etc. He was full face but at times would get Rocky Sucks! Remember his short fued with RVD. IT was suppose to be ROCKY ROCKY ROCKY, or the WWE would try to convince us that, but the crowed kept saying RVD RVD RVD, ROCKY SUCKS ROCKY SUCKS. The Rock would get that a lot in his face matches but he carried it well without letting it get to him. Cena is use to it now, so thats the comparison. He's professional about it and he carries it well. For sure none of us hate Cena personally, in comparison to the Rock he is very much like him in that he gets along with the boys and he is probably the most professional champion since The Rock. He doesnt pull his politics like Austin, HHH, Hogan, Warrior, and etc did. Hate him or love him the guy causes a ruckus when he comes out, everyone in the stadium stands up and screams whether its boos or cheers. Its fun, and Vince LOVES CONTROVERSY! The hate everyone gives him IS PART OF HIS SUCCESS!

 

As far as how Cena can make his matches better, he needs to tell a story in his matches. Everyone has a set of moves. He has what 3-6? He can work with that if he paces it right. I believe his injury can help his matches in a way where the opponent targets it making it a story match where Cena is suppose to sell it and over come it. As for Cena he needs TO DO THE SAME THING! Change his offense and have him target a body area and work with it. This is why Bret Hart, Benoit, and others were so good cuz they could tell a story. Cena needs to study tape and do the same thing. He may not be technical, you dont have too. Just work on your pacing of your match and you can win more people over.

[Blackmada]

As far as how Cena can make his matches better, he needs to tell a story in his matches. Everyone has a set of moves. He has what 3-6? He can work with that if he paces it right. I believe his injury can help his matches in a way where the opponent targets it making it a story match where Cena is suppose to sell it and over come it. As for Cena he needs TO DO THE SAME THING! Change his offense and have him target a body area and work with it. This is why Bret Hart, Benoit, and others were so good cuz they could tell a story. Cena needs to study tape and do the same thing. He may not be technical, you dont have too. Just work on your pacing of your match and you can win more people over.

This sounds like what Kennedy is doing. Just this week on Raw JR mentioned how Kennedy is picking out a body part in his matches and focusing on that. You can tell his matches have improved because of it. Cena would benefit in doing that. Cena is a decent sized guy but not one of the biggest guys physically. If he could incorporate a more technical style into his power style he would be a way better wrestler.

 

I personally would like to see Cena turn heel and really give his younger fans a slap in the face to really make it work. Change his whole appearance, new attire, pull up his pants, get some boots and change his music to something edgier. Grow a beard even. Just make him Evil-Cena. I think that meaner edgier Cena would work as a heel and then change him face with that edginess but also have some of the wholesome goodness that he has now. He is a hard worker and good guy and I think he could make it work and be better off in the long run. If you look at other big faces over the last ten years, all of them had heel runs while WWE or World Champion, except RVD. Cena never really has since he became WWE champion.