WWE Extreme Rules Results: Why John Cena Should Have Stayed on SmackDown

If things had not been changed by the end of last week's WWE Draft, John Cena would likely be the WWE Champion and on the Smackdown brand. Instead, he is now a 10-time world champion and stays snugly on his red brand, live on Monday nights. Reports have surfaced that Cena was not originally supposed to switch back to RAW, but that it was decided at the end. Was that change of heart a bad decision? Let's look at three different aspects.

Extreme-ly Predictable

The draft was completed one week ago, just five nights shy of Extreme Rules. Outside of the Layla vs Michelle McCool match, every other match included someone who was drafted just days before the pay-per-view. Cena taking up two draft picks canceled one another out.

While it is simple to use this as an excuse for not giving at least one other superstar a fresh start, it also made WWE's plans a little too predictable. Kofi Kingston's move to RAW, who was without a mid-card champion when Sheamus was drafted, meant that Kofi would win the impromptu tables match on the card.

The world title picture for both brands seemed almost clear as crystal after all was said and done. The World Heavyweight Championship match pitted a SmackDown superstar (Christian) against a RAW superstar (Alberto Del Rio). When Cena became RAW property again, it meant that a Del Rio win would put both world titles on RAW and leave SmackDown without a world champion on their show. This would not be like a few years ago, when the draft was drawn out over time and had Smackdown draft World Heavyweight Champion Batista with the very last pick.

It quickly became a scenario of Christian winning or there not being an explanation any other way. It practically took viewing the match and changed it from "Who will win their first world title in WWE?" to "How will Del Rio lose?".

Cena and The Rock

We were reminded last night on RAW that The Rock and John Cena will face one another in Miami on April 1, 2012 at WrestleMania XXVIII. With Cena now as the champion, that is technically slated as a WWE Championship match right now. Technically speaking, whoever wins the Royal Rumble in January could enter themselves in the dream match if Cena still holds the title.

To be honest, the championship does not add much to the build of this match. The Rock will not be a world champion again. He won't travel week after week and wrestle with the title as a fighting champion like he has been in his career. It would certainly not do The Rock any favors for the title to be on the line. Even having The Rock being involved in having Cena lose the title, much like involving himself in his WrestleMania match, would turn The Rock heel, which would be pointless.

The best thing for this rivalry would be to have Cena stay on SmackDown. Not only is it a brand that The Rock helped build, but he named the show. The term "SmackDown" is in the dictionary because of The Great One. It was where Cena got his start and grew his popularity before going to RAW as WWE Champion and staying there ever since.

Being drafted last week would have been his first time back on the show and Cena would have absolutely dominated the brand. What better way to insult The Rock than to invade his show and create a new era on it that starred Cena?

Cena and Young Talent

Even at his status atop the company, John Cena needs to be a veteran and help the young people get over. Case in point: The Miz. Cena has done a great job, especially over the past few months, to help The Miz become a top heel in WWE. Cena's place at the forefront on SmackDown would only improve ratings on a show known for its matches, as opposed to the entertainment aspect that is the focus on RAW.

A quick glance at the new SmackDown roster shows young guys like Cody Rhodes, Brodus Clay, Daniel Bryan and Alex Riley. These four are part of the future of this business and, with exception to Bryan, the other three are all heels and all have not won any singles gold in WWE yet. Just like how Cena was thrown into early programs with the likes of Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle, Cena could now return the favor and help out young talent. Let us also not forget about The Corre. Whether they stay together or fall apart, there is a lot to be said about those men as well.

If there is one complaint that I can make about WWE, it would be that they do not shake things up enough. We typically see the same matches with the same participants and the same results. Predictability is a constant disease with a company like WWE. The entire point of selling merchandise and pay-per-views to the masses is unpredictability. The best move to keep Cena fresh is not to necessarily turn him heel, but to give him new talent to challenge. Cena would do wonders on SmackDown and give a kick start to that new generation that is coming.