What Does Lord Tensai's Victory over John Cena Mean for His Future in WWE?

Just when you think you have all the answers, Vince McMahon changes all the questions.

All apologies to Roddy Piper on that one, but it’s been over a week, and I for one am still more than a little surprised at what went down in the match between John Cena and Lord Tensai.

You know, the part where John lost the match.

It’s usually around this time when writing about John that I take a moment and kindly remind everyone that I don’t have a stake in the man’s career whatsoever, that I have nothing to gain by either hating the guy, or totally supporting him.  I merely just state my opinion on what I see, and then try to explain my point to the best of my ability.

But, truth be told, it doesn’t matter.  Fans are so passionate about him that the moment you begin the conversation, you tend to get hit from both sides.

Like, really hard.

So, some of you will either be in total agreement, or in a total rage, when I say that I still can’t believe John Cena did the job to Lord Tensai.

I brace for your applause, and/or your harsh criticism.

Let’s face it, love him or hate him, you have to admit at least two things about Cena.

One, he doesn’t lose all that much.

“SuperCena,” as the kids call him, is practically invincible.  Ten feet tall, bulletproof, and made of Adamantium.

That’s for you fan boys out there.  Holla.

The guy just cannot lose.  Well, not unless you count the first three quarters of the match, until that magical moment that he suddenly gets a second wind, hit’s the (say it with me) “five moves of doom,” and then gets the pin.

It’s the same old story, nearly every time John is in the ring.  We have all seen it, and we all know when it’s coming.

The second thing about John that is undeniable is the fact that he is all business.

It’s what makes his critics despise him even more, and causes them to wake up in a cold sweat every night.

John will do what’s right for WWE.  Every time.  Does anyone out there believe that he is the one dictating that he should win 90 percent of his matches?

Nonsense.  

Cena may be compared to Hulk Hogan, but few have ever accused him of having the same selfish desire to control every aspect of his character.

Bet I just ticked off the Hogan fans with that one, huh?  Crap.

So, when John Cena was asked to drop the pin to Lord Tensai on Raw, in an effort to further his storyline with Brock Lesnar, he did just that.  

Props to everyone’s favorite superhero.

Or, super villain, depending on which side you’re on.

So, you’re Lord Tensai, you’re undefeated, and you have a pinfall victory over WWE’s top dog.  What happens next?

Are you on the way up?  Is the WWE Championship in your immediate future?  Should we get your ring finger sized for the Hall of Fame?

Okay, now we’re just being silly.

But, I have to say that I did not see the wrestler formerly known as Prince Albert, Albert, and A-Train, beating anyone on the main--event level just yet, especially Vince McMahon’s golden boy.

It’s a big deal, one that should not be overlooked, as WWE seems to be investing quite a bit in Tensai. He is being portrayed as the company’s newest dominant monster, as he is destroying everyone in his path.

Hear that, Mark Henry?  Dude is stealing your thunder.

It’s unclear, obviously, how far this will go for LT, but so far it does appear that Vince is serious about this character, and giving him as much exposure as possible on TV.

So, is it working for you?  Is the whole "vicious Japanese warrior" gimmick impressive, or just leaving you a bit flat?

I have to say, I like it, or at least the concept of it.  Albert is a big guy, with a definite intensity, and he does have real credibility since performing in Japan over the past several years.

But, I just don’t know if the crowd is feeling it, when he’s in the ring.  The entrance is good, a little mysterious, and it really seems as though he should be knocking us out every time the bell rings.

However, it just feels like your ordinary tough guy gimmick with some theatrics thrown in for good measure.  So far, it’s just not all that impressive.

I suppose in the case of Lord Tensai, it’s a wait-and-see type of scenario.  Perhaps it’s our fault for expecting too much too soon.  Or, perhaps the fault lies with WWE, for building up talent the way they do, only to have them be less than stellar when standing in the spotlight.

We have seen it so many times over the years, with workers who just cannot get over to save their lives.  All the pieces seem to be in place, but at the end of the day, they are missing that one thing that makes them memorable, and takes them to the next level.

Is this Lord Tensai?

Either way, the guy beat John Cena in the middle of the ring on Monday Night Raw.  That has to mean something, be it big or small, the man has definitely made a statement.  Tensai may not be shooting to the stratosphere just yet, but he does seem to be headed in the right direction.

Okay, it was just one match.  It wasn't a feud, or an epic rivalry of any kind, it was a one-and-done contest, with both men moving on to the next opponent.

But, sometimes all it takes is one match to put a guy on the map.  One thing is for sure.  If you didn't know Lord Tensai's name before, you most certainly know it now.  And that is all that matters.