Dean Ambrose, John Cena, Roman Reigns and More from the Buried Mailbag

The current depth issues within WWE has led to a so-so overall product. Dean Ambrose, John Cena and The Authority seem to be booked in Hotel California as opposed to a wrestling storyline.

A subpar WWE product makes for more exciting discussions about WWE's potential to be better, however, especially when someone like my buddy Dan Fisk looks into his crystal ball.

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@ThisIsNasty how do you think Ambrose will be handled once guys like Reigns and Bryan are back? Too many top stars for WWE to handle?

— Dan Fisk (@TheDanthrax) October 8, 2014"

WWE can't have its top-star shelf restocked soon enough, especially on the babyface side. As good as Ambrose has been, the closing sequences of Raw have been repetitive, and Cena appears to be going through the motions compared to his work with Brock Lesnar.

In fact, WWE is so bereft of top babyfaces, pundits (including myself) are now calling for natural heel Randy Orton to turn face just to shake things up a bit.

The return of big names who were previously on the shelf creates an interesting scenario. There may be too many incoming babyfaces for the Reality Era to handle.

Given the built-in support from WWE's vocal meta fans for superstars like Ambrose and Daniel Bryan, there won't be enough love to go around for the office-approved Reigns, especially if he continues to be pushed as next in line to Cena.

Reigns may be forced to turn heel shortly after he comes back, especially if he is in an awkward position of competing in the Royal Rumble opposite a fan favorite like Bryan. This may not be a bad move this early in his career, as fans will inevitably begin to cheer him the badder he gets, leading to a more organic babyface turn.

This worked with The Rock, who turned heel at Survivor Series 1998 just as it seemed he was primed for a significant babyface run. Rock's catchphrases and obnoxious—but entertaining—heel antics became so popular, his eventual babyface turn was pretty much mandatory.

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@ThisIsNasty If Ambrose doesn't beat Cena at HiaC is it irreparable damage to his career? #WWEMailbag

— @RealColinGinter (@RealColinGinter) October 8, 2014"

This is a question that captures the rabid spirit of the Internet Wrestling Community. Once again paired with an Internet darling, Cena now has to deal with the familiar, preemptive yet unfounded protests against "burying" up-and-coming stars.

Where does this come from? Is there any evidence that suggests Cena has a history of keeping the little guy down? The evidence actually suggests the contrary. 

Whether he beats Ambrose or not, no top WWE Superstar in history has done more jobs in big spots—and, in some cases, to lesser talent—than John Cena.

Kevin Federline, Wade Barrett, Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt, John Laurinaitis, Sheamus, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, The Miz, Rob Van Dam and Brock Lesnar in a rout have all beaten Cena.

And that's the short list.

Cena has lost in more big spots than Clayton Kershaw. He's put all your heroes over, and if he beats Ambrose, so be it. But, no, it won't ruin Ambrose. Not by a long shot.

As long as WWE continues to position the Lunatic Fringe as a main eventer, as it's done over the past several weeks, he'll be fine. Should Ambrose lose to Cena, a subsequent run-in during Hell in a Cell with pliers would be just as fitting for his character as a match against Rollins.

Who even needs pliers? He should gnaw his way into that cage.

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@ThisIsNasty There's been talks of Rock/Lesnar at WM31 and Reigns/Lesnar. What are the chances we could see Reigns/Rock instead... ?

— Dougie McShmurdamott (@ethan_metzger) October 8, 2014"

I see what you did there, and I like it. If, for any reason, WWE (or its fans) decides Reigns isn't ready to carry a major championship by WrestleMania, a match with The Rock would be just as meaningful.

WWE's Samoan heritage runs rampant, to the point where pretty much every Samoan wrestler in the promotion is related. The Usos, Reigns, The Rock, Tamina—all cousins.

There are built-in storylines that could incorporate these talents en route to a showdown between The Rock and Reigns. And while I don't trust WWE's largely homogenous creative team to put together a Samoan-themed angle racially sensitive enough to make fans feel comfortable, the influence and charisma of The Rock should supersede those problems.

Working directly with The Rock will not only make Reigns come off as a star, but The Rock is cut from the same cloth as Cena, as he is more comfortable with losing than most megastars. A win like that could set Reigns for life.

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