John Cena and CM Punk: The Rebel Rebellion and the Ballad of John Cena

"Men seldom, or rather never for a length of time and deliberately, rebel against anything that does not deserve rebelling against."

- Thomas Carlyle

These are no doubt wonderful times within the WWE universe. The company and spectacle we all share an undying passion for has managed to perform a miracle, and a beautiful and special one at that.

Within the last two months the WWE has allowed us: the viewers, the followers and the loyalists, to write their scriptures for them. They have allowed us to create while keeping the path and ending to our creation completely hidden. We have finally been given the "acknowledging nod" we all desired.

They have finally looked up from their golden platter of TV revenue, ticket and merchandise sales, advertising deals, media campaigns and hidden agendas, and gazed upon the lonely, isolated fan trying to yell for their attention, but had no voice. The WWE had finally listened to the ones who cared the most... the fans.

The fans had become restless; It's desires unfulfilled and left untreated. The company's complacency had become a hurdle it chose not to jump over for fear it would ruin the productive and safe status quo. The fans, confused, had their hero, warrior and champion in John Cena, but something felt off. The fans grew tired of the mundane, boring, predictable nature that had settled almost effortlessly that it took awhile before the fans even noticed the stale taste surfacing in their mouths.

With each passing day the irritated fans multiplied, and a crowd was now forming outside the gates that protected the higher beings within the WWE from the "peons" it catered to. The higher ups could no longer ignore the screams.. The fans had finally gotten the attention of the kings

With a nod and a wink the WWE seemingly altered everything about the way they presented themselves, the fans they cater to, and the stories they would tell all because of the one element they rediscovered that had been lost for years... You, the fan.

They gave us power. The power to influence its direction, focus and attention to the stars we wanted the proverbial telescope to be pointed at, but more importantly...

...They issued the voiceless a voice. They awoke a voice that had been growing steadily in the underground. This voice had started as a small cry from the few, which quickly turned into the whispers of many, and would then explode like a "pipebomb" gaining the mass appeal and attention the underground had been chanting for all along.

The WWE gave us CM Punk.

The "voice of the voiceless", and he was here to save us all...whether you wanted to be saved or not.

The reign of the champion John Cena was over. The era of Punk was upon us. A nation was about to be tested against the rebel uprising of the voiceless ones who were now being lead by the biggest voice in the kingdom. 

"Let's Go Cena!"... "Cena Sucks!"

It wasn't long ago when the WWE kingdom was set on a foundation many believed to have massive cracks and leaks. This foundation was built around one man and one man alone...John Cena. The company's brightest star and face was quickly becoming the company's biggest downfall.

The once critically accepted Cena, who carried the banner of the WWE proudly, once all of its mega stars had flared out, had just as easily become the scapegoat for all of the company's troubles. The blame was not placed on others who showed less commitment, passion, respect, loyalty and work ethic towards a business Cena loved.

The same others who did not embrace the WWE spirit for the world to see, and shied away from the white hot spotlight of mass appeal. John Cena, the ultimate role model, took up the banner and ran with it, but had now been buried in blame and accusations.

His "Super" tendencies were reminiscent of a "Hulk" before him which, in his time, gave the WWE the star power and inner celebrity it needed to be relevant. It became accessible to a wider audience no longer relegated to the independent supporters who had always been loyal, but was now featured in cartoons, lunch boxes, plush pillows and ice cream bars... But with mass appeal comes the resounding thud of the generic. As many "Hulk" supporters as there were, there were those opposed to the idea of a "Super" being and the monotone mass appeal he brought with him.

The "Dr. of Thuganomics" filled with "ruthless aggression" would claim the same fate. Instead of leading the WWE into a new era far away from the attitude it needed to leave in the past, John Cena would lead it into a period of regression. Cena would have all the blame and scorn laid at his feet because he was the one elected to carry the banner of a product that had already began to show signs of weakness before he took control. It was not Cena's fault that the direction, focus and image had been lost. The blame for that needs to be directed to those above him, but Cena was the face everyone knew. Cena was the champion...

... Heavy lies the crown.

Cena, throughout his career as champion, had slowly built a nation, Cenation, all to himself. His followers are loyal, steadfast, unrelenting and passionate about the man they cheer for. To them he represents everything good in nature. The words he lives by (hustle, loyalty, and respect) can be preached to everyone as a code to live by. He represents more then just a man who wrestles, but a common ground everyone should share.

He embodies good. He embodies the passion that everyone needs in life. John Cena, his following, and the colors and code they abide by are bigger then the WWE... They are life... "Wordlife."

The WWE universe was about to turn on those comfortably inhabiting Cenation. The time to fight alongside their hero was upon them. Their loyalty was about to be tested. CM Punk had now stirred the masses into hysteria and was invading. 

"CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!"

"...the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!'" 

- Jack Kerouac

The newly christened "Voice of the Voiceless" had begun his assault on the WWE kingdom, and had targeted one man... John Cena and his nation of followers. There battles were epic and intense; Filled with the excitement of a new dawn and era within the WWE. After the dust had settled neither were champion, but the impact they created altered the way we view the once dying product.

CM Punk had issued in a new wave of fans that had once loved the kingdom, but left because they felt lost. He returned with vengeance, malice and hatred for the kings who not only isolated the once loyalist of fans, but had neglected him and his friends as well. His return was met with loud applause as Cenation, for the first time in a long time, was being drowned out.

No longer were the days of the endless seas of red, orange and purple seen within the WWE kingdom. They had slowly been replaced with a simple white color claiming to be "The Best in the World." While the two factions were always apart of the universe, Punk's supporters finally had the platform and voice loud enough to dethrone Cenation and all of the things "Punk's army" hated about them and what they stood for... Killing their beloved WWE.

No more "Super" heroes, and no more of the boring, mundane wrapped in mediocrity... A new man had now stepped forward to carry the banner. He spoke of change, redirection, promised a shake up within the kingdom and had begun to deliver. His words have become cannon to a new following that is growing stronger everyday; Much like the creation of the nation he was slowly dismantling.

While the two nations are no longer engaged in direct battle for the WWE's "richest prize in the game" it is only inevitable that these two massive stars collide again.

Cenation has not yet faltered; It's desire and passion still hot to the touch. While Punk's rebel revolution has gained seemingly insurmountable steam, Punk has now begun his assault on the very establishment that created the "Super" Cena. He may not be able to do it alone, and the only man capable of helping him might just be the man who was always "made to look better then him".

There will come a day when the two nations might have to co-exist together... Will they be able to?

But for now the cheers will radiate... "Let's go Cena!" from the Cenation faithful, to the "Cena Sucks!" from the growing rebellion.

"After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box."

 -Italian Proverb