John Cena's Feud with Bray Wyatt Has Elevated Both Stars

The John Cena and Bray Wyatt feud is a case of an established star and an emerging talent benefiting from their battles.

For Wyatt, the rivalry is a spotlight illuminating a monster's fangs. For Cena, it forces a hero to question himself, to grow after years of stagnancy. 

The best WWE feuds are the ones that leave both combatants bigger stars afterward. It's hard to imagine Cena being a bigger name than he already is, but working against Wyatt has led to his most interesting stretch in recent memory. It's providing him with the ideal antagonist, the Lex Luthor to his Superman.

For many fans and writers, the focus of this feud has been how it will shoot Wyatt up to headlining status. 

The rivalry is a chance for him to become the man by beating the man. It offers him pay-per-view matches, weekly hype and the precious prize of a victory over Cena within reach.

Regardless of who emerges with the official win at Extreme Rules, their feud will have bettered both men.

A Change in the Hero

It may be a long time before Cena is in the WWE title picture again. Daniel Bryan is battling Kane at Extreme Rules, the members of Evolution still hate the champ and he may be facing "The Beast Incarnate" this summer.

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, via Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc, "There's been speculation that he may challenge Daniel Bryan for the WWE World Heavyweight Title."

That hasn't mattered for Cena, though. The story of him clashing with The Wyatt Family has kept him on center stage. Their WrestleMania bout was one of the most hyped of the event. The same appears to be true for their steel cage match at Extreme Rules.

On the April 21 Raw, Cena faced Wyatt and his "brothers" in the main event, no championship necessary.

He has continued to be a major focus of WWE programming, thanks in large part to the compelling nature of his story. Were he tangling with Big Show in a standard feud or revisiting his bad blood with Alberto Del Rio, fans wouldn't be as engaged as they are right now.

The juxtaposition of WWE's Boy Scout and "The Eater of Worlds" is one of Cena's most interesting battles in years.

It is allowing his character to evolve, something that hasn't happened nearly enough. Since ditching the "Doctor of Thuganomics" gimmick, Cena has mostly been the same version of himself. The clean-cut, wish-granting, military-saluting good guy is certainly marketable, but it's become a tiresome act.

While other Superstars have tweaked and refined their roles, character development for Cena has been limited to changing the color of his wristbands.

Facing Wyatt has changed that. The false prophet has claimed that there is a monster inside of Cena. He promises to coax it out of him.

At WrestleMania 30, Cena struggled with his dark side taking over. He was tempted to attack Wyatt with a steel chair, but eventually resisted.

Credit: WWE.com

That struggle is a compelling shift for Cena, a man who has been unrealistically confident. The story is powered by suspense as fans watch on to see if Cena will transform into something darker. Even Cena's biggest haters can savor that.

He has too often reverted to juvenile humor in this feud, but he will have no time for such shenanigans when he steps into a steel cage against Wyatt at Extreme Rules.

That bout offers the latest catalyst for whatever metamorphosis WWE is planning for him.

The Monster Snatches a Lead Role

Chasing after Cena has kept Wyatt in a prominent position over the last few months. He follows a major match at WrestleMania with one at Extreme Rules.

Last year, Wyatt struggled for airtime at events like these.

After defeating Kane at SummerSlam, Wyatt missed out on Night of Champions, Battleground and Hell in a Cell. There's no chance Wyatt serves that kind of time on the bench now as long, as Wyatt is engaged in a feud with WWE's golden boy.

Cena's star power is lifting Wyatt.

The fact that he has frightened and throttled Cena puts Wyatt on a level occupied by precious few men. Imagine a villain forcing Superman to lose confidence and question the extent of his powers. That's what is happening in Wyatt's psychological war with Cena.

Even though Bryan is world champ, Cena remains the benchmark. Thrive opposite him and major opportunities await.

CM Punk's run in the summer of 2011 wouldn't have been the same without his win over Cena. Bryan's WrestleMania journey may never have happened had he not put on a classic with Cena at last year's SummerSlam. Those wins emphasized Bryan and Punk's elite status, something Wyatt is after now.

It's now Wyatt's turn to prove that he looks as if he belongs standing next to star of Cena's caliber.

He has so far. He has not only taken the heat that comes with the spotlight, he has improved under it.

Wyatt's performances on the mic have produced a growing collection of memorable moments. He continually strings together lines that unsettle and compel. 

When he and Cena have met in the ring, the results have been just as successful.

Submerged in his character, Wyatt has danced with Cena's lifeless body, cackled at him mid-match and sung a hymn while holding Cena's head in his arms. Mick Foley was one of many folks watching Monday's Raw who came away impressed.

He wouldn't have had this many opportunities were he feuding with Big E or Dolph Ziggler. Cena is a man who has refused to leave WWE's marquee once making it there. Challenging him puts one's name right next to his.

For Wyatt, that has allowed him to showcase his potential.

Right after SummerSlam—following his awkward, uninspired match with Kane—seeing Wyatt as a future world champ required some optimism and imagination. Thanks to his battles with Cena, it now seems inevitable that Wyatt will claim a top spot in the company.

Wyatt has dug his claws into Cena's cape. Cena, meanwhile, is flying to new places with a worthy enemy on his back.