The John Cena Prototype Should Not Be Used for WWE's Next Top Guy

John Cena has been riding high as the top dog in WWE for well over 10 years now. The smiling, clean-cut babyface respects the fans who hate him and refuses to change for anyone. He has a good heart, never makes a mistake and always does the right thing. He's as pure as a character can be. But while all of this is working for Cena, it will not work for anyone else.

It's the biggest criticism many fans have toward WWE; Cena's time at the top needs to end. It's an opinion that's been repeated so often now it's almost impossible to imagine the conversation not taking place.

Cena's critics believe he's stale, his routine is outdated and his character is simply not believable. Much of the criticism centers on his gimmick more than anything else, yet it's the same gimmick the company apparently believes should reign above all others.

Daniel Bryan is a great example of this. While Bryan worked very hard to get the opportunities afforded him, the fact is he was nice guy throughout his entire main event run. Though he was attacked both verbally and physically by the Authority every week on TV, his character never quite developed a killer instinct.

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Every time he was pushed down by the Triple H-led group, he got back up smiling. Every time he was robbed of the WWE Championship, he persevered and kept moving, feeding off the crowd while continuing to keep in great spirits on camera.

Despite what was done to him, fans could count on Bryan to keep the faith while cutting inspirational promos and becoming a role model to kids all over the world. He essentially became a more compact and more rugged Cena.

There is no doubting Bryan deserved the main event run he received, but there is also no doubting his character developed many of the same traits Cena possesses. 

Another example is Roman Reigns, who has more of an edge than both Bryan and Cena combined. One look at the big Samoan and fans know they're seeing an old-school tough guy capable of using that edge to overcome his opponents.

Reigns just has the look of a stone-cold killer in the ring, a guy who is not above using whatever means necessary to succeed. He may not be Ricky Steamboat, but he doesn't need to be; his smash-mouth style should be enough to get the job done every time out.

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But more often than not, Reigns comes off as an all-around nice guy. He smiles during his promos, he's nonchalant about upcoming matches and it sometimes seems as though he's trying desperately hard to get over with fans.

The worst part of it is that instead of being the brick wall he needs to be during his matches, Reigns tends to take quite a bit of heat. He should be standing tall and using the killer instinct he obviously has, but that's usually not the case.

When Reigns gives a scowl in the ring, fans need to know the games are over and he means business. Instead, he appears to be more like Batista, struggling to be accepted, rather than Kane, who is always in full control of the match.

Perhaps it's just WWE is so accustomed to doing business with Cena as the leading man that no other type of character can break through. Or it could be that no other talent has been strong enough to replace Cena in the top spot. But neither Bryan nor Reigns can be John Cena Version 2.0.

Bryan can be a nice guy, but that does not mean he shouldn't go in for the kill during his matches. The same can be said for Reigns, who perhaps should not smile at all. Each man should succeed based on his own merit, not because he's keeping Cena's character alive.

CM Punk was quite possibly the last top guy to do it completely his way instead of following Cena's example. He had fun in the ring, clearly had fun on the mic next to Paul Heyman and, regardless of the circumstances, he always seemed to be enjoying himself.

But Punk was not a nice guy. He was very open about the fact he was his own man and would not pull punches when it came to speaking his mind to fans and peers alike.  

Instead of trying to mold Punk into a Cena clone, WWE was content to just let the Best in the World be himself. From his gear to his promos to his ring work, Punk always seemed to be in control and very comfortable in his own skin. He proved it is possible for a top guy in WWE to draw money and get over in a big way without espousing the benefits of being virtuous, trustworthy and loyal every time he speaks.

At some point, Cena's time as the primary star will come to a close. The next man in line cannot be a rehash of what fans have already seen or he will likely find himself splitting the crowd down the middle as Cena has for so many years now.

The next guy must represent the company in his own way, based upon what he brings to the table. He must be human, capable of making mistakes and fully aware that his way may not always be the best one.

He can be larger than life, and he can be wildly entertaining, but he cannot be static or incapable of change. Fans have had their fill of that and surely do not want another 10 years of it.

Despite how fans feel about him, Cena's character works. It's a gimmick only he can run and one that should not even be attempted by anyone else. But WWE does appear to want Cena's character replicated without even realizing it's not necessary in the first place.

Tom Clark's work can be found on Bleacher Report, and Tom Clark's Main Event podcast can be downloaded on iTunes here, as well as online here.