WWE: Is John Cena Being Overshadowed by CM Punk and Other Superstars?

So, what’s John Cena up to these days?

You know those columns where the writer hits you with a point of view that is totally out of left field, and try as you might, you just can’t find a way to see things from his perspective?

For you, this may be one of those columns.

But, for me, one of the most quiet Superstars in WWE right now is its biggest.  The man who is, and has been for a number of years, the face of the company — good ol’ Superman himself, the man that so many fans love to hate, John Cena.

It could be that I’m just not paying all that much attention to him right now.  Or, it could be that perhaps I don’t want to.  Maybe a little of both?

Either way, there have been moments in the past few weeks when I just don’t seem to notice John Cena.  I know he’s there, I hear the cheers and the jeers every time his music hits.  And, I know he’s still on the card; I often look up from my laptop on a busy Monday night working on Bleacher Report to see his smiling face as he cuts a promo.

But, it really feels like he’s just sort of there.  Like, blah.  Like, there he is — who cares?  There are two reasons, I suppose, that I feel this way about Cena right now.

One is Brock Lesnar.  Or should I say “Barocccckkkk Lesnarrrr!”  Love when Paul Heyman does that.

It’s amazing isn’t it, the way some fans don’t really seem to think that much of the guy, yet the minute he shows up on WWE programming again it makes all the headlines the next day?  The truth is: They can’t get enough of the Ultimate Fighting machine.  Whenever he’s on the air it’s must see TV.

His match against Triple H at SummerSlam on Sunday is still being debated as we speak.  Was it a classic, or was it a waste?  Did the right guy win, or was it very poorly booked?

No matter what you thought of the match, the fact is, you’re talking about Brock.  And that’s really all that matters.  Despite the handful of times we have seen him this year, WWE accomplishes its goal of putting him squarely in the minds of fans all over the world every time he does show up.

Fans want to see him.  No matter who he’s working — or why — fans just can’t wait to pull up a chair to the Brock Lesnar round table week in and week out.

For me, the last time I recall John Cena receiving a comparable amount of focus was when he was feuding with Brock.  Since then?  Eh.

The other reason I may not be as highly focused on Cena is thanks to CM Punk.

Just when you thought you had him figured out, along comes Raw 1000 and suddenly you don’t know him at all.

Punk’s attack on the People’s Champion was both shocking and unexpected.  The twists and turns his character has seen in the weeks since are not to be taken lightly, as everything he does is dominating the headlines for days after the fact.

He has become more and more of a focus for WWE as each day goes by.  Since his ascension up the ranks last year, many have said that in no way would CM Punk ever be able to take enough of the spotlight away from John Cena to overshadow him, or replace him as the top guy.  

But what about now?

Take it easy, people.  I’m not saying he is.  Just asking a question.

No, Punk will likely never sell as much merchandise as Cena.  And, no, he may never become the mainstream crossover star that Cena has.  As far as being the man to main-event one pay-per-view after another, despite whether he’s champ or not?  

I think we all know which guy has that distinction.

But at the end of the day, I am still left feeling as though sometimes John Cena is not the absolute main star of the show as he traditionally has been.  Every week on Raw, it seems that John has his spot, Big Show interferes, and then we’re all back to the keyboards talking about what Punk, Daniel Bryan and Brock Lesnar did.

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course.  Punk and Bryan have paid their dues, and Brock is a larger-than-life figure in the business.  They make headlines, they get the debates going and they keep fans coming back for more.  

Again, nothing wrong with that.

But, this is John Cena we’re talking about here.  The most controversial WWE Superstar of his time, the most loved — and hated — top guy, perhaps in the history of the company.  The man who has worn a target on his back for so long now that he’s no doubt used to getting shot at.

I simply cannot remember a time when we were not talking about him.  He’s been at the core of so many conversations, debates and arguments that it seems impossible he is not still monopolizing all of our attention right now.

Or, am I crazy?  Maybe it’s just that I’m in a funk when it comes to Cena and not that he has somehow taken a step back.  Maybe I’m just tired of talking about him.

No disrespect intended toward Cena; the fact is, the guy has done it all in WWE and has weathered a storm of criticism like no other Superstar the industry has ever known.  And, despite who is sharing the spotlight, John Cena is going nowhere.  He’s still Vince McMahon’s top guy, and likely will be for a very long time.  

As for me, I suppose I will snap out of it eventually.  After all, this notion that Cena is somehow fading into the background could be hollow, as he could be heading back into a program with CM Punk for the WWE Championship.  And, if he were to win, then my whole argument is moot.  

Besides, this is all just my imagination, anyway.

Right?