Going On Eight Years In

[klunderbunker]

Tonight it occurred to me that both John Cena and TNA debuted on the national scene within about a month of each other if even that. Both started off very slowly until they began to gain some traction, until now when they're both big deals in the wrestling world. This may be a stupid question and I'm sure it's not going to go well given the attitudes people have to these two subjects, but I'll try it anyway.

Of the two, who has done more/been a bigger deal/etc. in the past seven and a half years: John Cena, or TNA?

Since these are two of the touchiest subjects in wrestling, don't spam here. I know it'll happen anyway, but don't do it.

 

[Lee]

Nice thread KB, it's a hard thing to compare a company v a wrestler, but I'll give it a go.

Czena

* World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
* World Tag Team Championship (2 times)
* WWE Championship (4 times, current)
* WWE United States Championship (3 times)
* Royal Rumble (2008)

Outside he's appeared in The Marine and 12 rounds, had a brief music career as well as being well known in the USA and internationally with appearances at the Nick kids choice awards as well as other TV programmes.

TNA

Coming from weekly PPVs and state fairs in Tennessee to now the second biggest wrestle promotion in America. It has huge stars such as Angle, Nash, Foley and of course Sting. TNA continues to grow and grow amongst the IWC community.

What I think is that TNA and Cena are Ying and Yang. Cena is geared towards the PG era and whilst this has lead to many people getting annoyed at this era, Cena is with out a doubt the hottest thing in wrestling today.

TNA are the Yang, they're more geared towards the older market the one that pushes the boat out for controversy hoping it creates cash, this has led to an increase in fans who are disillusioned with WWE.

That being said Cena has accomplished a lot more in that time and is well known a lot more to non wrestling fans than TotalNonstopAction.

 

[jmt225]

I'm a huge John Cena fan and I think he's been a wonderful blessing to WWE with his work ethic, personality, and all-around talent, but I still have to choose TNA here.

The fact is, if Cena never joined WWE, WWE would still be thriving today. It wouldn't be any better, but at the same time, it most likely wouldn't be worse, either. Whereas without TNA, we would then have zero alternative to the WWE product on a national level, which would be very hurtful to the business as a whole.

Personally, I'll gladly admit that Cena, overall, has entertained me much more during these eight years with first his 'Word Life' gimmick, and then making the transition to fantastic in-ring worker, than TNA has with their stuff. Outside of Raven in the early years, AJ Styles, and the Beautiful People, TNA hasn't provided me with much, entertainment wise. However, they have still offered me an alternative to WWE every Thursday night on Spike TV. To have that option as a fan of professional wrestling means A LOT, and we should all be grateful we have it. I'm grateful WWE has Cena as well, but like I said... without him, the WWE or the business as a whole doesn't suffer in the least bit.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I think the difference is that Cena is obviously more popular and has done a lot in his tenure with WWE. However, I don't think one superstar's achievements can be bigger then a small independent company that came out of nowhere to be the second largest wrestling company in the world. I'm not putting TNA on the same level as WWE but in 7 years TNA has grown from a company that could of been bankrupted in a year to what it is today.

Some people like the product, some don't. The same can be said about Cena, although the majority of wrestling fans like Cena. A lot of people put Cena in the same category as Hogan and Austin but the ratings say otherwise. WWE has been losing money and ratings over the past few years. I'm not saying Cena is to blame but one superstar can't save the company. Cena has helped WWE gain money and fans. I think that if Cena wasn't hired by WWE then they would of had huge problems filling the gap.

I agree that most people don't know about TNA Wrestling, but not a lot of people who aren't wrestling fans know about Cena either. Cena has done more individually but TNA has done more company wise over the past 7 years. I'll have to go with TNA on this one.

 

[PulledApartByHorses]

I think that whilst Cena has been a massive deal for the WWE, even though I personally don't really like him, you'd have to give this to TNA. It's hard as TNA is a whole company, but it has given a people a mainstream alternative to the WWE and gives us a different take on pro wrestling as a whole which is nothing but positive. Whereas with Cena, he's technically "good", but he's more or less the status quo - i it wasn't Cena, some other guy would have been groomed as the "Next Next Big Thing" (damn Lesnar) as there's no way Vince would go without a marquee star for this "generation". TNA is more of an anomoloy, although it could be argued he creation of such a company would be inevitable after the fall of WCW, but it certainly felt more "out of the blue" so to speak. Factors such as the X-Division keeping "flashy" wrestling alive after WWE killed the Cruiserweight Division and TNA's brilliant booking of the Women's Division also factor in here, as they have really done a decent job of catering to aspects of the wrestling fan base that WWE appear to have spurned.