WWE: How Can Cena Freshen Up His Character Without Turning to the Dark Side?

The unexpected happened this past Sunday night at Extreme Rules.

Brock Lesnar, the Next Big Thing, was defeated after a painful "Attitude Adjustment" on a set of metal steps courtesy of yours truly, John Cena.

It seemed like a victory for the "face" of the company was out of reach as the beast clearly dominated him from the beginning.

Despite the odds, he has overcome adversity once more. To his haters, this comes as a shock. Once again he went into Super Cena mode and ruined what was to be the most triumphant return of one of the company's top characters in Lesnar.

To those who dislike the Cena character, I say his victory came with a price: He injured himself during the match. Whether for real or scripted doesn't matter, WWE writers are playing out this problem, and it looks like he is in for a heap of trouble.

At Over-The-Limit in three weeks, Captain America is going to be facing Raw and Smackdown general manager John Laurinatis in what can be seen as a going away present for the goody goody. I look at that as a great way to send him away for a little while in order to freshen his character up and heal those nagging injuries he's been holding on to.

It is a blessing in disguise.

Not only did WWE manage to keep John Cena in the light a while longer but they also delayed a possible "heel" turn that could have proven to be disastrous. No one really knows if it would have worked and what could have been said about the merchandise sales?

Should he take off for a while, other Superstars could see this as a great opportunity to move forward with their career. CM Punk is doing so well already and it would be up to The Miz, Randy Orton, Sheamus, etc. to hold the fort from now on.

No one is super human. Even a strong guy like John Cena has his limits. If he doesn't take the time to slow it down and reboot, the long term effects could wreak havoc on his body and subsequently the legacy he'd leave behind. No one needs to suffer Edge's fate, life decided it was time for Cena to take a breather.

He wouldn't have to change too much when you think about it. He can still be the goody goody, noble gentlemen, were-I-a-Sith-I'd-hunt-him-down type of character and appeal to the children everywhere.

The horrible T-shirts could be re-designed and his character could return more powerful than ever with a more vicious attitude. Call it an "Attitude Adjustment" of his own, if you will. I could certainly be made to get behind that, if done right.

Whatever chance he had to turn to villainous ways was taken away the minute Brock Lesnar returned. The WWE just needed someone you hate more than Cena and the big guy found the right words and actions to make that happen. People booed John but they boo Brock more. The heat kinda carried over.

Since there is STILL tons of hate out there for Cenation, now is a great time to have him "incapacitated" and left for dead. He will disappear for a while. People will claim they ended his career and one day, he will come back and destroy everything in his path.

Hopefully, all this will result into something huge like challenging The Undertaker and his streak at WrestleMania XXIX. Then, and ONLY then, can anyone start talking about a real "heel" turn.

No one is more awe-inspiring than The Phenom and he alone should get the honor of turning John Cena to the dark side.

Losing at WrestleMania three years in a row would certainly open up a can of darkness and rage in any man's heart.

Then again, John Cena is no ordinary man...that thought scares me a little.