Vince McMahon Feeling the Need to Book John Cena More Strongly Is Misguided

Vince McMahon making sure John Cena is booked strongly before Night of Champions is like a comic book writer adding armor onto Superman's uniform. It's not necessary in the least.

Cena has been built up as such a formidable warrior over the years that worrying about him looking weak is a waste of time. Rather than have him run over more of the roster, showing his vulnerability would actually increase interest in his character.

McMahon reportedly doesn't view things the same way.

According to PWInsider's subscribers-only section (h/t Wrestling Inc), McMahon has been drilling the creative team to book Cena in a way that proves to fans that he still has a chance against Brock Lesnar.

That follows word in August from PWInsider Elite (h/t PWMania) that WWE changed its original plans for Bray Wyatt on the Raw from Aug. 25. The report notes that he was supposed to attack Big Show in order to gain momentum.

Instead, he fell victim to Cena. Cena dominated Wyatt just as Lesnar did to him at SummerSlam.

After their singles match morphed into a six-man tag, Cena then issued Attitude Adjustments to each member of The Wyatt Family, essentially overcoming a team that twice beat The Shield.

This most recent update paints a picture of McMahon whispering in the writers' ears to keep Cena looking strong.

That shouldn't even be a concern at this point. So many of the audience's images of him are already superhuman.

This is a man who beat both Jack Swagger and Cesaro in a Handicap match. This is a man who, despite an injured arm and taking a pre-match beating, thwarted Damien Sandow's Money in the Bank cash-in attempt. 

He has won the WWE title a record 12 times, his last title victory coming only three months ago. 

According to CageMatch.net, Cena has won over 1,400 matches in his career. He has a .804 winning percentage this year and has won at least 100 matches a year from 2009-2013.

Even with as badly as Lesnar thumped him at SummerSlam, the focus doesn't need to be on building him up. WWE has spent the last eight years doing that.

This is what frustrates Cena's critics. He's too untouchable. He's not susceptible to losing streaks or the kind of struggling everyone else is.

His story with Lesnar is a great opportunity to go in a new direction with him. Rather than be the man who overcomes the odds and regularly adds victories to his collection, he could show off a more human side.

One reason Spider-Man and Batman are so popular is that they aren't indestructible.

There is great drama to dredge from Batman recovering from a broken back or having a bullet pierce his batsuit. An invincible hero offers fewer opportunities for suspense. 

Let Cena fall apart some. It could make for compelling television.

Last year, the narrative for Cena was that his loss to The Rock at WrestleMania 28 had sent him into a "tailspin." WrestleMania 29 offered a chance at redemption.

The problem was, there was no real tailspin.

At the first pay-per-view after WrestleMania, Cena defeated Lesnar in an Extreme Rules match. He would later win the Money in the Bank contract and the 2013 Royal Rumble before meeting The Rock again. For most guys, that's a career year.

Cena's legacy isn't just going to fall apart in a matter of weeks. Fans aren't going to forget all the title reigns and times he's raised his hands in victory.

In fact, it's become a tiresome storyline. If Cena regains the WWE title at Night of Champions, prepare for a collective groan. That would begin his 15th reign as a world champion in only around a decade of wrestling for the company.

The bolder, more interesting move before and after Night of Champions is to have Cena's struggles with Lesnar greatly affect him.

Doubt about whether he will ever regain his momentum is more interesting than having him never lose it. Cena spiraling into a state of depression and frustration because of his inability to defeat The Beast Incarnate would enthrall.

Credit: WWE.com

The best-selling Superman comics weren't the ones where he ran over Darkseid or Brainiac. It was the one featuring his death.

Superman No. 75, in which Doomsday kills him, sold three millions copies in a day, per NewsOK.

Not that WWE should pen the story of Cena's death, but there's clearly inherent interest in watching an immortal fall. That's where WWE should take Cena next—having Lesnar be the force that sends him on a real tailspin.

Watching him climb his way out of that hole would be a lot more enticing than seeing him remain on his feet.