Was JBL's dominance on SD just to put Cena over?

[timmy872]

So..

When JBL was the longest reigning champion in Smackdown history, was be simply given that so that John Cena could be put over? Vince spotted Cena a mile off then said "Right this guy will be big, put him over the biggest heel on Smackdown after losing a title to his lacky (orlando jordan).

What do ya think?

[Davey McBoy]

Yes, that is the formula of the business. The heel dominates for a long time and the babyface looks great after defeating him and gets over, hopefully making the company a lot of money. Its not like that was a new concept they invented just for Cena.

[Planty]

If this was the case then they could have just had any big heel dominate Smackdown.

I think it was part way through the reign that they thought this. Cause lets be honest, they must have saw some potential in JBL to give him the title in the first place!

Lets see, JBL won the title at The Great American Bash 2004. So that was summer.

I'd say it was probably around three months into the reign they saw the potential with having Cena defeat JBL, cause they probably started planning 'Mania around that time.

Cena was US Champion at this time and was only a few months into his reign so I don't think it was the initial idea somehow. Yes, there's the concept of putting the title on a heel, have them dominate then have the babyface who beats them get over easily... but why would they randomly create some MEGAHEEL out of JBL JUST for that reason? As said earlier, I think it was initially just about seeing Bradshaw as a main eventer.

[The Todd]

It probably wasn't the plan when JBL started his reign but it would have been thought up quite quickly. As Davey McBoy said, it isn't something new in the business. Savage's initial push was to make it look like Hogan had a credible opponent. The Rock was built up so Austin had someone credible to fight at WrestleMania whilst feuding with Vince. Not to mention recent people like Umaga and Khali were built up for Cena.

I just hope WWE is planning this again, having Orton look dominant and Cena can destroy him eventually.

[Planty]

I just hope WWE is planning this again, having Orton look dominant and Cena can destroy him eventually.

Knowing WWE, that may happen, but there'd be no need!

In this time with main eventers taking time off, WWE needs to create new credible main eventers. I'd like to see MVP get that rub personally.

Cena's already had a few reigns. I mean bloody hell he can return from injury to win a title on his first match back even! Cena winning the title at Orton's expense would be a waste of opportunity to push a star that deserves a break. :)

[RVD420]

I don't think this is the case. You have to remember that when JBL had the title for such a long period of time, Raw was still the #1 show and Smackdown had nobody on it. JBL was able to draw massive amounts of heat (good heat and bad heat) and so the title was put on him. I mean who else did they have?? Kurt Angle was out of action, I believe he was the GM of Smackdown. He defended his title against Booker-T, Eddie Guerrero, Big Show and The Undertaker.

There was no way that he was going to drop the belt to Booker or Show. I think they should have had Eddie and him go back and forth with the title and I DEFINATELY think he should have dropped it to Taker. He had just come back from being "buried alive" at WMXX and definately had the momentum to take the belt.

So to answer your question, as much as I can't stand him, I can't blame this one on Cena.

[HHHDiedForOurSins]

There wasn't exactly anyone else on Smackdown to take the belt off him at the time.

Angle was also a heel and wasn't wrestling much due to injuries, that's around the time he was doing the gold medal challenge so he didn't have to wrestle long matches each week, so he couldn't hold the belt at the time.

Eddie couldn't handle the pressure of being the champ and the story goes that he actually requested to drop the title to JBL in the first place.

Undertaker was working part time and he was normally involved in dumb feuds with guys like Mark Henry, Heidenreich, Snitsky etc (thank God around 05 time they started giving him decent opponents).

Booker T's time had passed, they gave him a run against JBL and nobody cared.

RVD was injured.

Really Cena was all they had in terms of an up and coming fresh face to push, and they obviously made the right choice since he's now the biggest name in wrestling.

[The Todd]

Knowing WWE, that may happen, but there'd be no need!

In this time with main eventers taking time off, WWE needs to create new credible main eventers. I'd like to see MVP get that rub personally.

Cena's already had a few reigns. I mean bloody hell he can return from injury to win a title on his first match back even! Cena winning the title at Orton's expense would be a waste of opportunity to push a star that deserves a break. :)

Na, I personally think your top babyface, who is going to be around for years yet, should be the one to stop a reign of terror.

I'm on about Orton keeping it by cheating all the way until WrestleMania and then Cena wins it there. Of course, it won't happen as a long title reign these days is three PPVs.

[Black Snow]

I would say that when JBL won the title there was definitely a thought that Cena might be a good choice to take the title off of him but by no means was he the set plan. The options were limited to say the least. Undertaker wasn't a full time wrestler. Show was... Show. Angle wasn't 100%. They needed someone to carry the brand and since Eddie was too busy blaming himself and trying to shoulder more than he needed too it was Vince's chance to turn one his midcard boys into a main eventer overnight.

I can remember the night Bradshaw became JBL. I was there live in Grand Rapids, Michigan when it happened. In fact, they changed his name. Live the announcer called him John Layfield Bradshaw. We were insanely confused to see JLB appear out of nowhere.

Theoretically, JBL was great at his job. His matches were somewhat entertaining because of all the gimmick/multiple men matches they had. He was easy to hate. But when push came to shove with the big rub on Cena their match blew.

I think a lot of things just fell into place. A surprisingly dominate heel champion emerged on the B show at the same time an up and comer who the fans were digging on started getting a push. My guess is that by around Summerslam they were starting to decide that Cena would get the win at 'Mania. Turning Booker face and throwing 'Taker and Show at JBL was just a way to kill time after the choice was made.

[Planty]

Na, I personally think your top babyface, who is going to be around for years yet, should be the one to stop a reign of terror.

I'm on about Orton keeping it by cheating all the way until WrestleMania and then Cena wins it there. Of course, it won't happen as a long title reign these days is three PPVs.

Good point but so far John Cena has already won the US, WWE and World titles at wrestlemania and defended titles twice. He's also returned at Survivor Series from injury to win a title. Many many more things too. WWE are in danger of pushing their top babyface too down our throats, its already been accused of massively. This could just make things worse.

Having the new pushed star win the title and then maybe potentially lose it to the top face in a match of respect might be a good route to go down. Then if the new pushed star turns heel in the future a good rematch could be in order. Dunno, thats just my view.

Anyway, thats the last I'll say of it because I'm becoming a little off topic.

[999 Inigma]

i might be new and stuff and im sorry if i piss anybody off
but i thought that jbl was just a fat washed up wrestler
who was given more then he should have
i hated him more cause this sad looking over weight wrestler
was getting the world title and was one of the biggest heels in the business
and was boring to watch cause he was a shitty wrestler no offense boys

[maar130]

Well he was not a great wrestler, he became very good on the mike but in the ring he was not brilliant.

Rumor was back then that they wanted to keep him champion until Summerslam but if Cena lost at WM, they would have passed a great chance and never got the heat back for Cena.

[Newking83]

I know everybody hates Cena but all u cena haters on here act like he controls the storyline. WRONG, creative team does, so hate them not cena. I mean u all boo him but know damn well if he came to your school or workplace u all would be nuts like little squirrels.

[SenorAmazing]

Absolutely. JBL not only kept his title by being a coward but he held it for the longest reign in SD! history. This was done to put Cena over. I mean JBL was never the best in the ring, was never really in great shape, and apparently is a huge asshole backstage. JBL was given this title reign because he could be a monster heel and be used as a springboard for Cena. JBL as champ is like Carrot Top at the Apollo.