WWE News: Batista Claims John Cena "Killed Hardcore, Edgy Wrestling"

During a recent interview with The Chad Duke Wrestling Show, Batista had the following to say about his former ring nemesis John Cena:

"

I think, you know, they did the whole PG direction thing, I think that works for Cena. The little kids love him, cause he’s a great character, he’s someone they can look up to. The girls love him, good looking guy, says all the right things, does all the right things, but the hardcore fans can’t stand him. He is Mr. Hokey, Mr. PG… to me. He killed hardcore, edgy wrestling.

"

In some ways, "The Animal" has a valid point. John Cena's character is such a throwback to the days of yore as a cookie-cutter good guy, who battles evildoers, that it can be perceived as a regression.

The smiling, joking babyface isn't really workable in this day and age where gray areas often take precedence over simplistic black and white contrasts.

Yet, be it as it may, Cena's Hulk Hogan-esque character does appeal to the younger generation of today's fans who have yet to become jaded and cynical by life's unwelcomed twists and turns.

Granted, older fans do have every right to rebuff a character that seemingly takes a step back from the revolutionary groundwork set by The Rock, Steve Austin, Mick Foley and Triple H, to name a few, in the late 1990s.

On the other hand, one can cogently argue that a character like John Cena's was inevitable. Wrestling had gone too far, broken too many barriers and desensitized too many viewers with even the most jarring of visuals.

Moreover, the performers were getting hurt at an unmanageable rate and therefore turning to prescription and illicit drugs to numb the pain. Worst of all, our heroes, who had gone too far to entertain us, were either withering in poor health or dying by the dozen.

The wrestling landscape—the presentation, matches and characters therein—had to change if only to preserve itself for the long haul.

We may not like it now, but John Cena's character epitomizes this necessary change.