Okay, can I start by saying that I used to like Cena but now I despise him. I believe he is a mid-upper card prospect AT BEST. Now, I can say unashamedly that I wanted him to beat JBL at Wrestlemania 21 really badly. Because JBL's reign was so long, most people were just waiting for anyone to take it off him. Then along came Cena and his ridiculously long title reign(s). Funny thing now is that I despise Cena and can't get enough of JBL. I can definitely be said that neither Cena nor JBL were great wrestlers (in terms of Benoit, Angle, HHH etc) but JBL wasn't billed as such, he was billed as a lucky bastard sort of champion. However, Cena was built up as a fighting champion and after a while it just became ridiculous that he could hold the belt for so long. He's not necessarily a terrible wrestler, but he does have a limited and predictable moveset and stiff technical movement which can make him seem like a bad wrestler, and he's still not in the class (skills-wise) of the aforementioned Benoit, Angle, HHH, HBK, Undertaker etc.
The turning point I believe, came at Vengeance 2005. Cena started facing heels that were really over with the crowd. Firstly Christian (who later became TNA Champion) and Chris Jericho. Basically Cena kicked Christian off Raw and WWE (then into TNA) and kicked Jericho out of WWE (storyline-wise). Now there you've got the Christian and Jericho fanbases against him.
Then he has to face the most over guy in the WWE-Kurt Angle, and somehow continuously retaining against him. Now as a massive Angle fan, I just couldnt buy this punk kid beating the wrestling machine over and over again. That's what turned me against Cena. It's a bit like the heat on Rey Mysterio. Yes, its a fairytale story blahblah blah, but come on, technically Rey is supposed to be the best on Smackdown. In reality could you see him beating Benoit, Angle, or guys twice his size like JBL, Mark Henry, Great Khali, Batista or Undertaker. No, it is physically impossible, so that's why Rey's been getting heat. Same with Cena, from the Unforgiven 2005 to NYR 2006 I was expecting Angle to take it off Cena. Nope, didn't happen. Well, Edge did get it, but that's barely counted. Then Cena had to go over HHH at WM22 as well. I mean, come on!!!! In real life HHH would wipe the floor with him. Now you've got Angle (me included) and HHH fanbases against him. So basically Cena's polarised the fans of such major superstars through wins that in reality shouldn't happen. That's why I don't like him.
Basically facing such over heels like Christian, Y2J, Angle, HHH has in effect buried Cena and IMO there are only 2 ways to save him (although he is inexplicably gaining his popularity back somehow).
1) Do what WWE have done to JBL. After such a huge push a la JBL, just take the title off him for an extended period and push him back to mid, mid-upper card status. I hated JBL during his title reign but I've now learnt to appreciate him (esp his mic work). I liked Cena when he didn't have the WWE title, hated him when he did so therefore if they take it of him for a while, he might get some genuine pops again in the mid-upper card, and I might start liking him again.
2) An obvious option but I'll say it anyway. TURN CENA HEEL. Especially if he gets the belt again. When Cena was heel he did more vicious mic work that ragged on others and got him over with the crowd. Turn him heel and make him turn on the fans. That will get serious heat and get him over as a heel. I know I keep bringing JBL up, but give him a JBL style heel turn which is the total opposite of what he is now. Instead of being an implausible fighting champion, turn him into a cheapskate champion (a la JBL). I want to see him stealing victories as a heel, perhaps using his steel chain as a weapon out of the referee's sight. That turn might save Cena in the long run as a WWE superstar and then possibly as a more popular face in the future (a la Rock and Austin).
OK I'm done! Yeah I know that I seem like Ive got too much time on my hands but I always seem to have a random rant in me every now and again. At least I know that I managed to crap on for longer than that Masked Vato guy usually does.
Magicians perform illusions not tricks. A trick is something a ****e does for money.
