ECW Region, Third Round, Street Fight: (1) John Cena vs. (9) Terry Funk

[klunderbunker]

This is a third round match in the ECW Region. It is a street fight. It will be held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Assume one week has passed since the first round matches.

Street Fight Rules: Anything goes in this match and falls must occur in the ring. There is NO outside interference whatsoever.

#1. John Cena

Vs.

#9. Terry Funk

​

Polls will be open for four days following a one day period for discussion. Voting will be based on who you feel is the greater of the two competitors. Post your reasons for why your pick should win below. Remember that this is non-spam and the most votes in the poll win. Any ties will be broken by the amount of posts of support for each candidate, with one vote per poster.

Also remember that this is a non-spam forum. If you post a response without giving a reason for your selection, it will be penalized for spam and deleted.

 

[deem]

Aah a street fight. The one chance Terry Funk had. I don't see it being enough as Cena constantly beats top names in their favoured match (Edge TLC etc).

I'm certainly not decided either way yet, but it'll take something special to convince me that Terry could go over here. I'm not underselling him, I just think Cena's time on top is as relevant and impressive as anyone in history.

 

[Con T.]

I spent a whole week trying to think how Terry Funk would win this match.

He can't; I think Terry Funk is the better overall wrestler, and perhaps one of the best in the business. But this is where Terry does the honors. He did it quite a bit as a heel, which you have to know he'd be in this match. Funk was always gracious in who he put over. This match is going to be closer than the actual vote will show, but Funk as a heel would be brought in for a program with Cena, and Cena would go over.

Also, John Cena's hips aren't as wide as his shoulders. My theory of satchel ass is screwed.

 

[klunderbunker]

This is a BIG threat to Cena.

People often forget how great Terry Funk was. He was NWA Champion for over a year i the 70s and had a career resurgence in ECW as a hardcore legend. Funk can work both styles like a master and could mix things up against Cena. If nothing else, Mick Foley has called Funk the greatest wrestler of all time because of his versatility. That has to mean something.

Now, for the other hand.

John Cena is a BEAST. He has survived beatings the likes of which few others have ever seen and come back to win the match. Look at his I Quit match against JBL at Judgment Day 2005. Cena took a man's beating there and by the end of the match he looked like a killer who would have actually beaten JBL to death with the metal pipe he had in his hands if JBL hadn't quit. That being said, Funk would have taken the beating from Cena and said "is that all you've got" before sending off a string of expletives that would make a sailor blush.

I'm leaning towards Cena but he's in real danger here.

 

[Brewski]

This would really be a great match, really really awesome. I'm just imagining a heel Funk in his prime challenging Cena in a match where Terry has a clear advantage. The problem is though is that no matter how good Funk is and how much better he is in these sorts of matches, Cena is just too resilient against these kinds of adversities. It's a close one but Cena edges out Funk.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

In the United Center, Terry Funk will have the crowd MASSIVELY behind him...or simply massively against Cena. Cena was able to overcome that at Mania 22 against Triple H. But he was NOT able to do so against RVD at One Night Stand (diff venue/city...similar environment), nor against Punk at Money in the Bank.

I'm not sure which to go with here. This might be the closest matchup of the Third Round. Eye test says Cena...but Cena tends to lose these kinds of matches almost as often as he wins them.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

In a hardcore environment, Funk has a much better than usual chance. However, I'm still giving it to Cena. Cena's been in numerous no DQ matches in his time against everyone from technicians to brawlers to powerhouses to giants. In a lot of ways, John Cena is the modern equivalent to Hulk Hogan and I just don't see Funk winning against someone on that level.

Cena would be beaten, bruised and bloody; but he'd also be victorious.

 

[Con T.]

You know what? This doesn't seem so hopeless right now. I think I can see a glimmer of hope... And that glimmer comes from The Bash.

And JBL.

[YOUTUBE]avF2o-oWF_I[/YOUTUBE]

This match involved just about every gimmick in the book. JBL may have gone to extreme lengths, but he eventually got Cena down.

Terry Funk? Yeah, he's crazier than that.

I thought it would be taken by the masses that John Cena can't be kept down. But if you really look at his career.... Cena has plenty of perplexing losses in this type of atmosphere. He's lost to Alberto Del Rio in a falls count anywhere match, and in a last man standing match. I've seen him lose to Lord Tensai in an extreme rules match.

Hell... I've seen him lose to John Laurinitis.

I can only say this in so many words, but here's a little something Mick Foley said;

Terry Funk, the greatest wrestler I ever saw. You look at Terry Funk and you see an old man, you're not seeing the real Terry Funk. His slaps hurt more than most men's punches. His punches dole out concussions. And when he picks up a weapon, he can use it like no man ever has. He is in excruciating pain waking up every single day, looking for one more chance to have one great last match. I blew the son of a bitch up in Japan, and he came back and hugged me. I set him on fire in Philadelphia, and he put his arm around me.

Here's the problem I see for John Cena; Terry Funk has no problem doing just what JBL did, and even worse. He won't think twice to blow the bastard up. He isn't afraid to bleed, and he isn't afraid to die.

Can I say the same thing for John Cena? I'm afraid to say that I can't. What John Cena can do to Terry Funk, Funk can return tenfold.

Even Superman has his limits. And Terry Funk will find them.

 

[Con T.]

Cena's been in numerous no DQ matches in his time against everyone from technicians to brawlers to powerhouses to giants.

And he's lost plenty of those matches, as well. And it isn't just the likes of Randy Orton, and Triple H. No, it's to men like Alberto Del Rio, Tensai, Johnny Ace, Edge, the list goes on.

In a lot of ways, John Cena is the modern equivalent to Hulk Hogan and I just don't see Funk winning against someone on that level.

Cena does plenty more jobs, especially in this environment

Cena would be beaten, bruised and bloody; but he'd also be victorious.

I want you to answer the question I just posted; I clearly believe, and have every reason to believe, Terry Funk will do anything in his power to maim John Cena.

Can you say the same thing for John Cena?

 

[Bernkastel]

Even Superman has his limits. And Terry Funk will find them.

Comparing Cena to Superman is a terrible argument in Funks favor, do you know why? Because Supes doesn't have natural limitations - just mental ones. And the character John Cena seems to be the same way. I've seen him overcome enormous odds that would have easily put down most former world champions in this tournament, but not Cena.

Against an unstoppable Umaga? He won. Against the specialist Edge in a TLC? He won. Against the juggernaut Great Khali? He won. Against Kane's insurmountable hatred? He won... The only obstacles Cena couldn't overcome were RVD in Philly on top of the corpse of ECW - maybe he had those mental blocks in place - and the Rock at Mania. Well didn't Cena not three days ago say that "The Rock didn't defeat [John Cena.] John Cena defeated John Cena?"

This is Terry Funks match to lose; he's considered a specialist in a hardcore environment, right? Well Cena almost always comes through when the odds are stacked against him... like Superman.

 

[Danger Burger]

I kind of have to agree with Occam's tonight, ladies.

If there's anything Terry Funk can do its a street fight. He wouldn'y quit like JBL at the sign of a lump of a car being used on him. The guy would gladly put his head through it first. He can go further in a match than John Cena's nightmares would dare. People might over estimate Cena in a street fight because of his bout with Brock, but he's lost quite a few before too.

One other thing i imagine a lot of people will overlook is Terry's ability to wrestle. His prime came long before his hardcore reawakening. This guy could wrestle circles around CM Punk, a guy who has out-wrestled Cena whenever it mattered most for more than a year.

The stars have aligned for Terry Funk. He takes it.

Well didn't Cena not three days ago say that "The Rock didn't defeat [John Cena.] John Cena defeated John Cena?"

This match will be no different. Cena is too much the hero to be willing to reach a depth needed to out hardcore Terry Funk. Cena beats Cena again. Terry wins.

 

[Con T.]

And the character John Cena seems to be the same way. I've seen him overcome enormous odds that would have easily put down most former world champions in this tournament, but not Cena.

And I've seen him still get up, too. But I've also seen him lose.

Against an unstoppable Umaga? He won. Against the specialist Edge in a TLC? He won. Against the juggernaut Great Khali? He won. Against Kane's insurmountable hatred? He won

1. None of those men are as good as Terry Funk.

2. None of these men are as adept in the hardcore as Terry Funk is.

3. None of these men can absorb the punishment Funk can.

4. Tensai

... The only obstacles Cena couldn't overcome were RVD in Philly on top of the corpse of ECW - maybe he had those mental blocks in place - and the Rock at Mania.

Punk at MitB?

Well didn't Cena not three days ago say that "The Rock didn't defeat [John Cena.] John Cena defeated John Cena?"

A loss is still a loss

This is Terry Funks match to lose; he's considered a specialist in a hardcore environment, right? Well Cena almost always comes through when the odds are stacked against him... like Superman.

Tensai

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

I don't know but I personally feel that all the omens are against John here; he is fighting in a city where he lost a very high profile match under the company banner that he also had a very high profile loss, against a guy with proven quality who had a career resurgence in said company.

For me, Funk would take this in a blood soaked epic where he had the distinct edge in barbarianism.

 

[Teddy Irving]

This is quite possibly the only match where Terry Funk had a chance to go over John Cena, and I can see it happening.

I know Cena has a record for winning matches that are the other guys speciality eg Edge(TLC). But this is in ECW where Funk was super super loved and Terry Funk is a man that has no limits as to where he will go to injure someone. The man has been in every type of match and has always got back up and come back fighting. Like others have pointed out Mick Foley reckons Terry Funk to be the toughest bastard alive, and this isn't some nobody who doesn't know anything about pain this is Mick Foley.

Funk can take anything Cena can throw at him and I just don't know if Cena can take everything Funk can throw at him.


Also I am not 100% sure but I am pretty sure in one of Foleys books he says that when he did his first c4 match he asked Funk how much it hurt when the c4 went off and Funk said it wasn't painful at all. Foley said it was one of the most painful things he has been through.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

Lets see, former NWA champ and hardcore legend vs. WWE's poster boy of today. I really don't know who would win. Cena does well in deck stacked against him situations but he's not invincible in a street fight, JBL did beat him and Terry is much better than JBL.

Both had reigns as top guys and both have memorable careers in their own right. I honestly wouldn't be against either winning here and both guys can win this match. The easy answer is Cena but Terry is vastly underrated by a lot of fans. Its easy to think of him as the crazy Texan but he's a phenomenal wrestler as well.

I may take Terry on experience alone but Cena's a beast. I can't decide at this moment, both have legit claims to winning this match.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

My mistake was reading everyone's posts before making mine. Ridiculous. Remember when Cena went into an ECW style match? With the WWE title at stake, he lost. To Rob. Van. Dam. Sure there was some help, but in a hardcore match, help doesn't matter. I know Cena's nearly invincible and is our modern day Hulk Hogan, but he's prone to losing matches when lots are at stake, too.

Terry Funk lives in hardcore and on top of everything else, can out-wrestle Cena if he had to. I'm voting Funk and not feeling a bit bad about it.

 

[HBsam31]

Cena is known for overcoming the odds, but I think this is one time his opponent will just go that extra length to beat him. Funk can out wrestle Cena, and he surely can out hardcore Cena. It will be a bloody brawl and both may need to be carried out, but I think Funk will pull off the upset in this one, and he is getting my vote.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

You know I dunno what it is...you read the town, the region, the stip and the opponent's name. The more heavily the odds are stacked against Cena, the more you feel like voting for him.

Man's made an unprecedented run as beating you in your match: Edge TLC, Brock Extreme Rules yes there are ones like ONS 2006 where Edge interfered, which is perfectly legal, a loss is a loss. I am a Funk fan so I sit and mull this before voting.

 

[JJYanks121]

The most hardcore match Cena ever fought might be last year against Brock Lesnar. That dude was mean, ruthless, and it was a nasty fight. Nobody thought Cena had a chance..........and he won. That's what Cena does.

It is that match that I point to when thinking about this match here. Lesnar is pretty darn ruthless these days as seen by the number of arms he's broken. He doesn't give a shit about hurting people but yet Cena survived him. Funk is crazy and perhaps comparable, but that still means he'd lose.

What people are forgetting as well is that when Funk transitioned into a hardcore legend, he lost a lot. He retired like 58 times in matches like these to much lesser competitors than John Cena. The thing is though, much like other matches in this tournament, you have to decide if this is NWA Funk or Hardcore Legend Funk. Either way he loses but you can't have both.

Funk might take down lesser men, but he's also lost to lesser men. Cena moves on here.

 

[cult_of_icecream_bar]

This is probably the best and the toughest match in the gimmick rounds.If it really happened,the result would've been a Double pinfall or forced stoppage.Because both men can take and dish out insane amount of punishment.When you think of it,both men are on a level playing field.So no one has much of an edge.But being in ECW,Funk may get the favour here.Cena will be hated here and probably will booed out of the building.Recent history shows,Cena doesn't do much good in a hostile crowd.But i am only 55 % on Funk and can easily be persuaded.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

I want to vote for the Funker. Guy is underrated by most and was more than an old man who brawled all over the world, but I can't help but feel like this will look a lot like Cena's match with Lesnar at Extreme Rules. Cena takes a hell of a beating but comes back in the end. I haven't made up my mind, but I'm leaning Cena for now.

 

[Nate DaMac]

My mistake was reading everyone's posts before making mine. Ridiculous. Remember when Cena went into an ECW style match? With the WWE title at stake, he lost. To Rob. Van. Dam. Sure there was some help, but in a hardcore match, help doesn't matter. I know Cena's nearly invincible and is our modern day Hulk Hogan, but he's prone to losing matches when lots are at stake, too.

Terry Funk lives in hardcore and on top of everything else, can out-wrestle Cena if he had to. I'm voting Funk and not feeling a bit bad about it.

You do realize that was nearly 7 years ago though, right? It hasn't even been a year since he beat Brock Lesnar in an Extreme Rules match.

I get what you guys are doing. This is not a cut and dry match-up, so when you see the opportunity for an upset you jump on it. Alls fair but when you really think about it, when does John Cena lose when the odds are stacked against him? He'll lose when he gets a big head i.e vs, The Rock and John Lauranitus and he's certainly susceptible to underhanded tactics, both of which would be possible outcomes here. I just can't see Cena succumbing to the odds being stacked so heavily against him.

Besides, Funk may be a tough son of a bitch but when he has ever taken down someone like Cena? That's an actual question I'd like answered, by the way.

 

[Tastycles]

Firstly, japes at people saying Funk is a better wrestler than John Cena. If Funk was that good, he'd have stayed in the NWA big picture in the 70s when Dusty, Ric Flair and Harley Race came to play, instead of fading away into the hardcore scene. Terry Funk has spent so long being criminally underappreciated, that we are now in the process of overrating him. Sure, he was a world champion and a decent one at that, but he was nowhere near as successful as, say, Bruno Sammartino a contemporary of his.

Cena on the other hand is the WWE's saviour. There hasn't been a wrestler that so obviously affects the ratings needle since The Rock. When he returned at Survivor Series 2008 from injury, the average Raw rating for the few weeks either side went up by over half a point. This essentially means that about 20% of the WWE audience only watch it for Cena. That's incredible.

The stipulation is meaningless, street fights are always a bit of a clusterfuck, and I don't think you'd ever call anyone a specialist. The thing you have to remember is that hardcore "specialists" are often so-called because they take all the bumps and so forth, and often don't actually win. Terry Funk has lost hardcore matches to Big Vito and Eric Bischoff, amongst many others, I really don't think his fans will want us taking that into account.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

Funk isn't the winner Cena is. I prefer Terry Funk, as I do most wrestlers over John Cena, but Funk loses.

Very few men beat John Cena clean. Funk wasn't exactly a career loser, but Cena is one of the most dominant wrestlers the industry has ever seen. I can't imagine a scenario where Funk comes out on top, and no, this being ECW shouldn't mean anything.

I'm (reluctantly, as always) voting Cena.

 

[Papa Pillman]

My best argument for Funk being able to use his hardcore prowess and ECW Hall of Fame pedigree to overcome Cena was the "RVD at ONS" argument. But when I reconciled to the fact that this match specifically dictates no outside interference with the fact that that win took an Edge run-in to attack Cena, and a Heyman run-in to count the three, then I end up coming back to Cena being Cena and finding a way to pull this out.

Cena would be bloody in a very non-PG way. And he would be battered, just as he was against Brock last year, but he'd get the victory and advance.

Yes Cena has lost in his share of big matches as some pointed out, but Funk has also lost plenty of big matches in Hardcore environments against comparable legends, most notably the "I Quit" match to Flair at Clash IX and the King of the Deathmatch final with Foley. He also lost a world title match to Hogan in the mid-80s, which obviously wasn't a street fight, but mid-80s Hogan is perhaps one of the top comparables for a prime Cena.

I hate to pick Cena against Funk in these circumstances, but I feel that is the most likely booking decision were this to go down.