WWE Minutiae: The Time Is Now for John Cena's Overhaul

"Amidst this tumult sat Mr. Storm, a varnished, tarnished shell; a quiet visage seeking
understanding in the wasteland of recent memories; All loss, no gain. Vacant as the Bikini Atoll; Welcome to the edge of the world."

T. Schaefer - "The Hollow Mr. Storm"

Could you feel it on Sunday night? The betrayal of the fans was nearly complete. They had a new hero in the form of the Second City Saint. The return of the legend, the real "People's Champion" rocked his world to its very foundations.

"The Commander-In-Chief of the CeNation" didn't have his vast legions of fans anymore. His army, once the mightiest in existence, had dwindled to less than half their original numbers. The men and women still paid him homage, of course, but it was only a token thing. Even the very next night, invoking the names of the current heroes failed to elicit the desired cheers as it should have.

Cena's time, in his current gimmick, has run its course. I'm not calling for a heel turn now as I've already done an article about that. No matter how you slice it though, the damage done to Cena over the past few months has left its scars on a character sadly in need of a refresh.

The Shadow and the Light

"However, no ideal of aegis seems to garner protection against the Omega, the end of things.
Such are simple lies based upon mistaken hubris."

T. Schaefer - "Forsaken Circle"

John Cena has always been booed in some form. However, those jeers have been getting progressively louder as the years have rolled on. Cena's entire character has been built upon the idea of appealing to kids the way Hogan did so many years ago.  

Cena has become a product of a stale creative cycle that has is now undergoing a massive shift. Built in a time when an aging "Heartbreak Kid" and "Cerebral Assassin" were reliving their youth and antics as though they were spoiled teenagers, Cena is becoming the last emblem of something that is quickly becoming history.

This fact really hit home during Survivor Series. In the main event of last Sunday's Pay-Per-View, Cena was left as the fall guy to formulaic booking. Being the subject to the brutal offense of the heel Tag Team that is typical of the aforementioned match type, he was left to play second fiddle to a former wrestler turned actor.

After the match, The Rock delivered a Rock Bottom to Cena. Done more to build the purposes of the storyline, it may as well have been a metaphor for Cena's fallen popularity. In the shadow of the Great One, John Cena simply never held a candle to The Rock, despite the WWE's blind insistence to the contrary.

In the match prior to the main event, CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio put on a spectacular show that really should have been the main event. Demonstrating a supreme sequence of psychology and storytelling, the fans erupted when the Mexican Aristocrat tapped out. Punk became the new hero. WWE.com went so far as to declare that the "Entertainment Era has arrived!"

Hell, even Vince McMahon, the same guy who once asked "What's his appeal?" spent a fair portion of the usual Monday Creative meeting emphasizing the WWE Champion's relationship with the audience.

Punk out sells Cena in many ways and is connecting with the fans on a deeper level. On Raw, CM Punk again tore the house down with Dolph Ziggler. Why? Because he could.

Cena got the final segment, but his part was simply minor. The overrun, usually the prize segment of show, went to his opponents of the previous night. His part? To recap the previous night's Main Event, spout a random lines and call it a night. 

Yup, he was treated as an afterthought.  As he departed the ring, Awesome Truth were given the critical overrun time for their break up.

The theory of evolution boils down to one simple thing. Those who don't evolve die. Nature will weed out the weak so the strong may survive. Wrestling is no different. Times change and wrestling must change with it. To survive, Cena's character must evolve.

The Simple Truth

"Watch your words, poet. Love is just treble, pain simply bass? No, the symphony is both!
Don't just sing of love, simply croon of loss!
 
You are a composer, poet! The orchestra's more then a sopranic piccolo or heavy double bass.
You desire an opus? Make both your music!"

T. Schaefer - "The Poet's Opus"

Despite some recent setbacks in the merchandising arena, John Cena is still a cash cow. That simple reason alone will prevent any heel turn, no matter how much we as fans scream, plead and whine.

But his character much under some sort of metamorphosis to stay relevant. Gimmick changes can do wonders for a wrestler's career. Ask Cody Rhodes and CM Punk if you doubt this. 

Where the WWE goes with Cena is ultimately up to them. But to reinvigorate the machine that was once "CeNation", something needs to be done. Whether he gets more serious on the stick, changes up his move set or goes more tweener is merely an academic debate.

Cena is one of the most talented wrestlers of his generation. In an industry where success is measured in fan response and the almighty dollar, he's been an undeniable force of nature. As with any machine, however, tune ups are required. Sometimes parts need to be overhauled and repaired to stay running.

The issue is simple. Cena has kept the same gimmick since 2004. To that end, the car that once ran 400 miles on a tank of gas and did 120 mph in fourth gear now struggles to get out of the gate. In favorable circumstances, the car still holds its own. But most times, it is simply outclassed.

There is one undeniable fact. If John Cena does not do something with his character, he risks becoming irrelevant. To be succinct, he will be a wrestler struggling to keep connected with a fan base that will desert him unless his character is overhauled.