Where would WWE be without John Cena?

Jason Todd

Where would WWE be without John Cena?

Serious question! To be totally honest, I have no strong feeling toward him either way. To me he is just... there. But, I'm also aware of the seemingly huge impact he has had on a generation of pro wrestling fans during the last 10 years.

I've come back to wrestling after a good 6-7 year absence or so and to be honest, it doesn't seem I've missed a whole lot. When I left, from what I can remember, Cena, Batista and Orton were ascending, Mysterio and Edge became world champs and then when I would pop my head back in to PW I saw people like R-Truth, Mr. Kennedy, Miz, Great Khali and Mark Henry getting pushes which did nothing for me. Then there was stupid (imo) angles like the exploitation of Eddie Guerrero's death and anything involving Hornswoggle.

Now I've gotten that little rant off my chest the one constant throughout all that time was John Cena. Am I giving him too much credit? Did he carry the company for the last ten years or so after Attitude finished?

What do ye think would have happened WWE if he hadn't been around? Would we have had the PG era? Would WWE have taken a shot on indie guys like CM Punk sooner... or never?

Lord TSC

If it wasn't Cena, it would be someone else.

Credit to Cena, he works very hard. But he doesn't make decisions about the creative direction. If they hadn't uber-pushed Cena, they would have just uber-pushed someone else, ala Hogan, Rock, Austin et al.

Jason Todd

better without Cena?

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

If it wasn't Cena, it would be someone else.

Credit to Cena, he works very hard. But he doesn't make decisions about the creative direction. If they hadn't uber-pushed Cena, they would have just uber-pushed someone else, ala Hogan, Rock, Austin et al.

That's one of the reasons I started this thread though, WHO else could they have pushed? Cena seems to have an easy sort of charm or whatever, like The Rock had back in the day, something Batista or Orton never had. Could you think of anyone else on the roster at that time who could have filled the role?

D.Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwyFABQX62A

you can never say for sure, but if i was to take a guess.

KuriousOranj

A lot less popular,and worse off ratings/merchandise revenue wise.

Can't think of anyone from around the time he began to catch on with the masses that could have filled his shoes.

gnfnrhead

Worse off.

He was the right guy, at the right time, in the right place. He has made a fortune for WWE and does everything he possibly can to help, even if its unrelated to wrestling (Make A Wish etc.).

WWE and wrestling in general would be much worse off without him.

bobby_says_hi

They would have found someone else. It's impossible to figure out who but they would have gotten someone. I mean who would have guessed back in 2003 that the rapping thug would someday be literally the top face of the company for the next eight years. Maybe Randy Orton could have become that guy if his momentum hadn't been broken in 2004. There's always going to be someone to carry it on. And when Cena eventually hangs up his boots they will find someone else

rossie1977

bobby_says_hi wrote: »

They would have found someone else. It's impossible to figure out who but they would have gotten someone.

yes but who, i think you seem to forget the people wwe pushed on top between 2002-04 such as unbeatable hhh, jbl, benoit, goldberg. none of those guys worked, kurt and eddie while great workers were never popular enough to carry the company, lesnar while a big deal with the hardcores didn't click with the majority of the fans during his first run there, orton was never that guy

to get two guys of the calibre of rock and austin at the same time is a once in a lifetime thing, to have someone like cena come along a few years later is like winning the lottery jackpot twice, cenas the ultimate company man who just happens to bring in a truckload of cash, you can try to create superstars all you want re luger, diesel but the reality is a little different, cenas push came around at exactly the right time because a few months later ufc would become huge and if wwe didn't have cena at the top this past few years i dread to think where they would be right now with ufc doing monster numbers circa 2007-10

if replacing a megastar was easy in wrestling then awa, uswa would still be in business today

Riddle101

Batista was pretty huge after he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H at Wrestlmania 21. I believe he was hotter then Cena for a fair bit too. So I think WWE would have pushed Batista as the face of WWE in Cena's absence. Today I think CM Punk would be the face. He's definetely second to Cena on WWE roster right now, and don't see who else could be in that role, and keep it fresh like him.

Jason Todd

better without Cena?

I've added a poll. The Ultmate Warrior option is a 'don't really care' option I suppose, like the Atari Jaguar thing that was big on boards a few years back. It's also an in-joke with myself... back in my primary days one of our teachers was pretty cool and would have a wrestling quiz once a week as the we were all such marks back then!! One day I was so desperate to get a question right I stuck my hand up for the answer without hearing the question (which was; what height is Hulk Hogan) and I panicked and said Ultimate Warrior!! :D:D I was laughed at for weeks after. But it didn't potentially scar me for life... oh no!

Anyway, I do think Cena has kept WWE marketable during the post-attitude era and created a whole new generation of fans which may not have happened as quickly or easily had he not been the top man.

Rjd2

rossie1977 wrote: »

yes but who, i think you seem to forget the people wwe pushed on top between 2002-04 such as unbeatable hhh, jbl, benoit, goldberg. none of those guys worked, kurt and eddie while great workers were never popular enough to carry the company, lesnar while a big deal with the hardcores didn't click with the majority of the fans during his first run there, orton was never that guy

to get two guys of the calibre of rock and austin at the same time is a once in a lifetime thing, to have someone like cena come along a few years later is like winning the lottery jackpot twice, cenas the ultimate company man who just happens to bring in a truckload of cash, you can try to create superstars all you want re luger, diesel but the reality is a little different, cenas push came around at exactly the right time because a few months later ufc would become huge and if wwe didn't have cena at the top this past few years i dread to think where they would be right now with ufc doing monster numbers circa 2007-10

if replacing a megastar was easy in wrestling then awa, uswa would still be in business today

I'd agree with all that, although I do think Jeff could have been a similar massive draw to Cena if he had not left in 2009, guy was insanely over, young and moving an insane amount of merch. That's it though, Orton has done nothing in the last few years to suggest he could be the man.

Charisteas

Ultimate Warrior

I'd agree with the guys who said if it wasn't Cena, it would be someone else, and that the company would be pretty much the same as it is today.

Rey Mysterio would have likely been the top guy from 2005 - 2010, as in the face of the company, doing the make-a-wish foundation stuff, selling all the merch etc.

Or they could have gone with Edge, just kept him a babyface from 2005 - 2010. He certainly has the same fresh faced look as Cena, and as far as I know, Adam Copeland is/was a good company guy and great with the fans (haven't heard any negative stories anyway).

As from 2010/11 onwards, no idea, but there's always someone.

takamichinoku

Ultimate Warrior

I think they'd be much the same, but whoever occupied the Cena slot (probably a rotation of guys between Batista, Rey, Edge, Jeff and a few other possibilities) ...but whoever would be in the slot instead of Cena would be a lot more hassle to deal with, Cena doesn't seem to have any life outside his position in the company.

Another prediction I'd've made in light of no solid sole top guy would have been a pretty horrific run of the Undertaker as the top guy on Raw, likely wrecking the character for this point down the line either via overworking him, reverting to a more human character or just making everyone stick of his schtick. Lord knows what the last few Manias would've been like without him as this sideshow special attraction.

Liam O

Riddle101 wrote: »

Batista was pretty huge after he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H at Wrestlmania 21. I believe he was hotter then Cena for a fair bit too. So I think WWE would have pushed Batista as the face of WWE in Cena's absence. Today I think CM Punk would be the face. He's definetely second to Cena on WWE roster right now, and don't see who else could be in that role, and keep it fresh like him.

Cena was a huge calayst in making Punk what he is today, it's hard to see him becoming nearly as popular going up against Randy Orton at MitB