John Cena Superstar = Myth

[PunkNation26]

Well guys, we are in the beginning of the "Reality Era". That of course depends on whether or not Vince is about to kill it. We won't know until after Night of Champions as Triple H could bury Punk and kill the era before it even gets a running start. I say this because in this era gimmicks like the Undertaker won't work.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the Undertaker as I did. In fact, Taker and Kane back in 97 was an amazing feud. But in today's world, you can't push storylines and gimmicks like that. MMA has changed things. Fans want realistic feuds and storylines. You don't get that with Cena. Realisticly I don't understand why Cena scares heels so bad. I mean, it's not like he's Triple H with a sledgehammer. The worst you face is a fireman's carry slam and a botched stf where he applies 0 pressure.

To clarify, I'm talking the version of Undertaker where he gets powers from the urn. On a seperate subject, I don't even like the fact that nobody can beat Taker at WM. It's stupid and unrealistic. I mean Triple H unloaded his whole arsenal on Taker at WM and still couldn't pin him. Well if it was booked right, Taker should've either been pinned after the chair shot to the head, or Trips should have locked him in a submission and won the match. It also sucks that Vince thinks the world will end if Cena or Undertaker tap out. I mean Triple H himself has tapped a 100 times and we still buy him as a badass. That's because every man on the face of the earth will tap if locked in a certain hold for long enough. And yeah I'm aware Taker tapped out once to Kurt Angle.

 

[Magma101]

Looks like you're under impression Cena writes his promos and his jokes? You must also be another one of those guys who think Cena is responsible for PG right? This video proves Cena only turned PG because the company wanted him to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOXntISqtyE
As you can see, Cena is an angry, firecracker son of a bitch. Do you think this Cena wanted to go PG?

 

[King of the Words]

Cena is a modern-day Hulk Hogan. Back then it was cool to be a surfer dude with long hair and work out on the beach, thus we got the Hulkster! However nowadays, the cool thing is the gangster character, being a smart-ass on the mic and shorter hair cuts or just a shaved head, thus we have Cena. Cena is just caterining to what is the" cool" look these days like Hogan did back in the 80's. Eventually, Cena's character and look will become lame to the majority and it will be on to the next big thing, or style, and who on the roster can advertise it the best. That's my thought behind these mega stars of the wrestling industry.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

Where in the fuck is it fact that Cena only appeals to women and children? This gets brought up all the damn time and it is easily the dumbest dumb-ass opinion in the history of pro wrestling. And boy howdy, is that covering some ground.

More importantly, why is that such a bad thing that Cena appeals to them? If he can get one kid to want to get the John Cena shirt, hat, wristbands, and necklace, he has effectively sold $60 worth of merchandise. Times that by the number of kids in the crowd.. You know how many companies wish they had a money maker like that?

Compare that to other demographics. How many of you Punk fans rushed out to get his wrist straps?

 

[keehlnate]

This thread is probably the latest of the gazillion Cena hate threads created. For your thread title "John Cena Superstar = Myth"

John Cena being a superstar is a MYTH? Really?

Really?

Really?

If John Cena is not a superstar then who is? If John Cena is not a superstar then why are there so many hate threads about him? Why is he worth talking about? Are you even watching WWE for the last 6 years? If John Cena is not a superstar then why did WWE let him main event 7 wrestlemanias? Are you kidding me? Cena = Myth? Really?

 

[PunkNation26]

You obviously can't say he has zero adult male fans. However, use your common sense. Listen to the chants. "high pitched Let's go Cena", followed by deep, low toned " Cena Sucks!" chants. This argument will never die.

 

[SomeAreSet]

Let's be fair...all of Cena's movies are WWE Films and really have been flops (like someone else on here said). As far as his countless appearances on TV shows, there are 10 as a performer on a TV series or movie and around 30-40 as himself...

CM Punk? I doubt he has any...but I'm saying that of the two guys, CM Punk has that style that could potentially transcend media. Remember, Austin's "Austin 3:16" speech didn't immediately propel him to the main event and to superstardom...it took around 2 years for him to reach his peak. Cena has been on top for a while, but just doesn't have that same appeal as the megastars (Austin, Rock, Hogan) do. In fact, a lot of his appearances were like Hannah Montana and the Kids Choice Awards. It's very similar to 1996 when Shawn Michaels was "the guy" and appeared on things like the Jenny Jones show. It was nice and it was exposure, but it didn't make him a megastar, just a star.

(Note: I got all of the info from IMDB.com)

Cena's films have been flops,but all WWE-produced films have been flops.Actually,so many wrestlers have acted in massive flops,regardless of their popularity.Even a true megastar like Austin couldn't parlay his popularity into a successful film career.Hell,fuck Austin,even Hulk Hogan couldn't do it.He had a nice cameo in Rocky III and then...Suburban Commando and Santa With Muscles.The Rock's the only true ex-wrestler turn movie star,and he had to give up on his wrestling career,turn his back on it almost completely and go down the Vin Diesel route to achieve his success today.Also,the success of a film depends on many other factors other than who's starring in it.The director,the script,the actors of course,the marketing (which for John Cena's films were nearly non-existent considering the WWE can't provide a marketing platform compared to a movie studio like Universal),the pre-release buzz,the number of screens the movie's showing in,to name a few.It's like how some people will watch a film because of the director (Woody Allen,David Fincher,Martin Scorsese,etc.),or because they hear that the movie's an Oscar contender,or because Aaron Sorkin's written the script.Many factors come into play.Also,Cena's definitely not as popular as Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio,but neither is Stone Cold or Hulk Hogan.

Enough about his film career though,there are many factors pointing to the fact that Cena is as popular as the WWE says he is.His album went platinum,for instance.I think it says a lot about someone's popularity that they can come up with rather mediocre music and still go platinum.An album's more of a solo effort than a film.Put it this way,you buy a Bob Dylan record because you like Bob Dylan.You watch Transformers because of robots,explosions,CGI fight scenes and Megan Fox.Add that to his TV appearances and I really can't think of anything that suggests that he's not the number 1 guy in the WWE and is their biggest moneymaker.

Also,the WWE consistently draws in ratings that are around 3.0.Those are pretty good numbers for a cable television show.Even a 2.8 rating puts them in the top 10 for Cable TV shows.I find it hard to label the WWE as a "dying empire" when other shows aren't exactly blowing them out of the water.TV's just become less popular as the Internet becomes more popular.

As for the OP's claim that Cena doesn't sell as much merchandise as the WWE claims...I don't know what to say to that except "God damn,man,watch an episode of Raw or two." Just look at the crowd and count how many Cena shirts there are compared to,let's say,CM Punk shirts or The Miz shirts.Cena has more than his fair share of shirts,not only on children,but adults too.Sure,CM Punk's been selling more t-shirts in the last 2 months,but does anyone really want to start counting how many t-shirts Cena's sold overall compared to Punk?He's been selling shirts like hotcakes since 2004 with "Ruck Fules".Punk threw a pipe bomb that sent a shockwave rippling through the industry and they're promoting him accordingly.He's been in the main event ever since,but Vince would have to be a terrible businessman to toss his biggest moneymaker by the wayside to get behind a guy that's pretty much riding on a wave right now.The wave may be as tall as the mountain currently,but sooner or later it's going to crash.The WWE would be willing to get behind Punk if he stays on the same level for a year or two.Getting behind Punk because of 2 months of solid shirt selling would be like getting behind MC Hammer because of Can't Touch This.The WWE's struck gold and they're digging for more.That doesn't mean they have to close off the other,bigger gold mine.This kind of monogamist thinking is simply naive.Besides,the fact that Punk's supposedly the biggest thing in wrestling right now and ratings are still stagnant is a BIG sign that he's not as popular as people claim he is.Either that or about 2 million people were about to simultaneously switch off their TV sets and never watch Raw again before Punk came on and did his "shoot heard around the world" promo.

Now I can't argue that Cena's as popular as Stone Cold or Hulk Hogan in their heyday,because he's not,but to claim that Cena's not as popular as the WWE says he is is preposterous.Cena's the biggest thing that's happened to the WWE in the last 6 years.Nobody's made more money for them than he has.

Lastly,this has nothing to do with Cena's popularity,but stop using the "Cena is boring and we're bored of Cena" excuse.You know what's boring?Paper.You know what I don't talk about or think about or watch?Paper.I don't go on forums and talk about my hatred of paper to paper aficionados or fellow paper haters.The fact that you're all still talking about Cena means that you're far from bored of him.People who go "Cena's boring!" and yet talk about him incessantly are like closet homosexuals pretending to be homophobes.You're curious,you want to try it,but you're so afraid of society's perception of you that you hit out in the other direction to seem "normal".

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I'm about tired of hearing this one tossed around so often, this idea that John Cena is the be-all, end-all of the WWE revenue.

Who is tossing this idea around? I think by now it's just common sense that Cena's is a golden cow for the WWE and has been for years. Nobody is debating that, except you... So how in the world are you sick of that being tossed around?

He's the current king of a dying kingdom. The ratings are in the toilet, as are the buyrates. In 2001, the year WCW kicked the bucket, they started the year pulling 3.1's. Those ratings killed them. WWE with Cena the Barbarian recently pulled a 2.9. Something is wrong.

Well isn't that cute, another internet fan that thinks he knows the ins and outs of the wrestling industry, including the finances of one of the most successful entertainment companies in the world. What a joke. Not only is this information about WCW complete cow manure, but the assumption that the WWE is a dying kingdom is just hilarious. Do they have lower ratings now than in during the Attitude Era? Perhaps... Are there hundreds more stations, way more alternatives, and a culture that has a million other avenues for entertainment? YES! Not only that, but the Nelson ratings aren't even a very reliable source of how a company is doing. Ratings mean all kinds of things, none of which is an account of how much money a company is actually making. It's FREE television! They make money off of advertisements, but the ratings aren't the WWE's bottom line. What is? No idea... I'm not going to pretend I know things about the internal workings of a multi-million dollar company.

Yeah well, the seven year olds love Cena tho right? What seven year olds? Where are these kids? I see a bunch in the front row, but I've never EVER met a 7, 10, or 12 year old kids who liked John Cena.

How old are you? Because unless the answer is under 14 there is no way you hang out with enough little children to actually know this for a fact. Unless... Look, if you really want to pause the television next time Raw is on and count the amount of kids you see in the audience, go for it! I was just semi-recently in Chicago for Raw and I had several rows of children and their parents or older siblings sitting right behind us. The kids are EVERYWHERE, and so are the adults and college-age students. And teenagers. And it's not just the little kids that love John Cena, there are actually high schoolers that love him. My younger brothers are all in high school and have TONS of Cena loving friends...

Kids, by and large, don't watch wrestling. It's stupid to them.

Tell you what, go door to door and take a survey of 1,000 kids (without getting arrested) asking them if wrestling is stupid, and then I'll take your word for it.

Cena doesn't sell Rock-level merchandise, or Austin in his prime merchandise. I'm sure he sells a bunch, but who wouldn't with how hard they're behind him? Meanwhile, the top selling shirt of the past month or two belongs to.....CM Punk. Not John Cena. So why not rush his headbands, hats, shirts, wallets, keychains? Why not put the machine behind him? They struck gold, why not go with it? Instead they're trying to make him look like a whiner who is just mad that he isn't Cena.

Facts and figures, that's all I ask! You can't tell me Cena hasn't sold as much as Rock or Austin, and while it may be true I highly doubt it. Cena's reign on the top of the company has lasted long than the Rock or Austin era so that in itself gives him the edge. And are you suggesting that CM Punk's shirts have sold out in arena's everywhere and have been doing incredibly good for TWO MONTHS that you should just give him the go ahead and sit him on top of the company? You're buying too much into a character and an angle... How do you want them to "rush his headbands, hats, shirts" etc...? You want Punk to come out dressed head-to-toe in brightly colored crap so that it sells to kids? Because that's what Cena does... I'm not understanding how else you want them to "rush" CM Punk... They are going with him. He's in the main event of this PPV, after main eventing the last two PPVs. He's working with the son-in-law of the WWE in a huge high profile match. He's been given mic time and in-ring time weekly. Open your eyes and read the crap you're saying...

Cena thread. So what? He's important. He's worth talking about. He's worth tweaking and not sticking behind something that isn't working as well as it could be.

^^^^^
What is this, I don't even...

 

[Papi Chulo]

The original poster had it right on. He's the current king of a dying kingdom. He just isn't that popular and the reason he sells the most merch is simply b/c he's the one featured the most on tv show thats not that popular and he's practically a walking billboard for himself. After a match he might as well jump into an inflatable John Cena baby pool while eating a bowl of Honey Nut U Cant See Me O's. Most Raws up until now it just seemed like they were trying to convince us that he's popular but now the best thing they can say about their "main guy" is that he gets a mixed reaction. And like a dope he never stops smiling and pretending to love that "the universe" is just so passionate. Forget about comparing his t-shirt sales against The Rock and Austin. I'd like to see how he stacks up against Gangrel or Too Cool, Hahahah! And get this. People do boo him b/c it's the cool thing to do. The reason it's cool isn't b/c they are just being smarks. It's cool b/c he is uncool and actually does suck. Things aren't only booed b/c people like being opposite the norm or b/c it's a fad. Often they are booed when they happen to suck terribly as is the case w/ Cena. I hope John cena reads my post so he can be filled with joy and grin ear to ear about another passionate person in "the universe."

 

[Headman]

I'm about tired of hearing this one tossed around so often, this idea that John Cena is the be-all, end-all of the WWE revenue. He generates so many dollars and sells so much merchandise that he's the "man". He's the franchise of the company and that idea can't be disputed, argued with, or changed. Well I say he ain't that popular. Yeah I said it.

He's the current king of a dying kingdom. The ratings are in the toilet, as are the buyrates. In 2001, the year WCW kicked the bucket, they started the year pulling 3.1's. Those ratings killed them. WWE with Cena the Barbarian recently pulled a 2.9. Something is wrong.

Yeah well, the seven year olds love Cena tho right? What seven year olds? Where are these kids? I see a bunch in the front row, but I've never EVER met a 7, 10, or 12 year old kids who liked John Cena. I saw one kid wearing his shirt once. I've seen several with Orton shirts and even many Stone Cold ones still. I'm sure they exist somewhere, but I fail to buy that there's this massive fanbase of little kids watching wrestling who love John Cena. Kids, by and large, don't watch wrestling. It's stupid to them.

His movies all flopped. Well, what about the merchandise? Cena doesn't sell Rock-level merchandise, or Austin in his prime merchandise. I'm sure he sells a bunch, but who wouldn't with how hard they're behind him? Meanwhile, the top selling shirt of the past month or two belongs to.....CM Punk. Not John Cena. So why not rush his headbands, hats, shirts, wallets, keychains? Why not put the machine behind him? They struck gold, why not go with it? Instead they're trying to make him look like a whiner who is just mad that he isn't Cena.

Yeah, it's another Cena thread. So what? He's important. He's worth talking about. He's worth tweaking and not sticking behind something that isn't working as well as it could be. People don't go out there and boo John Cena because he's controversial. Or because they think he's a bad person. They boo because they care and he's boring them to death with his corny character.

Fine. Find someone on the WWE roster who draws more than Cena and notify the WWE of this newly discovered fact and I'm sure they will promptly promote this mystery superstar to main event status. I think Triple H's promo on Punk pretty much sums it up. If these guys people keep begging the WWE to push were making money 7/11 would call the WWE and demand that they be put on a cup. You guys act like the WWE is only for making money if they can do it with John Cena, but are totally against making money if it's with someone else. This kind of logic still escapes me.

 

[TheGamea]

I'm about tired of hearing this one tossed around so often, this idea that John Cena is the be-all, end-all of the WWE revenue. He generates so many dollars and sells so much merchandise that he's the "man". He's the franchise of the company and that idea can't be disputed, argued with, or changed. Well I say he ain't that popular. Yeah I said it.

He's the current king of a dying kingdom. The ratings are in the toilet, as are the buyrates. In 2001, the year WCW kicked the bucket, they started the year pulling 3.1's. Those ratings killed them. WWE with Cena the Barbarian recently pulled a 2.9. Something is wrong.

Yeah well, the seven year olds love Cena tho right? What seven year olds? Where are these kids? I see a bunch in the front row, but I've never EVER met a 7, 10, or 12 year old kids who liked John Cena. I saw one kid wearing his shirt once. I've seen several with Orton shirts and even many Stone Cold ones still. I'm sure they exist somewhere, but I fail to buy that there's this massive fanbase of little kids watching wrestling who love John Cena. Kids, by and large, don't watch wrestling. It's stupid to them.

His movies all flopped. Well, what about the merchandise? Cena doesn't sell Rock-level merchandise, or Austin in his prime merchandise. I'm sure he sells a bunch, but who wouldn't with how hard they're behind him? Meanwhile, the top selling shirt of the past month or two belongs to.....CM Punk. Not John Cena. So why not rush his headbands, hats, shirts, wallets, keychains? Why not put the machine behind him? They struck gold, why not go with it? Instead they're trying to make him look like a whiner who is just mad that he isn't Cena.

Yeah, it's another Cena thread. So what? He's important. He's worth talking about. He's worth tweaking and not sticking behind something that isn't working as well as it could be. People don't go out there and boo John Cena because he's controversial. Or because they think he's a bad person. They boo because they care and he's boring them to death with his corny character.

im not gonna call you an idiot you have pages of people calling you an idiot, im gonna call you a perv you’ve never met a 7 year old who like john cena WHY are you looking or haning out with kids, im not tryna be funny im dead serious. And even when you not looking for kids with cena shirts have you watched a WWE event on TV WHO do you SEE in the crowd do you really thing that everyone is there for CM Punk and the Miz (albeit I like those guys) but they just got hot like 12 mintues ago, and his movies flopped… ALL wwe movies flopped to be honest everyone that ever BEEN in the WWE movies have always flopped outside of the rocks Fast Five and Stone colds expendalbles they ALL are horrible and I serious doubt that people went to see fast five and the expendenable for the rock and stone cold.

And saying he doent sell like the rock and stone cold is a dumb statement so the fact that he sell the most merch ISNT good enough he has to sell as must merch as people who are retired? AND where are you getting your sales figured from besides your ass? You have NO proof of anything