Those of you that weren't fans of WWE in 1998/99 won't remember The Rock's brief yet incredibly entertaining heel turn of the time. Yet history it would seem is repeating itself in the form of WWE Champion John Cena.
Back in 1998, The Rock turned heel at Survivor Series, joining forces with Vince to become the "Corporate Champion." Over the next few months The Rock feuded with the big faces; Mankind and Austin. But it was only a matter of time before he would become a face again.
Despite The Rock's unpopularity, the crowd still laughed at everything he said, joined in with his catch phrases, and most were upset with the fact the we were supposed to hate the guy! Eventually within the over crowded Corporate Ministry he was able to turn back and went on to become the companies to baby-face when Austin was injured.
Fast forward to the present day, we have John Cena, as popular as his predecessors and yet hugely unpopular with a large number of die-hard fans.
The question I am posing is a simple one: When is the right time for Cena to step up and become a heel?
All the injuries and attacks he has suffered in the last 12 months should provide enough motivation to evolve a turn in the character easily. This however would leave a huge gap in terms of baby-faces on RAW with all the others lightyears behind in popularity with Batista on the shelf.
This could be good or bad depending on which way you look at it. Should Cena turn heel, guys like CM Punk and Kofi Kingston, even John Morrison and The Miz (it's inevitable that both will be major faces at some point in their careers) could possibly step up and make some serious waves in the industry, otherwise a member of the SD roster would have to change brands to cover what would be a huge gap in the RAW roster.
The answer it would seem, is to wait, at least until Batista returns to the ring, even though the animal has a ready made program with Orton on his return it would make sense to have Cena focus on Batista, the man who broke his neck, for the change!
But that's just my opinion.
Let me know what you think, all discussion welcome!
3 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jason Crawford 6 months ago
Cena should turn heel and Orton will undoubtedly turn face at some point. Orton could hold the fort down til Batista returns. Shawn Michaels will break free from JBL soon enough and then you'll have another face headliner. Or Jericho could see the light and put his pants back on and go back to being the Ayatolla of Rock'n'Rolla.
Still not sure what the plans are for Dibiase Jr.; he could go either way depending on how the fans react to him. Thus far, he's been all heel.
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Dan Telek 5 months ago
It doesn't matter how many eight year olds or 12 year old girls stop buying his stuff it better if Cena was heel like in 2003
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Clifford Yates 5 months ago
Wow, only written 3 articles. All on wrestling and none are good!
Cena turn heel, eventually its a maybe as it is with every wrestler. It ain't rocket science!!
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