Is now the best time to turn Cena heel?

[TheMainEvent]

I know there have been Cena heel threads but I didnt see any recent ones so I figured I'd post my thoughts. As of late Cena has been getting owned by The Rock in promos and has been getting booed by fans again. Essentially The Rock has been destroying the crediblity as a face that Cena has built up the last few years with his "hustle, loyalty, respect" gimmick. With that said there is to be some form of confrontation at Wrestlemania between the two and things can go either one of two ways: Cena and Rock shake hands after Cena wins the title or Cena and Cena can FINALLY turn heel and attack Rock after the match. My question is: is it the time to capitalize and make that turn?

I say YES! Cena's face character has been played out and The Rock's promos are pointing that out. Wrestlemania is going to gain alot of viewership and if they want to capitalize and get peoples attention, what better way than a HUGE suprise heel turn to shake things up?! It would be Hogan nWo of this generation.... Cena attacks Rock after winning the title, Rock comes out next night to get answers and gets taken out indefinetly..allowing him to return for a match at Summerslam in LA down the road. Also, if Jericho is returning (as a face most likely) having Cena as a heel won't hurt the roster depth too much, plus the draft can fix things as well.

Now is the time to turn Cena heel if there ever was one. Logistically it makes sense in that it wil be ground breaking and draw alot of viewers so why not do it when viewership is at its yearly high? The roster wont be too lopsided and the draft can fix it and setup fresh feuds anyways. It also sets up a possible Rock/Cena match at Summerslam in LA.

 

[TheOrtonRevolution]

I think it would be a good time @ Wrestlemania. Cena and Miz are going @ it. Miz suddenly starts to cheat while the ref is distracted. Then the Rock comes down and stops him. Cena wins the title. He and the Rock make up, but then Cena beats the crap out of him. But I'm just worrying what would happen to revenues when Cena turns heel. You're talking about probably 50% of profits going away.

 

[DeadmanFan]

"hustle, loyalty, respect" gimmick.

What gimmick?

Cena's been needing to turn heel for years. His "gimmick" is beyond stale. But WWE will never turn him heel because he's too much of a cash cow and, unfortunately, there's no one that can really replace him right now as top face- both in merchandise sales and for storyline purposes. I'd like to see Morrison be a legit contender for the "top face" spot (at least storyline wise), but I doubt he ever sells as much as Cena.

Put simply Cena won't turn heel, even though this is the best opportunity that's come along in some time and in the long run from a creative standpoint is exactly what's needed.

Damn them nagging little kids.

 

[EricRuthGames]

I read from some folks in some other reports/columns/threads that Cena turning heel sets up to make the next biggest face of the company. A heel Cena can turn Miz into a great face, elevate Kofi as a face or even turn Swagger into a good face. As it was so eloquently put; A GREAT heel can make a great face. Every great face in history had a memorable heel to help elevate them (Stone Cold VS McMahon, Cena VS JBK, Hogan VS Andre) and turning Cena heel will be the right move at the right time. He can help elevate all of these young, talented new-bloods while keeping the IWC happy, evolving the wrestling scene, and making Wrestlemania the can't miss event of the decade. Cena can also stay relevant, keep the title, and stay in the main event picture this way. Its a win-win for EVERYONE.

Me included.

P.S.- Some probable loss of T-Shirt sales will NOT bankrupt the biggest wrestling company in history. A Cena heel turn will not financially topple Titan Sports. End of story.

 

[Tattooed Jesus]

I don't think I would mind a Cena heel turn, but what worries me is that there is not another guy on the roster right now that could step up and fill his #1 face spot.

Certainly not Randy Orton. He has the charisma of a wet brick and the most boring promo's and matches of anyone in the last decade. He is an amazing heel but is absolutely horrible as a face, just boring, and looks like an all around tool when he is making those jerking movements and ******ed looking faces.

John Morrison again works better as a heel and I don't think he is anywhere near ready to try to assume the role as the biggest face in the company.

HHH is gonna do more behind the scenes than in front of the camera, same with Undertaker so that rules out the other two biggest faces in the WWE currently.

No one else is ready to make that move that I can see unless I am missing something.

 

[Mr_billy]

If there was a time, now would be the possibility, with the Rock. If not now, then never. He makes too much money. His feud with the Rock can easily lead this way after he gets humiliated. Expand his move set, and speed up his raps, they were too slow to begin with. The reason he is not over with the IWC is because we are miscreants who just don't play along and suspend belief and go with the stories and have seen this story with Hogan. The kids love him, make the money of of the parents, hell yeah.

 

[Zangash]

As much as I'd like to see Cena turn heel, Mania isn't the time to do it. WM needs to be about the Miz, not John Cena. A win for the Miz would solidify him in the main event. Cena can turn heel any day and it'd have the same amount of impact. I'd rather see the Miz win, the Rock belittle Cena for it the next day (The Rock is scheduled for an appearance after WM), and have Cena go nuts on him and turn heel. Cena does a lot better work when he's not involved with the title.

 

[I_got_bant_for_idiocy]

having a heel rock vs a face cena would be much better i think... Have the rock turn heel and lay out cena with acouple chair shots at wrestlemania and than hug the miz would be much much better...Like said before cena is wwe cash cow and the lil kids love him to much n vince cares about one thing and its MONEY and turning cena heel not a smart idea..

 

[Tattooed Jesus]

As much as I'd like to see Cena turn heel, Mania isn't the time to do it. WM needs to be about the Miz, not John Cena. A win for the Miz would solidify him in the main event. Cena can turn heel any day and it'd have the same amount of impact. I'd rather see the Miz win, the Rock belittle Cena for it the next day (The Rock is scheduled for an appearance after WM), and have Cena go nuts on him and turn heel. Cena does a lot better work when he's not involved with the title.

This works if and only if The Rock is going to stick around for a year or so. I absolutely want to see Miz get the win because of the reasons you listed for sure. Seeing The Rock go off on Cena about not winning the title would be amazing and if Cena went full heel on a returning Rock, that would the shit. However if Cena turns and The Rock just leaves again, where does that leave us? Who does he feud with? I don't want to see Miz turn face, he is way to over as a heel right now and he plays the role perfectly.

 

[MizterColemine]

You bring up a good point. It is a great opportunity to turn Cena heel. I really don't even think its a gamble. However the WWE has to be perfectly sure who to elevate and push into the face vacuum left by Cena. Because unlike Stone Cold, Cena isn't the kind of heel turn that can be reversed in a year or two, or at least it shouldn't be that type. Cena would be like this generation's Hogan, but Cena isn't necessarily at that point in his career where his faceness won't take him or the company any further, and they don't have a Monday Night War going on in which they need something that huge to keep things going. So I don't necessarily believe a heel turn is necessary.
But perhaps, nevertheless, the time has come.
The Superman Cena/Wrestlemania winning streak has to come to an end. The Rock should verbally demoralize Cena in their face to face just before the match, pissing him off and taking him out of his game. Miz should, with help from outside interference of course, somehow beat Cena... Yeah, I said it! Cena should snap after the match and beat the Miz... brutally. The Rock should come out to gloat and Cena should beat him too. Cena should invoke his rematch claus on Raw the next night and defeat Miz. And beat the Rock again, this time for no reason. Go on a rampage beating referees, and other wrestlers that try to pull him off. Enter the challenger for the title... John Morrison (or insert other up and coming face) as foil and next victim for the rampaging heel Cena.

 

[CelticCorey]

I'm sick of people saying "Oh Cena is a cash cow, it wouldn't be good for merch sales."

Did you ever think that the people who can't stand Cena might warm up to him if he turned heel? Did you ever think that he may say merchandise as a heel? I might buy a Cena a shirt if he went heel. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who would buy heel Cena merch either. You can make it a rare double turn where Miz becomes the face of the company just like Vinny wants (Afterall, Miz, like Cena DOES have mainstream exposure) Miz HAS sold as a heel and even if Sheamus is taking a break from main eventing, I actually see Miz as a permanent main eventer. There will be guys who main event when needed and there will be guys who always main event. I see Miz falling into the latter category.

I do agree Mania needs to be about Miz and Miz NEEDS to win at Mania if WWE is serious about their investment in him. But really, turn the tables for a minute, imagine if Cena does turn heel, who is to say people who hated Cena's guts wouldn't buy his merch if he was a heel? I know I would do it.

 

[mrbooker]

As much as I'd like to see Cena turn heel, Mania isn't the time to do it. WM needs to be about the Miz, not John Cena. A win for the Miz would solidify him in the main event. Cena can turn heel any day and it'd have the same amount of impact. I'd rather see the Miz win, the Rock belittle Cena for it the next day (The Rock is scheduled for an appearance after WM), and have Cena go nuts on him and turn heel. Cena does a lot better work when he's not involved with the title.

Nooooo way the WHOLE world will be watching wrestlemania people that dont even like wrestling will be watching wrestlemania, the simple fact is their is not one person not Undertaker, not HHH, not even Stone Cold, that could make Cena get over as a heel as quick as the rock and for it to happen infront of 70,000 and millions watching around the world

By doing that you have those same people tune into Raw the very next night to see what the rock has to say about cena turning heel

Whether people like to admit it even if the Miz wins it is not going to make him this huge mega star its just not. It not going to change the landscape of WWE. Cena turning heel is going to by a whole lot, I dont think it will happen but i wish it would. A Cena heel as Champion is fresh and its never been done.

However a Cena Heel and a Miz tweener champ would be interesting to see as well

 

[laddclan]

I don't buy the whole "cash cow" theory. Fans can buy a shirt for any WWE Superstar, heel or face. Cena gets a brand new "I Hate the Fans" attitude shirt... it will be bought.

Assuming they don't just lock Cena and Orton up to a year-long feud, Cena can build the future faces of WWE (Morrison, Bourne, etc...) and will help move THEIR merchandise in the process as the kids have to replace their Cenapparel with the current wrestler to face the great betrayer.

Austin 3:16 and nWo shirts prove that you don't have to be a goody two-shoes to sell merchandise.

 

[CelticCorey]

Nooooo way the WHOLE world will be watching wrestlemania people that dont even like wrestling will be watching wrestlemania, the simple fact is their is not one person not Undertaker, not HHH, not even Stone Cold, that could make Cena get over as a heel as quick as the rock and for it to happen infront of 70,000 and millions watching around the world

By doing that you have those same people tune into Raw the very next night to see what the rock has to say about cena turning heel

Whether people like to admit it even if the Miz wins it is not going to make him this huge mega star its just not. It not going to change the landscape of WWE. Cena turning heel is going to by a whole lot, I dont think it will happen but i wish it would. A Cena heel as Champion is fresh and its never been done.

However a Cena Heel and a Miz tweener champ would be interesting to see as well

Miz winning at Mania won't make him this huge mega star? Please back this up. How, just how, can one become more established than retaining the title against Cena in the main event at Mania? In a way I see him now as Orton was three years ago. While he was becoming bigger and bigger, Orton retaining the WWE title at Mania against Cena AND Trips, IMO, solidified him into where he is now. Miz MAY fall down the ladder if he loses at Wrestlemania. You wanna give Cena the title? Do it at Extreme Rules. But do you know how much credibility the Miz would have by beating Cena?

 

[nWo2000]

If you remember the Heel Cena of 2004-2006ish, that was before the PG era started, and a lot of his best heel promos were not PG. I don't know how you could pull off a "PG Heel" John Cena.

 

[Lucha-Libre is wrestling]

I'm not a John Cena fan but he is only 33yrs old and I wont be surprise if WWE waits 1 or 2 more years before they turn him into a Super Heel. Remember VKM has stated many times that if Cena goes Heel, it has to be the biggest heel turn in the history of the WWE. And when that happens we will really see if Cena's name belongs in the same class as Ric Flair, Hogan, HHH, HBK , The Rock,Y2J and Taker, all these guys are legends that we loved as faces and heels. John Cena needs to be a Super Heel to cement his legacy as a all time great, if not he will all ways be known as Rapping/Super Cena the Fruity Pebbles Bitch.

 

[Long Island Iced WXYZ]

Now is the time to turn Cena heel if there ever was one. Logistically it makes sense in that it wil be ground breaking and draw alot of viewers so why not do it when viewership is at its yearly high? The roster wont be too lopsided and the draft can fix it and setup fresh feuds anyways. It also sets up a possible Rock/Cena match at Summerslam in LA.

No way.

They need John Cena as a face, because if he turns heel, who is going to fill his spot?

Randy Orton? R-Truth? John Morrison?

I mean really. If he goes heel there's no strong babyface to go against him.

So no.

And heels only work if they have strong faces.

 

[JaylisJayP]

I think Cena does need to be turned heel. First, I agree with those who don't buy the "cash cow" thing. He'll sell shirts one way or another...don't worry about that.

The thing is, assuming the Rock isn't really back full time, what really is left for Cena after mania if he doesn't turn heel?

Seeing HHH come back has made me realize how stale he is, and I'm starting to feel that way about Cena in general, not only with his face persona.

You know what I'd LOVE to see? Turn Cena heel and have him start a 3-4 month feud with John Morrison...I mean REALLY get that guy up to elite face status. Let Miz feud with Orton or Punk depending whether he's a face or heel during the same time.

 

[JaylisJayP]

No way.

They need John Cena as a face, because if he turns heel, who is going to fill his spot?

Randy Orton? R-Truth? John Morrison?

I mean really. If he goes heel there's no strong babyface to go against him.

So no.

And heels only work if they have strong faces.

Th're going to need to replace the top face eventually...the only way you do that is to elevate someone with a long feud against a top heel.

 

[itssoeasy123]

Um, no!

He wont be turning heel anytime soon. If has gonna face The Rock at a PPV, Rock would be the heel.

First of all, there's not one man who can fill his void as top face at the moment. When Austin went heel, the Rock was there to even it out. Orton is over, but is not the second top face in WWE. If anything, Edge is the second top face of WWE right now.

Anyway, no. Cena won't be turning heel anytime soon. He does'nt need to (no matter how much you think he does.) Hogan was a face for years! So why does it differentiate with Hogan and Cena? Hogan was playing the same gimmick until 1996 when he turned heel. He was playing the same character throughtout the 80's and early 90's. Cena doesn't have to turn heel, it'll be a lost cause. No matter how much you hate his character, him turning heel right now isn't needed. He'll be face when he fued's with The Rock (if he does).

He'll turn heel when they find a superstar to even it out, or TNA become competition.

 

[BTLion1990]

There has been a lot of talk within forums (nothing official) about a John Cena heel turn. While this could be the case within the next 2/3 years in my opinion, there has been a question of how to do the heel turn.

In my opinion, they should make it a case of the Bret/Austin scenario, at WrestleMania 13. He could have a match with Orton for example and despite beating him, due to the boos of the fans could continue the assault. It would be subtle as fans would want to know if it was a one-off, if he lost his mind etc and could then lead to Cena apologising then turning on him again thus cementing it officially. They may as well do the Bret/Austin scenario as he gets booed most nights anyway, so why not use it to their advantage.

Any thoughts about how you would do it? Hulk Hogan style with the nWo? Austin at Mania 17 siding with Vince?

 

[S.J. Maximus]

Can someone please read Mike Killam's editorials about John Cena turning heel. Just like people have already been saying the merchandise excuse is absolute bullshit because he will still sell as a heel (obviously not as much as he did but still alot) and his heel turn will build the next face.

Yeah of course no one looks ready to take Cena's spot right now because no one is ready to take it right now, they don't need to be ready right now. I'm not even gonna waste my time trying to explain how Randy Orton is perfectly capable of carrying the torch (but I swear he can) so instead I'll explain how monster heels help create the next big face. No? Don't believe me? Mr. McMahon definitely enhanced Austin, HHH enhanced The Rock, JBL completely enhanced John Cena and HHH enhanced Batista - People pay big money to see people step up and try to dethrone the dominant heel.

If Cena turns heel, people will pay to see him create the next big face.

 

[Tattooed Jesus]

Like I said in the other thread about Cena turning heel, there is no point in doing so until there is a credible top face to take his spot. There is no one that has what it takes to fill the role Cena has had for better part of the past 5 years. Randy Orton is probably the worst face character of all time, and thats being kind. John Morrison is no where near where he needs to be to be able to carry the company as the top face. The Miz is to good of a heel to be a face now, it would kill his momentum. HHH and Undertaker are not around enough anymore, Edge is on his way out the door, Mysterio can't do it, etc.

So the question of how is a moot point at this time.

 

[ChiefAlot]

when Cena turns heel all the haters will love him then. I think he has a chance to be the next top heel. i mean anyone can be heel you just have to give the right push. as far as how they should do it??????? Well hes a big face and it would have to be a pretty drastic thing. I think beating a guy after he is down is played out. Cena is hure with kids and chicks so like I said it would have to be a major action. Maybe he could be the raw GM??

 

[jellmoo]

He wont be turning heel anytime soon. If has gonna face The Rock at a PPV, Rock would be the heel.

Wrestlemania X8.

A "face" Rock went up against a "heel", and what happened? Nostalgia took over and the audience backed Hogan and booed The Rock.

So no, the fans would force the heel role on Cena if they ever had a match.

This is the absolute best opportunity that WWE has to turn Cena. It won't be this good again. The Rock is more or less the one guy that can help get this done. WWE is in a position where all of the money matches have been done. Until they elevate some younger stars to solid main eventers, they are going to have to switch stuff around.

Cena vs Orton has been done to death. However, if you get the audience to really hate Cena, I think that yet another feud, this time with a hell Cena vs a face Orton could actually be money. Same goes for Cena and HHH.

The worst part of it is that the possibility is happening in a match with The Miz. Meaning that if they decide to pull the trigger and turn Cena *at* Mania, we either get the shittiest champion in recent memory retaining, or some ******ed Miz face turn.

If they hold off on the turn until after Mania, you can get the belt off of The Miz, toss him back to the mid card where he belongs, and then execute the heel turn on a champion Cena. A better solution all around.