For the first time in WWE history I will be rooting for John Cena in a WWE ring. His feud, however lack luster it has been, with The Rock comes to a peak in just four short weeks. There has been talk for years now that John Cena needs a heel run to freshen up not only his character but his attitude all together. This won’t be a fantasy booking column of a John Cena heel turn, because unlike every great baby face before him, Cena doesn’t need a heel turn, he just needs to freshen things up a bit.
John Cena is this generations Hulk Hogan. He is the face of the WWE, he is the number one baby face in the company, and always is around the main event picture. Like Hogan, Cena’s character has grown stale and in need for dire change. Hogan did so by turning on Macho Man Randy Savage, turning heel, and forming the NWO. While most wrestling fans that are Anti-Cena feel a heel turn is the only thing that can save Cena from being remembered the most annoying face in wrestling history. Hogan’s character turn may have been out of necessity for WCW to keep fans and surpass the WWE, but the WWE isn’t in the same boat. They have the money to keep Cena the most annoying face in history while still making more money for themselves and Cena, as he is the number selling SuperStar in the WWE. If, and I mean IF, Cena does turn heel someone must be willing and able to step into Cena’s role just like he did when The Rock left to become a movie star. I can argue CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler could easily slip into that role, but Cena is a natural face, and should retire a face; just like any great athlete that plays for one team should retire with that team.
WrestleMania is the grandest stage of them all, usually filled with twists and turns, is the perfect time for a character alteration for any main eventer. Yes, John Cena needs to alter his character, but no a heel turn is not what is needed. For ten years Cena has preached hustle, loyalty, and respect. Three characteristics that define a baby face and Cena used that to make his gimmick work, and worked it did; until now. John Cena will be around the WWE for the next ten years and longer unless TNA gets major backing and becomes a major player. To keep Cena strong for the foreseeable future at least some tweaking needs to happen.
A cocky, fresh, I’ve beaten you before so you aren’t really a challenge to me, John Cena is just what John Cena needs. Along with his faithful following John Cena needs to come out after he beats The Rock at WrestleMania and proclaim he is the greatest of this generation. Now that may sound like a heel turn to you, but Cena will never ‘turn’ on the fans, he will simply ask them to join his new form of hustle, loyalty, and respect. Any shape or form of a variation of Cena’s character does open the door to a heel turn because Cena’s character is so unique just like Hogan’s; there is no middle ground like Randy Orton or CM Punk.
The only question left to answer is will John Cena ever turn heel? That question can only be answered by the WWE. Do they think someone can step up into his place and do what John Cena does, grant hundreds of a make a wish, grace the cover of breakfast cereal, and most importantly do whatever is asked of him and deliver. As I mentioned above Dolph Ziggler and CM Punk could easily fill that void of a number one baby face. It’s really just up to the WWE if they really want to shake things up, or do they want to keep things just the way they are.
Until next week guys, leave a comment, tell a friend, listen to the Creatively Endeavored Pulsecast on BlogTalkRadio.com or iTunes, follow me on Twitter @CamDougharty and let’s talk rasslin!
