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Disclaimer: This article is the opinion of the author and not necessarily of Sportskeeda's
John Cena certainly has not enjoyed the most stable relationship with the internet wrestling community and has a long-established reputation as the golden boy of the WWE corporation. Cena’s gimmick has at times been very challenging to swallow, as it harks back to the cartoon-like performers of the early 1990s.
His attitude of “Never Give Up” and “Hustle, Loyalty and Respect” appeals to young kids and their parents, but for the avid young male wrestling fan, it does not make for enjoyable viewing. As such, Cena’s standing among the WWE Universe is very bipolar, as he can look to an expansive fan base whilst a vocal section of most crowds looks to boo him out of the arena every time he appears.
Cena’s performances also have often faced criticism in the past, both in the ring and on the microphone. Some of his promos rely far too much on childish humour that has deflated the threat imposed by the target of his words. And then on the other end of the spectrum, they can be utterly repetitive about never giving in to adversity.
As for his actual matches, many were bemoaned for his “Super Cena” comeback, where he would take the punishment for 90% of a contest, only to bounce back to victory via his infamous “Five Moves of Doom”. This would be regarded as Cena burying actual talented performers on a regular basis, rather than displaying why he was the best in the business.
Thus, there is already a lot of evidence pointing towards John Cena not being the greatest wrestler of all time. His influence arguably had a bearing on the failure of significant storylines, such as the Nexus invasion and the disappearance of some of his rivals into obscurity following the results of their encounters (Umaga, Bray Wyatt, Rusev). And that is before one even considers the competition Cena faces to be considered the best ever, with an impressive list of elite performers.
Shawn Michaels had a range and quality of match awareness that left most others in awe. Bret Hart and Kurt Angle had technical awareness and toughness that made them in-ring generals. Hulk Hogan had immense popularity and a gimmick that was perfect for the age he worked. Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H added an attitude and edge to wrestling that made it cool in the late '90s.
And The Undertaker had a presence and creativity that has made him one of the most emphatic characters ever in wrestling. These names could go on and on, and in a variety of ways each would blow John Cena out of the water. He is by no means a perfect entity. But, neither were any of these superstars.
Trust me, a few years ago I would have scoffed at this notion because although I respect Cena’s love for WWE and the work he does with charities and outside of wrestling, he appeared to take some of the sheens away from others on the roster.
However, I’ve come to accept the necessary politics behind the scenes and that most problems lay with the creative team rather than the performers themselves. And, in recent years, Cena has stepped up every aspect of his performances, to the point where he measures up to every inch of his billing as the biggest name in wrestling today.
Cena has endured, and been the top guy in WWE for over a decade, a huge period of time that outstrips any of the competitors listed above. Some may argue this is a signal of the decline of WWE since the haughty days of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression, but this is an unfair assessment.
The company is still a huge force that pulls impressive numbers, and at the heart of that is the appeal of Cena. And whether fans love him or they hate him, they rarely lose interest when he is on the screen. Some might argue his sixteen world championship reigns are excessive, but nobody is the draw that Cena has proven to be.
The reason why John Cena’s name deserves to be in this discussion is that he simultaneously has been able to hold the titles of the Face of WWE and its biggest heel due to his unique relationship with the audience, and he carries off both roles expertly.
Cena works for the crowd amazingly because he just lets them say whatever they want and works from that reaction. He doesn’t care if they cheer him or boo him, you can tell that he loves to be a part of that atmosphere and that passion is what turns a good wrestler into one of the best.
This passion is also behind Cena’s determination to be involved whenever he can, and his vigorous exercise regimes. Consider some of the injuries he has endured throughout his career, and then returned months in advance of schedule.
The man is a physical freak of nature, who works himself to the bone to get fit and active, which is a drive that very few people in any profession can live up to. That is not a slight on them, but simply recognizing the immensity of the effort Cena puts into performing in front of the WWE Universe.
Turning to his in-ring skills, I find it laughable how some still insist on John Cena not being a great wrestler, or is carried by others towards decent matches. It takes two to tango, and time and again Cena has demonstrated that he can mix it up with the best to ever step into the ropes. He has had amazing bouts with CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Edge, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, AJ Styles and so forth.
His run as United States Champion in 2015 leading to exceptional matches with some of WWE’s mid-card talent, with Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Neville, and Kevin Owens benefactors of working with the face of the company.
And although his microphone skills can still be corny or laced with toilet humour when Cena has strong material to work with, he can produce phenomenal promos that build up both him and his opponent, engaging the crowd into his feuds so both of them end it successfully. These are the passionate ones, which show that beyond the mantra of “Never Give Up” is a brutal honesty that gets the crowd invested, no matter how much they bemoan its juvenile origins.
So, do these elements add together to make John Cena the greatest wrestler of all time? I think any discussion about that subject that doesn’t include him isn’t worth talking about. He has demonstrated incredible devotion and work ethic in his tenure and has deserved his spot at the top of the roster. When Cena eventually hangs up his boots, he will have left the sport in a better place than before he entered, as at the centre of the main event scene, he has carried the weight of the company on his shoulders through a decidedly disappointing PG Era.
Many will disagree with these sentiments, and those are entitled to their opinions, but Cena has not only made it in WWE, but he has played a significant role in all the success it has achieved in recent years. He has trodden the fine line between the corporate ladder and the locker room and has had one of the most accomplished careers of anybody to have ever entered the squared circle. You may not like him, but John Cena deserves his spot in the elite, and under any criteria merits being one of the greatest of all time.
Do you think John Cena is the Greatest of All Time? Let me know on the comments below...
