WWE Must: Why John Cena Is in Major Need of a Heel Turn

Wrestling has changed since the days when I grew up watching it on Saturday morning as a youngster. I would tune in and root for my favorite wrestlers and boo the ones I disliked. Everyone did.

But like so many things in professional wrestling, that has changed.

Wrestlers are still cheered and booed, but it is so much more complex. While half of an arena may cheer for a certain wrestler, that same crowd will boo the same performer.

I have absolutely no problem with that fact. I think that it actually helps the sport. What fun is it when everyone cheers for and against the same people? It doesn't happen in other sports, so why should wrestling be any different?

The bottom line is that it is not, and that will not change. Some wrestlers will spend more time as a "good guy," or babyface, while others will see more air time as a "bad guy," or heel. It has always been that way. Wrestlers turn from one to the other and back more often than the championships change hands.

I remember having my emotions toyed with so often as a kid. I had my favorites, as well as some who I couldn't stand. When my guy, such as Jake "the Snake" Roberts, was a babyface, I was his biggest fan. But when he had a heel turn, I found myself rooting against him. The same was true of Randy "Macho Man" Savage.

But that wasn't right. It was as if the WWE writers were making my decision and choice for me. Who is comfortable with that?

The truth is that we should—and do—make our own choices. As fans, we can cheer for or against anyone we want, and that is what makes the performers so dynamic.

Almost every wrestler today is expected to be able to play good or evil. They will be easier to sell that way. You can market them more and everyone will be more successful.

Some wrestlers may prefer to play one character more than the other, but it is generally what gets the bigger crowd reaction that determines the role they stay in longer.

Take John Cena. He should be the ultimate good guy with the role he plays. He preaches hustle, loyalty and respect. He takes time to hang out with the kids and does everything within the rules.

Yet the crowd response couldn't be more mixed. Cena is cheered for by half the arena with all their might.

He is booed just as strongly and vocally.

That may be what the WWE wants. Maybe it would be detrimental to Cena and the company to have Cena turn into a heel. But it is a risk I feel is necessary.

Cena is better as one of those guys who does and says the wrong thing, yet gets cheered for his actions. Being the goody-goody is not doing anyone any good.

Check back to what he broke out a couple of weeks ago when responding to hilarious criticism from The Rock.

The Rock returned and crucified Cena.

The ovation could not have been better.

Instead of Cena just saying that he has no problem with The Rock, and going that "Can't we all just get along" route, he fought back like he used to years ago.

Cena broke out his "Thugonomic" personality and went old school on The Rock. I don't even think that I can discuss some of the references he made in the promo, but it was hilarious. It is stuff like that that can bring a casual fan back and turn them into a devoted viewer.

Cena would not be the ultimate heel. Very few wrestlers are these days. If he went back to the rapper who sported throwback jerseys of sports legends, he would still get some cheers.

They would just be from the same people who boo him right now.

It would be great for everyone involved, as the fans would enjoy he show.