What Next For John Cena: The Future of the WWE Franchise Boy?

He is undoubtedly the face of the WWE. Wrestling fans all over the world know of John Cena.

Love him or hate him, Cena is a character like none other. Wrestling, music and films have created a superstar with international success.

As with all wrestling superstars however, a change needs to occur if they are survive. Known perhaps as the Goldberg effect - wrestlers that are unable to adapt to change, fall away.

A successful transition can add as many as five or ten years to your career as with the likes of Undertaker, Hulk Hogan or Sting.

With Cena's character due for a change therefore, this slideshow asks what next for the Franchise Boy?

The Heel Turn

Much of the rumours abound, suggest that John Cena is due to turn heel. But to do so is akin to shooting the golden goose; as long as people buy the merchandise and more importantly buy into the character, Cena will remain face.

There is always a possibility that a change may occur if a suitable replacement is found but at present there isn't anyone with the same PG credibility. Randy Orton as the front would not be suitable.

Heel Turn - perhaps in the future, but not yet.

The Super Stable

The nWo, DX, the Four Horsemen, Fourtune, Legacy, Evolution, just some of the more recent stables in professional wrestling. Each brought with it a new form of excitement and also allowed certain careers to be revived and others to flourish.

For Cena, the likely leader, it would allow him to bring on the next generation of superstars, though it might be too similar to the current Nexus Angle to be regarded as original.

The super stable idea is possible but Cena's involvement makes it too predictable - it is more of a heel role anyway and unless he turns heel then forms the group, Cenation will remain one man and his fans.

Stable Leader: Unlikely

The Angle Approach

The current 'Angle' angle in TNA, that sees the Olympic Gold medalist face down the Top 10 in the pursuit of the Championship is intriguing although a tad predictable. Lose and he retires.

Unless he is actually going to leave, Angle will go on to win against Hardy in a second match and then against Mr Anderson in a-would be final.

Could this work for Cena? Possibly but it would require taking him out of the championship race, at a time when the WWE is hardly brimming with heavyweight contenders. It would also require him to admit some form of stagnation - and that is also unlikely at the moment.

Angle Approach - Interesting, but not yet

The Feud

Wrestling is built on the idea of feuds. Good versus Bad, faces and heels. As the face of the company, Cena rarely loses and when he does its often the result of interference.

However, the mark of a great wrestler is one that is able to lose well. Shawn Michaels showed this in his final years that a superstar can lose, put over another and still come out on top.

For Cena this would allow him to show his wrestling ability and if his opponent was young, help nurture a future superstar.

It would necessarily have to involve the title and this in turn would freshen the World Title scene.

However the question remains of who he would feud with: one example might by Justin Gabriel. Having pinned Cena fairly in a recent tag team match, is is possible that Gabriel and not Barrett is the breakout star?

Gabriel though might be more of an opponent for Danielson and Miz at present.

The Feud: Quite Possibly - but the question is Who?

Tag Team Wrestling

Many wrestlers have had at some point in their career, a successful tag team championship reign.

Whether its as part of an established team like the Hart Foundation or as a combo team like Rock n Sock Connection, wrestlers can learn a great deal within a team environment.

The problem with this scenario for Cena is twofold: who is worthy of partnering him? And more importantly, is John Cena too big for the current tag team division? Answer to the latter is Yes.

The Hart Dynasty are a good team but unchallenged. The Usos have shown little or been allowed to show little, the Dudebusters are embarrassing and Archer and Hawkins non-existent.

TNA are dominating in this field and not even the inclusion of Cena could ignite the division.

For Cena to come down to this level, he would need to win the title with a partner worthy enough and against opponents worthy of a decent feud. The Harts as faces wouldn't work and no other team would be provide Cena with a respectable match.

Tag Team: Partnering Orton, or Bourne might give him the team but there is no division - Highly Unlikely at present.

The Undertaker's Streak

For many, this is the dream match. Outside Sting and maybe Goldberg for some, Undertaker against Cena would be the highlight of Wrestlemania 27.

To battle the Deadman would be the ultimate challenge of his career and provide major income in terms of PPV buyouts.

Face versus Face, superstar against superstar. The Winner? Probably the Undertaker but in a way that allows Cena the same result as given to Shawn Michaels at XXV.

A Cena victory would infuriate many and so unlikely but you do not need to win at Wrestlemania against Taker to benefit.

Cena has had many Wrestlemania moments but this would top it all. WWE showed real grit in putting the Undertaker against Shawn Michaels and the only way it can get close to recreating such a match is to put the Deadman against the Franchise Boy.

Undertaker and Streak: With Cena hinting this week, this is a real possibility and a great match - just whether the WWE has the inclination to go with it 

TNA?

No, didn't think so either....but stranger things have happened....

There is a distinct possibility that he may go like Dwayne Johnson and retire to pursue a full time acting career but he has often dismissed this. The success of 'Legendary' might influence his decision though.

But thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave your comments on what you think will happen with Cena and his career.