Pros and Cons of John Cena's Return to WWE World Championship Picture
John Cena is a volatile element in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship formula.
Used well, Cena as world champion and challenger could energize SmackDown. The musclebound babyface can assure the blue brand of instant classics and ample hype for its top matches.
Going back to old booking habits, though, could make Cena trip up SmackDown's rising stars.
After first focusing on personal rivalry and then stepping away from the show altogether for a few weeks, Cena is back in the heart of the world title picture. He is set to battle for the WWE World Championship at the No Mercy pay-per-view on Oct. 9.
A Triple Threat match against Dean Ambrose and champion AJ Styles awaits.
It was inevitable that Cena would return to this spot. He wasn't going to play midcard-title rejuvenator forever. WWE hasn't let its favorite son stray from the spotlight for long.
His return to the upper echelon is a double-edged sword, a means to push WWE into the New Era, but it could just as easily send Styles and Ambrose tumbling off the top tier.
Pro: Star Power, Excellence in the Main Event
WWE guarantees itself greatness with Cena in such a prominent position.
He remains one of wrestling's best big-match performers. The company can pit him against Bray Wyatt or Randy Orton, a rookie or a future Hall of Famer, and the result is almost always a damn good match.
Future editions of Cena vs. Styles promise to be memorable. The two rivals tore it up at both Money in the Bank and SummerSlam.
Miami Herald columnist Scott Fishman said what many were thinking about the latter contest:
Those kinds of matches headlining SmackDown's events would certainly be a boon for the brand. Cena in the world title picture is a safe move in that way.
The same goes for the star-power factor. Cena is of the most recognizable names in the roster at the top of the card. There's logic to placing him in a key spot, either as the No. 1 titleholder or the man chasing that crown.
Cena's fame helps balance out main events featuring less proven talents.
Con: A Familiar Song
Fans have seen Cena win the WWE title over and over again—15 times, in fact.
The powerhouse has ruled WWE for a decade. The main event has been his home so long that many have grown numb to what he brings to the table.
And as WWE looks to usher in the New Era, it has to know there is nothing new about Cena on top. There is nothing new about Cena in general.
When SmackDown selected Cena in the WWE draft in July, Brandon Stroud of UPROXX joked about how a show claiming to offer change chose two such established names:
Cena's title victories don't offer a jolt of electricity the way those of Finn Balor or Kevin Owens do. Should he take down Styles at No Mercy, it will feel as if WWE has backpedaled into the past rather than charged into the future.
WWE has told the "Cena becomes champion" story so often that it has become a ho-hum act, regardless of the drama surrounding it.
Pro: A Notch on the Belt like No Other
A win over Cena is a momentum-builder and possible career-changer. With Cena on the world title hunt, others in contention can take home an invaluable "trophy" in taking down the golden boy.
After Styles defeated Cena at SummerSlam, he went around bragging about the victory for weeks. It became essential to his character. It was proof that he was SmackDown's best.
Ambrose scored a major win himself on Tuesday's SmackDown when he beat Cena cleanly. The result left the leader of the Cenation, as well as the audience, in shock.
Cena simply doesn't lose in that spots like that. His losses are usually accompanied by cheating, run-ins or other shenanigans.
Ambrose taking down Cena on his own should now propel him forward in a big way. The same will happen should Styles best Cena again, Ambrose score another win against him or another contender beat Cena in a high-profile match.
Con: Potential Roadblocks for Emerging Stars
WWE has historically made Cena its Superman. His archenemies may get the upper hand for a spell, but the hero usually prevails. That has left many heels in need of image repair after facing him.
The company often books Cena to win a string of matches against an opponent. Rusev, Ryback and Wyatt know that experience intimately.
With Cena now back in the world title chase, his next potential victims could be those inches away from reaching the top tier.
Should Cena beat down Ambrose or Styles several times in a row, they won't look like the stars they do now. A number of images of Cena celebrating over a fallen Styles will erase the memories of The Phenomenal One's previous triumphs.
WWE is in the process of trying to discover its next big thing. Flattening those in contention for that spot with a steamroller named Cena would get in the way of that.
Cena can't be allowed to run roughshod over Styles, Ambrose and whoever comes charging after the gold. All of the benefits of putting him in a headliner role in the midst of the New Era won't mean anything at that point.
