John Cena vs. Rusev Is Perfect Feud for Both Men at WWE WrestleMania 31

When John Cena squares off against Rusev at the inaugural edition of the Fast Lane pay-per-view, there will be no doubt that the WWE made the right choice booking both men to feud leading into WrestleMania 31.

The most logical wrestling storyline would suggest that Rusev get the win at Fast Lane and Cena earn a victory at WrestleMania, with a third and final chapter at Extreme Rules. As much as Rusev should win this feud, Cena is the face of the franchise.

WWE fans should just be happy they get to see Rusev beat Cena once.

The biggest reason Cena's taking on Rusev works for the company is that this match is a marquee bout that can bolster the WrestleMania undercard. The main event is already set between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns for the world title, but the WWE will be looking to add depth and intrigue to the biggest PPV of the year.

Not only does the feud between Cena and Rusev add an interesting battle to the WrestleMania card, but it would also elevate Rusev into the upper echelon of heels. The company lacks top heels, and if Lesnar leaves after April, which manager Paul Heyman told Ariel Helwani's The MMA Hour is a possibility, Rusev will be one of the top three bad guys in the WWE.

With this in mind, the company must book Rusev strongly even when he loses. Instead of treating Rusev the way the WWE handled Bray Wyatt when he fought Cena at last year’s WrestleMania, he must be protected and made to look strong even when he takes losses.

Another reason this works is due to basic storytelling. Cena is the ultimate good guy but deals with a plethora of boos from the smart wrestling fans tired of his stale character. Against a Russian sympathizer like Rusev, Cena will be cheered. The heel heat that Rusev and his manager Lana can draw is legitimate, and Cena should be able to capitalize on that by getting the pro-American crowds on his side.

Cena's being cheered at WrestleMania would be a welcome change for the company.

Rusev’s United States Championship likely won’t be on the line, but fighting for the title would elevate it. As much as the WWE Universe has been clamoring for the secondary titles to be legitimized, this feud is focused on the battle between Cena and Rusev.

While the start of the storyline felt lackluster when the two men shoved each other backstage over interview time, the angle will succeed due to the unbridled confidence of Rusev. He has not looked intimidated at all standing toe-to-toe with legends like Cena and The Rock, and that poise will help him convince the WWE Universe that he is a legitimate threat to take down Cena.

Add in the fact that Rusev has improved by leaps and bounds, working one of the most brutal styles and telling excellent stories in the ring, and the matches should be fun and interesting to watch. Cena is better in the ring than he gets credit for and will be able to teach Rusev how to shine under the immense pressure of WrestleMania. Even if Rusev loses, he will gain vital experience for the future.

The battle between Cena and Rusev doesn’t match up against some of Cena’s previous WrestleMania bouts with The Rock, Shawn Michaels or Triple H, but this is the face of the company’s chance to help build a star for the future.

If Cena is willing to make Rusev look strong, this is the perfect storyline for both men heading into WrestleMania 31.

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