WWE the Rock vs. John Cena: Who's the Bigger Star Right Now?

Only a few short years ago, it was only a fantasy to ever witness the current poster child of the WWE, John Cena, ever come face-to-face with the mainstream icon, The Rock. This dream match was fantasized since Cena's eventual rise to the top of WWE in 2005, even making it a dream match challenge entitled Rap vs. Rock in the video game WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006.

Following Rock's cameo appearance at the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007, Rock and Cena traded punches via the Internet and late night talk shows, with Cena basically mocking how Rock would never leave his "home," but did so in the blink of an eye just to earn some cash in the movie-making business.

These rumors would mean next to nothing up until a few months ago, when Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made his triumphant return to the WWE on the Valentine's Day edition of Monday Night RAW, calling out arch-nemesis John Cena in the process. The mini feud also featured then-WWE Champion The Miz, who he effectively aided in retaining his WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 27.

On the following RAW, Cena and Rock finalized their epic confrontation for WrestleMania 28, in Rock's hometown of Miami. The move can be debated to be either logical or stupid at this point, but it does help build excitement for something unprecedented.

Until then, one question remains: Which one of these professional wrestling icons can be considered the bigger star?

Both have endured illustrious carers, from the multiple World Championships to being the face of their respective eras. Cena and Rock have brought the company to new levels never before seen, whether you like them or hate them.

However, with their time in the spotlight in the come and gone, which one currently holds more momentum going into their monumental confrontation?

Now, I know what you're thinking. Cena's time is still "now" technically, being still somewhat in his youth years, carrying the company, and currently holding the WWE Championship, but his popularity has never been more questionable.

In recent years, the Champ has almost always been the subject of a heel turn, grabbing the IWC's attention every time it is discussed. Many believe the turn would lead to a crash-and-burn situation, while others argue it would provide something fresh other than the countless squash match Cena gives us on pay-per-views these days.

I have a horrible feeling Cena will be kept in the title picture leading up to Mania, leading me to believe there is very small chance for any future challengers such as R-Truth, CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio to take the title off him. His bout with Rock has been rumored to be contested over the prestigious title, which is why many speculate Cena will score the upset victory in order to pass the torch.

As much as I'd like to the former Chain Gang Commander turn heel, I'd much rather see two top faces going at it to add to the magic of the matchup. John Cena has been on fire since winning the title back at Extreme Rules, but are the fans really behind him?

Nonetheless, the children under the age of 10 will continue to cheer Cena over the next year through his many victories he is predicted to score. I, on the other hand, would not like to see a repeat title reign of 2007, where his amount of "haters" have surely tripled since then.

The Rock, on the other hand, has kept the feud alive with his nemesis through the social networking strategy, with Twitter and Facebook being prime examples. No matter how much he pokes fun at Cena with jokes regarding his "PG" attitude, there's no denying that what Cena has argued over the past few months has some truth to it.

Recently, Rock is fresh off his latest appearance in the new "Fast Five" movie, in which had record-breaking sales and easily became a hot topic within days. From my knowledge, I believe Rock will continue to pursue his acting career until contest with Cena at the Show of Shows next year, with some guest appearances at SummerSlam and possibly Survivor Series along the way.

Now, keep in mind that this article is not up to debate which Superstar has had the better career, nor grading their popularity or predictability to win the match. As of now, both icons have kept their credibility high with their recent respective success, which is the most important thing in building a match of this caliber.

As you know, anything can change in an instant in the ever-changing world of pro wrestling, especially when injuries can occur at any stage in the game. At this point, I'd say to have the two to continue to interact in the ring and over social networking, but changing the pace of the rivalry so it doesn't lose fuel before then.

Make sure to leave your thoughts below, but please do not make comments on to who you believe is a better wrestler, entertainer or just better in general. This is not the place, as I do not wish to go through a million "Cena sucks" comments, as much as I'd like to reply and agree with them. GSM out.

Visit my Web site at Next Era Wrestling for more of GSM's writings, along with WWE/TNA news, recaps and more. Follow me on Twitter        @GSM2ndComing.