John Cena is EXTREMELY OVERRATED

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

How does Cena have it? He is completely forgettable in the ring - there is nothing distinctive in his wrestling ability that makes him stand out. He *is* like Bob Holly, Test, Val Venis, Billy Gunn - totally and completely vanilla.

[Guest Coffey]

The "look" isn't anything remarkable though, just a dime-a-dozen physique (at least, a dime-a-dozen in the WWE; land of the roid).

 

I just don't see *it* in him.  I enjoy his promos but they don't make me want to pay to see the matches they promote.

We have a difference of opinion as to what the "look" is apparently. It's not just physical appearance...it's the look of a successful superstar.

 

Also: I like Sean Morley...I think he could be a breakout star as well.

[Guest GameCop]

Cena should be competing for the IC Title as opposed to the WWE Title.

Oh yeah, I forgot, the IC Title is now defunct. But wait!!!!!!!!!!!! WWE could (and should) bring the Intercontinental Title back and give Cena a long run with it, legitmizing him as a real threat.

[Guest Downhome]

Cena should be competing for the IC Title as opposed to the WWE Title.

Oh yeah, I forgot, the IC Title is now defunct. But wait!!!!!!!!!!!! WWE could (and should) bring the Intercontinental Title back and give Cena a long run with it, legitmizing him as a real threat.

I agree 100%, I wish the IC AND US title would return (one for each show), but that's a totally different topic, heh.

[Guest Burning Hammer]

Right now, Cena is probably the most entertaining character on Smackdown!. He isn't just a bland wrestler who can kick ass like Brock and Benoit he offers something for people to connect to on another level. This is something that Test, Bob Holly, Billy Gunn, Val Venis have never had. They were/are all big guys that have blond hair (except for Venis but you get the picture) and nothing else.

 

In the ring he isn't spectacular but he should get a lot better considering his age.

[Guest Mulatto Heat]

What are you talking about?

 

Test calls his fans TESTICLES! It's funny because not only is it an extension of his name, but it's also important parts of the MALE GENITALIA! That's FUNNY!

 

Bob Holly was HARDCORE! That hairstyle SCREAMED 'badass'!! He had a scale and mocked other people's weight! HILARITY!

 

Val Venis was a PORN STAR! Who hasn't wanted to be a porn star and fuck women that we would have no chance of fucking otherwise? Tell me that isn't a connection on another level!

 

and finally, Billy Gunn was MR. ASS! He loved his OWN ASS! But make no mistake, it was a TOTALLY heterosexual gimmick. Somehow that parlayed into loving WOMEN'S asses (don't ask me how). We ALL want an ass like that!

 

Yeah, this has little to nothing to do with Cena, just wanted to do a little mocking of the gimmicks that were supposed to carry mediocre yet 'charismatic' wrestlers to the promised land.

[Guest HungryJack]

Crash had the scale, yo.

[Guest JDMattitudeV1]

Cena's moveset is a little bland. Giving him the DVD as a finish is a good place to start but he needs a little more than that. He has the charisma to become a big star, no question about it but the is nothing that separates him from anyone else in the ring. But as many people have said he is young and will most likely improve.

 

I agree that a secondary title run would do Cena a world of good, as nobody buys him as being able to beat Brock, especially after that bullshit with the Undertaker on smackdown. The IC title could be put to great use on Smackdown with the likes of Matt, Rey, Cena, Rhyno etc competing for it, but we all know wHHHy that isn't around any more.

[Guest snuffbox]

How does Cena have it? He is completely forgettable in the ring - there is nothing distinctive in his wrestling ability that makes him stand out. He *is* like Bob Holly, Test, Val Venis, Billy Gunn - totally and completely vanilla.

TripleR, I dont think he has IT, the hogan/flair/austin gene...but I definitly think he could be a main eventer/draw down the line.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

It's actually a perfect comparison Mullato - those guys had gimmicks that were (relatively) successful to a point, but couldn't produce in the ring anything special so they never made it...even with the WWF Machine behind them. Even Val, who is a solid wrestler but doesn't do anything remarkable in the ring, couldn't get past the mid-card.

[Guest El Satanico]

Well amazing wrestling ability isn't needed to get a push or become a star in WWe or hell most of North American wrestling so it's really pointless to debate that aspect.

 

Besides he's not terrible in the ring, his moveset is just bland currently. I could see someone being bothered by his ring ability if he was completely awful and was hard to carry to a good match, but he's not that bad.

 

He's decent in the ring and is very carryable, has great charisma and he's entertaining. So sure he may be overrated at this point, but only in reference to his wrestling ability.

 

Also anyone who is able to make a rapper gimmick work deserves alot of credit.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

I think that in todays wrestling world you need to have something unique - outside the ring and in. John Cena has a unique gimmick, but it is purely midcard. His ring work is..shit, I've said it enough times.

[HurriShane 0]

I think Cena's decent in the ring but what gives him that superstar appeal, if you will, is his mic work and charisma. I don't know if he'll ever be a main eventer but he will defintely make a good addition to the upper midcard.

[Guest Austin3164life]

John Cena has unlimited potential. He possesses good charisma, he gets the crowd involved, he has a star's look, and he is actually very good in the ring, if you see any OVW stuff he did as Prototype. When you are booked to be squashed by Undertaker and Brock, it doesn't really make you want to do your absolute best. His inagural match against Angle was good because Angle is a worthy opponent and Cena was allowed to show some of his stuff. It wasn't all Angle. He's personally grown on me and is in my top four favorite list right now. As long as Triple H doesn't get to him, he'll soar. He reminds me of how Austin was in mid-96. Great heel, good mic skills, solid ring skills (except Austin was booked strong). I think Cena could outshine Brock if he's given the ball in due time.

[Guest THE MIGHTY THOR]

Cena has potential just like Brocky but he is not ready to main event in WWE , nothing against Cena but there are way more talented people(like RVD,Book and even Matt Hardy) that are more than ready to become a top player, just look at Lesnar, he is the wrestler with no personality and no mic skills, he's got potential in the ring but he is still nothing compared to Benoit or Angle, he might be the WWE champ but i don't see any improvements in the ratings and everybody knew that he was going to win the title at Mania but refused to buy the ppv to see Lesnar win. Don't get me wrong, in my opinion i think Brock has the tools to be a main eventer, but just like Cena he still needs time to improve instead of just being pushed down our throats.Cena and Lesnar are still very young and they have all the time in the world to learn on how to be the best.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

Cena has potential just like Brocky but he is not ready to main event in WWE

Neither was Brock when he first started in the WWE and he took the ball and went with it. And he's main event and looking good.

 

It's not a question if he deserves the ball or not, it's more of a question of if he can carry it when it is given to him. And really, the only way for any of us, WWE, or him to know is if he's given the chance to take it.

[Guest Austin3164life]

I think Cena has potential to be a more famous pro-wrestler than Brock, simply because John has much more fluid charisma and can work the crowd really well. Brock is a dominating physical presence with not a lot of charisma. Sounds like a guy we know well. I think Cena's ring skills have not been given the proper time to shine, judging on how he's been booked against most opponents (like Brock and Undertaker). I, too, think that he isn't quite ready to be thrust into the Main Event, because I am a fan of a rookie earning his way. Bret Hart, Flair, Austin, Michaels, and all the other great wrestlers earned their spots through years of development and hard work. Cena definitely has the goods, but he needs a good amount of time to perfect them. Once he does that the sky's the limit. I can see him being a top heel, then turning into a huge face in a year or two.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

I think Cena has a chance. He's rather average. Something like that would hurt him if he was in a company that has top notch booking with pushes based on merit, but this is the WWE we are talking about here. Cena is big, can work WWE style, and is a WWE product. Besides, it is not like there is that many top notch prospects left in the fed who haven't been booked like a joke over the past year or so.

 

I am not sure if the 1999 comparison fits. I could swear Test and Holly were both pet projects of Russo who were forgotten about when Russo left the company. Plus, Test was quite injury prone, and would probably compare more closely with Randy Orton than Cena. Also, guys like Venis, Holly, and the like were put on the back burner when guys like Jericho, Benoit, et al, came into the company. They were all the WWE had to work with and when the WWE had better workers, they just pushed them instead, to a point anyway.

 

Unless the WWE suddenly starts signing a bunch of top indy prospects, then I am sure Cena will probably be a main eventer at some point. Probably not a huge draw, but certainly not as bad as guys like Tatanka and Mabel. And, hey, at least it's not Nathan Jones.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

i honestly don't think Cena is overrated at all. The reason why he is being pushed the way that he is, is that he can cut a half decent promo and he is a heel(something that wrestling lacks in general). These combined by the fact that he is built like a brick S**t house and he is a OVW/WWE product and we all know that Vinnie Mac loves that. But honestly I don't think his in ring work is that bad considering the guy is almost a rookie. His punches need a little work, but that is about it.

[Guest THE MIGHTY THOR]

Cena has potential just like Brocky but he is not ready to main event in WWE

Neither was Brock when he first started in the WWE and he took the ball and went with it. And he's main event and looking good.

 

It's not a question if he deserves the ball or not, it's more of a question of if he can carry it when it is given to him. And really, the only way for any of us, WWE, or him to know is if he's given the chance to take it.

If you think Brock is doing good then that's your opinion, but according to buyrates and ratings he hasn't done anything to improve them. When Austin was the champ RAW ratings went through the roof, when Rock was the champ in 2000 ratings went to another level.I'm not saying is Brock's fault for not improving ratings, all i'm saying he still needed more time to be ready to carry the ball, the guy is a rookie just like Cena and mark my words the fans will eventually get tired of him more sooner than later.

[Guest Memoirs of an Invisible Chevy]

All I have to say is that The Rock wasn't very good when he began. That is all.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

If you think Brock is doing good then that's your opinion, but according to buyrates and ratings he hasn't done anything to improve them. When Austin was the champ RAW ratings went through the roof, when Rock was the champ in 2000 ratings went to another level.I'm not saying is Brock's fault for not improving ratings, all i'm saying he still needed more time to be ready to carry the ball, the guy is a rookie just like Cena and mark my words the fans will eventually get tired of him more sooner than later.

I meant good in-ring. God, we were talking about in-ring skills not buy rates. Where we talking about buy rates this whole time with in-ring skills meaning buy rates? Did I miss something here?

 

If we are talking about buy rates, then I doubt Cena will be able to get them now. If given time to grow then yes later on, perhaps he can.

[Guest Johnson1620]

His gimmick is pretty fuckin lame, but as far as in-ring goes he's an amazing althete. If they would only get rid of that gimmick!

[Guest Crucifixio Jones]

Also anyone who is able to make a rapper gimmick work deserves alot of credit.

 

I think that if WWE has shown us anything over the years, is that ANY gimmick can work at the right place and time given to the right worker. I don't see where "rapper" should be the exception. The only reason it hasn't worked in the past is because its been given to guys who haven't had a clue what to do with it so it came off as just a "gimmick" and phony. With Cena at least it feels legit, like he actually lives that lifestyle. He brings some authenticity and realism to it that previous owners of the gimmick didn't. It's like an extension of himself.

 

Try giving Undertaker's biker gimmick to Tajiri...it'd be comedy, much like how it was when Brian Christopher was parading around as Grandmaster Sexay...he was a fucking joke. But you give it to Calloway, after 10 years of being a "Dead Man" and it works. Why? Because people can actually buy into him as a biker, even after a decade in another gimmick. That's why Cena is successful in the gimmick and I don't think that it necessarily deserves any huge amount of praise for pulling of a "rapper gimmick" any more than pulling off any other gimmick. You just have to hand the ball to the right guy.

 

Also, Evil Rapper is fine for a midcard gimmick but not for a main eventer (at least not in these days and times) so eventually Cena's gonna have to drop it.

 

I find it funny that AustinHHH4Life's sig says "Why there is still hope" and yet contains pictures of two spinal fusion surgery victims and a guy who the jury is still out on. Better change that....it'll take more than HOPE with those three. More like LOTS of blind faith and belief in a higher power.

[HurriShane 0]

All I have to say is that The Rock wasn't very good when he began.  That is all.

But the difference is Rocky was pushed towards the IC Title whereas Cena is going towards the World Title. Also, Cena is a lot more over than the Blue Chipper was.

[Guest subliminal_animal]

John Cena will be a guy who allows his natural charisma to carry him throughout his career, rather than his in ring talent. He's not horrible, but rather, "average".

Yeah. I won't complain too much if he gets pushed, because while he may not be a great worker, he may got a lot better, and at least he has something else to fall back on (mic skills).

 

As opposed to other guys that lack mic skills or ring skills, or allegedly have good mic skills but are utter shit in the ring. For example, Jones, who supposedly is very charismatic, but I've yet to see it.

This reminded me of that time Downhome said something about how Nathan Jones has this great set of moves that get a crowd who doesn't know anything about him into the match right away. Unless that didn't happen and I dreamed it.

 

When he officially debut on Smackdown as just a up n coming wrestler, he seemed more interesting during the Ruthless Aggression stuff than him trying to rap and getting squased by Brock and Mostly by Taker.

That was all very gay. He was just a regular gay ol' babyface who got campily aggressive once in a while. And we can't forget how he was always thatclose, *slap!*

 

As for his raps, he has great lines but not-so-great rhytym.

He has good rhythm. If you're referring to why he goes to slowly, it's so people know what he's saying.

 

I personally think you almost run the threat of killing Brock's heat in a match with Cena at Backlash. If Cena gives him a good run the marks will wonder why Brock had such a tough time beating Cena while Undertaker dominated him.

Well, we need to blame the goddamn Undertaker, then.

 

And I doubt there's too many marks left to the degree where they wonder about those things.

 

And plus, Brock beat Undertaker. We'll just chalk it up to Cena's momentum and some kind of miraculous magic improvement.

 

Test calls his fans TESTICLES! It's funny because not only is it an extension of his name, but it's also important parts of the MALE GENITALIA! That's FUNNY!

The grammar mistake made your thing funny.

 

Bob Holly was HARDCORE! That hairstyle SCREAMED 'badass'!! He had a scale and mocked other people's weight! HILARITY!

That was great, though.

 

Val Venis was a PORN STAR! Who hasn't wanted to be a porn star and fuck women that we would have no chance of fucking otherwise? Tell me that isn't a connection on another level!

This one was ... blah. I had hopes for you. High ones.

 

and finally, Billy Gunn was MR. ASS! He loved his OWN ASS! But make no mistake, it was a TOTALLY heterosexual gimmick. Somehow that parlayed into loving WOMEN'S asses (don't ask me how). We ALL want an ass like that!

Remember when he started calling himself "Sweet Billy G"? And when he got mad about the "herbal ass treatment"? And the mesh ring trunks? He was good to go (not meant to be taken in a gay or homosexual context).

 

They didn't really focus on his loving of his own ass too much, it was really just a name. And I can't remember when they made liking female ass a focal point of the character. The only time I can remember that comnig up was in the theme song (so I guess to be fair, I'll grant that that means it came up fairly often).

 

I won't ask you how someone who likes his own ass can start making it known he likes women's asses, too, because that is too farfetched. What was next, WWE, space invasions? Brought upon us by space invaders? Maybe even the Space Invaders? Jeez.

[Guest notJames]

I wonder what would happen to the political environment if Steph suddenly got the hots for our young Mr. Cena...

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Tajiri and RVD. Both not pushed at all when they debuted - but mens promos were, well, non-existant; yet they got over.

 

Why?

 

Because they offered a wrestling style that the fans saw as different - that was more than kick-punch-kick-taunt-move-elbowdrop.

[Guest magell]

I think Cena is going to end up exactly like Billy Gunn. Gunn had D-X to back him up and his Ass man gimmick worked but when he was given a chance at the main event against Rock he just couldn't hack it. Partially because Gunn couldn't compete with Rock on the mic.

 

Cena is a lot like Gunn. He's got decent charisma and a decent moveset. His gimmick has him over now but it's not something that's going to last and I don't think he'll be able to hack it in the long run.

[Guest Memoirs of an Invisible Chevy]

All I have to say is that The Rock wasn't very good when he began.  That is all.

But the difference is Rocky was pushed towards the IC Title whereas Cena is going towards the World Title. Also, Cena is a lot more over than the Blue Chipper was.

I am sure Cena would be pushed to the IC title if it was still around. He is getting just as big of a push now as Rocky got in 96-97.