NegativeFeedback
Mid-Card Championship Winner
I don't know about "sincerity" and all that jazz, but John is a very bad actor. If that's what you mean, then I agree with you. Every single time he speaks, it messes with the suspension of disbelief. I think it has to do with the fact that his character is so different from who he is in real life that it's hard to portray it. Now, make no mistake, John Cena looks very confident on the mic, and that confidence has gotten him tons of dirtsheet awards for "Most charismatic" and things like that. But you shouldn't confuse confidence with believability. His acting and delivery is just awful.
This isn't typical John Cena-hate. The guys is great in the ring when in big match positions (WM27 notwithstanding). But he's just an over-actor when it comes to being on the mic. There are other talented wrestlers who have the same problem. The one that comes to mind immediately is AJ Lee. I can't stand the way she speaks into the mic and starts acting like some ice queen diva. The character just doesn't suit her, and her delivery breaks with suspension of disbelief. She looks like someone reciting lines and trying to be bitchy without actually coming off as a total bitch, like other divas have been able to. Her acting has always been the worst on the show for me. Then again, when she acted like Daniel Bryan's innocent yet abused girlfriend, she was great. I'm guessing it really has to do with the characters being way too different from who they really are.
There are a few others with the same problem like Jerry Lawler and Zack Ryder. They're overacting and come off as "insincere" as the OP puts it.
I wouldn't confuse this thread with typical Cena-bashing. It has nothing to do with how he works his matches or his ability in general on the mic. It's just that his character comes off as phony due to it not being compatible with who he is. I think he came off as more sincere during his hip-hop days. That cocky suburban dude was probably more in-line with his real persona at the time.
This isn't typical John Cena-hate. The guys is great in the ring when in big match positions (WM27 notwithstanding). But he's just an over-actor when it comes to being on the mic. There are other talented wrestlers who have the same problem. The one that comes to mind immediately is AJ Lee. I can't stand the way she speaks into the mic and starts acting like some ice queen diva. The character just doesn't suit her, and her delivery breaks with suspension of disbelief. She looks like someone reciting lines and trying to be bitchy without actually coming off as a total bitch, like other divas have been able to. Her acting has always been the worst on the show for me. Then again, when she acted like Daniel Bryan's innocent yet abused girlfriend, she was great. I'm guessing it really has to do with the characters being way too different from who they really are.
There are a few others with the same problem like Jerry Lawler and Zack Ryder. They're overacting and come off as "insincere" as the OP puts it.
I wouldn't confuse this thread with typical Cena-bashing. It has nothing to do with how he works his matches or his ability in general on the mic. It's just that his character comes off as phony due to it not being compatible with who he is. I think he came off as more sincere during his hip-hop days. That cocky suburban dude was probably more in-line with his real persona at the time.