Rusev Should Be John Cena's WrestleMania Opponent

As WWE gears up for WrestleMania 31, a large question mark hangs over just which wrestler John Cena will face at the Santa Clara show. Ideally, the bookers will realize that rising heel Rusev is the best possible choice of foe.

Granted, some fans might prefer a bigger star like Sting or Hulk Hogan to be Cena’s opponent. Look beyond the mere cheap thrill of a “big-time match,” though, and WWE writers electing to go with Rusev as a challenger has many more advantages.

For one thing, there is every chance that Rusev and Cena can deliver a sterling showing at the pay-per-view.

Credit: WWE.com

Rusev is improving all the time—he’s come a long way since he debuted at January’s Royal Rumble. Meanwhile, Cena remains as solid in the-ring as ever, despite his various injuries and physical issues over the years. They could easily churn out something very special.

Contrast this with Cena vs. Sting or Cena vs. Hogan at WrestleMania, where the in-ring action would probably be awful. Both Hogan and Sting are too old to produce good matches anymore, and it’s almost certainly beyond even Cena’s abilities to carry them to anything decent.

Booking Cena vs. Rusev would also help the company in the long term. 

Credit: WWE.com

Despite a cliched and rather one-dimensional gimmick, Rusev and his beautiful, conniving manager, Lana, have emerged as one of the best heel acts in the company. The duo are almost certainly deserving of a promotion to WWE’s main event scene.

Facing Cena at WrestleMania would be a big step on the way to that.

It’s also been hinted at in the storylines, as Rusev and Lana recently clashed with Hogan on television.

Cena stepping in to defend Hogan's honor, as well as America's honor, seems the next natural development here.

Hogan even predicted the match on his Twitter last month when Rusev won the United States Championship:

Rusev would, of course, have to emerge victorious from the Santa Clara event. Anything else would be horrendously bad booking.

WWE scripted newcomer Bray Wyatt to lose clean to Cena at WrestleMania earlier this year—and Wyatt’s career never truly recovered.

Rusev-Cena is only worth doing if WWE bookers are prepared to lighten up and not be as protective of the 12 Rounds actor as they have been. A loss could greatly damage Rusev—possibly irrevocably.  

Considering his immense potential, this would be a grievous error on WWE’s part.

With Cena and Randy Orton getting older, Triple H stepping out of the ring to focus on running the company and The Undertaker’s future undetermined, Vince McMahon doesn’t have a whole lot of options.

It’s time to let newer stars shine.

Cena taking on the former NXT star at WrestleMania 31 has the makings of a great match and a fun, new program—provided it ends with Rusev going over.