John Cena will end up the greatest wrestler in Pro Wrestling History

[Slyfox696]

Or close to it.

Looking at him now, at the tender age of 31 or 32, he's already won multiple World titles, is the head of the company, is the mainstream face, and has starred in two major motion pictures. He has the support of the new generation of fans, puts on good match after good match, and shows nothing but incredible love and desire for the wrestling business.

When it's all said and done, we will look at John Cena like we do The Rock, Hulk Hogan or Steve Austin. He will be in the very top echelon of wrestlers, and the coming generation of fans will use him as the benchmark of success. I think he will surpass both Rock and Austin, and will be second only to Hulk Hogan. And I can see him even toppling that mighty giant.

At least that's what I believe. What do you believe? When it is all said and done, where do you see John Cena in the historical significance of professional wrestling?

 

[IrishCanadian25]

I love this thread. You're awesome, Sly. Seriously.

Anyway, I disagree. I think Cena is fantastic, but I don't think he's going to overtake Hogan OR Austin. I think Cena's legacy will put him in 3rd.

Yes, he's young. And he has 10-15 good years ahead of him.

But as far as "multiple" world titles goes, he is a champion in an era when title changes are more frequent than in Hogan's time. Austin benefitted from frequent title changes too, but you also can't discount the fact that Austin drew business from beyond the mainstream fans like NOBODY ELSE in history...save for maybe Hogan.

Cena hasn't changed the face of the business like Hogan and Austin have. He sure as hell carried it during these times (and gotten help from great heels like Edge and Orton) but he hasn't revolutionized anything yet. I don't think he will.

Man I am drunk.

Anyway, in 15 years, the list will be #1 Hogan, #1b Austin, #2 Cena.

 

[truk24]

Put it this way. "Professional Wrestling" in general started a wave in american pop culture. It is something that even the Greeks were in to, its called theatrics. That is why they come out on stage, as that is part of the theme. Many people on screen, and off screen made wrestling what it is today, many.

Yes, Hogan, Flair, HBK, Austin, Rock, McMahon, and Andre the Giant made the wave as big as it could possibly get in "mainstream media". They can't give us wrestling in any other way outside of live in arenas across the world, or on TV, or online. That being said they have reached the peak, just as everything everyother billion dollar industry does. They really aren't going to gain anymore fans than what they already peaked at in the late 90's. In the late 90's wrestling became a pop sensation as WCW/WWF were heated rivals, and the monday night wars were epic.

Cena didn't create more fans, as he has just kept the WWE atop the wave riding just a notch under what the Rock was doing. The fact that any of even compare Cena to the Rock is disturbing. The Rock is by far a greater wrestler, and actor. In fact he is such a good actor that he "QUIT" wrestling to pursue his new life. Yes, matter of an opinion, but when was the last time Cena was in a movie with "A" list celebrities? Never!

Such a bold thread to make considering Taker has never lost a WM. Austin was involved in the most controversial, and epic feud in a long time with his boss. Hogan transformed wrestling all through the 80's. HBK was one of the greatest talents of all time in the WWE. HHH has 12 world title reigns. I can't imagine why you would assume that Cena will end up as the greatest wrestler of all time.

Honestly, HBK may go down as the greatest wrestler of all time. His character went from the early 90's all the way until now minus 5 years in between. Not one character has yet to come along so real, and authentic as HBK's. The man turned a sidekick in to one of the most anticipated moves of all time. When a wrestler can take a simple move, and make it devastating they are true talents. Hogan's leg drop, Rock's elbow, and HBK's kick are the only three that lay claim to this. Now Cena has his "niche", and his move structure.

Leading you to believe that he will be the "greatest of all time". That will be measured once he turns heel again. We realized how great Hogan still was once he turned on the fans back in the day in WCW when he joined the NWO. HBK turned on Jannety. The Rock came out of nowhere, and shocked the world when he turned heel. Cena doesn't even have an arch nemesis. HBK had Hart. Hogan had Andre. The Rock had Austin. Who does Cena have?

The Greatest Wrestler of all time whether you like it or not, and in fact I don't even like saying this is Shawn Michaels. His gimmick was perfect timing for the WWE. Had he not been taken out with such back problems we may never know what kind of direction HHH's career would have taken off. We missed out on HBK v.s The Rock people, what the Fudge?

HBK, and The Rock would have blown the roof off of arenas for the WWE, and I think the WWE would have probably gained some ground in the Monday Night Wars when WCW was dominating. Notice HBK wasn't around for that time. Yes, the WWE picked it up, but initially there was no more HBK to steal the show. He is Mr. Wrestlemania, the ShowStopper, and finally Shawn Michaels is the greatest wrestler of all time because.....

"TO BE THE MAN, YOU'VE GOT TO BEAT THE MAN WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!" -Ric Flair.

Ladies and gentleman I rest my case!

 

[Kyphael]

Someone has already drawn this comparison but I think John Cena will be remembered on Bret Hart's level of popularity or perhaps a bit higher. Bear in mind, I said level of popularity only, the two couldn't be more different. Cena is more popular than Bret was in his prime (in the states, anyway...), sure, but he's still nowhere near Hogan, Austin or Rock's levels of popularity and mainstream impact. As already said, he hasn't re-volutionized the business like the big three have, he's just the face of the company now like Hart was in the mid 90's and he's keeping the WWE's chin above water level.

It's very hard to say if there will be another Hogan, Austin or Rock in the foreseeable future. I honestly don't see it on the roster right now. Yes, not even Edge, who happens to be near the end of his prime, Orton, who may be entering his prime, or even Cena years from now will draw people by the droves and generate a second wrestling boom. I don't know what the future holds but as it stands, my list goes...

1. Hogan (because without him, wrestling as we know it today might not exist.
2. The Rock (he was the second coming. He rose to the top without the aid of the greatest feud in wrestling history - rebel vs. boss. The year 2000 was the greatest year in pro wrestling history and The Rock was the man responsible.)
3. Stone Cold Steve Austin (the man jumpstarted the business and Rock ran with it until he left.)

Ok, from 4 to 10 it is all a matter of opinion, as I feel these guys are all on the same level and I take into account consistent success, longevity and significant impact in the business.

4. Triple H (whether he fucked his way to the top is irrelevant. The man, to my knowledge, has main evented more Wrestlemanias than anyone else and if Hogan still holds that record, HHH will soon break it, just like he will soon break Flair's record for most world titles then probably restire.)
5. The Undertaker (need I say more? The man has done it all over a very lengthly span in the business and like a fine wine, he only got better with old age. His character and in-ring skills evolved like no one else's and he holds a record no one else has, or ever will replicate; undefeated at Wrestlemania for over 15 years and counting.
6. Bret Hart (he was the face of the company in its weakest years but as an in-ring competitor, he was second to none and a God among men in his native land of Canada. To this day, jam-packed arenas chant "YOU SCREWED BRET" to anyone to was involved in the most controversial match in history. Now that's a mark and love.
7. Shawn Michaels (the first half of his career was stellar. The second, a bittersweet road of redemption. He is every bit like The Undertaker, only more skilled and far more charismatic but since Undertaker is undefeated at Wrestlemania and Hart holds a bigger number of world title reigns in a shorter career, he is number 7.)
8. Kurt Angle (the man had a mateoric rise in the company's most profitable year among established stars like Austin, HHH, The Rock and The Undertaker so you know he was something special. Not to mention the only olympic gold medalist in professional wrestling history.)
9. Ric Flair (it saddens me to put him so low on the list but honestly, Flair is a relic. He was nearing the end of his prime before wrestling was mainstream. Sure, he has sixteen world title reigns but that's probably the only reason he's in my list at all, because other than that, he was just a very charismatic wrestler (but not on Rock's level) and decent in-ring performer (but not on Angle's level) who had a memorable career but did not draw.
10. Sting (had Lesnar's career been longer, Goldberg mattered after WCW, Savage not tarnished his career and thus deemed himself forgetable, Sting wouldn't be here but next to Hogan, in WCW, he was the biggest thing and that's something. People often say WCW only created one star; Goldberg. Uh, wrong? Try Sting. The man was WCW's equivalent of The Undertaker, both in character, popularity and in-ring presence. Even without ever having stepped for in WWE or needed the McMachon marketing machine powering him, he main evented for years during the second wrestling boom and is an icon in the eyes of any pro wrestling fan that was there during the Monday Night wars.)

 

[avi01]

I will never look at Cena like the Rock, Austin, Angle, Benoit, HBK, Bret Hart ,Taker or HHH for that matter.

Commercial, he probably is on par with some of the greats. He has a large fan base especially among the children but can (as proved several times in the past) get pretty unpopular despite being a face (which means he is failing).

As far as I am concerned, he simply can`t to be considered a great. Vince loves him(Cena love the company) but I`ve always said, Cena benefited a lot from brand extension and the premature departure of many superstars to make his way to the top.

Now abilities. As far as in ring abilities goes, Bret Hart, Benoit and Kurt Angle will always be in my top list and Cena will never make that list. He is far, and i mean extremely far to be at that level...he simply won`t make it to that level. He relies on his popularity and crowd reactions...NOT on his in ring capabilities. Which probably means he is charismatic BUT he is not Stone Cold Steve Austin and will never be.

So, as far as I am concerned, John Cena will NOT end up the greatest wrestler in Pro Wrestling History..not even among the greatest.

 

[truk24]

Without Hulk Hogan wrestling as we know it might not exist? Do you mean wrestling in general, or wrestling in how it is presented today? Hulk Hogan would have been nothing without Andre, and his predecessors. It was VKM, and Hogan together who helped launch the wrestling world in to american pop culture. Not just Hulk Hogan.

I hate to spoil your day, but with or without Hogan wrestling would still exist as we know it. To say that Hogan saved wrestling at a time when it had been growing makes no sense. If anyone save the "WWE" it was HBK. Imagine if HBK had left for WCW, and he joined the NWO. It is on the record that Vince did everything he could to keep HBK out of WCW, and that included an obsurd amount of money. HBK jumping ship would have hurt the WWE's moral big time, and I belive others would have followed. Like perhaps HHH?

Yes, there would have been Austin/Rock. However HBK dropped his title to Austin at WM. That was the passing of the torch, but a bit to early in my opinion. Let me remind you that HBK turned heel long before Hogan realized it was cool. HBK was the first "Grand Slam" champion of all time. He has made the names you have placed above him look like true superstars when he wrestled them, not the other way around. Have you forgotten HBK v.s Angle? HBK v.s Bret Hart? He was the first ever in the HIAC. He was in the first ever Iron Man Match at WM.

How often does HBK perform bad in the ring. He started the "attitude era" when he kicked Jannety, and then tossed him in to some glass. Not Austin and his middle finger, and the whole 3:16 bullshit. HBK could be funny as hell, or dramatic as can be. We have seen him play the devil, and the hero. Both of which clash so well unlike anyone else in the business even today.

He had the look, and everyone knew it. HBK wasn't the biggest, and he wasn't some roid head. Yet, he proved that size doesn't matter. His mic work is untouched, and to suggest that Hogan's mic work is better is comical, brother. The man ended every sentence with brother or dude. Please, I grew tired of him when he lost to Taker, and then finally he realized that he was out of touch with wrestling, and went in to acting, thus ending up with WCW, and turning heel.

HBK was a character that the mature audience could identify with. He is the most charismatic of all time without a shadow of a doubt. His career is damn near a perfect story. Had he only not retired from wrestling. I don't believe his retirement was due to his back. I think the WWE paid him to not go to WCW. Then WCW collapsed, and HBK came back.

Hogan was a gimmick or even a tool. Say your prayers, drink your milk, and eat your vitamins. Please that shit got old real quick. HBK was in your face at a time when there were still gimmicks like Doink the Clown, and Damien Demento. Hogan was still the same old Hogan for little bit in WCW before turning heel. There was a steady progression in HBK's career, and it was much more interesting than anything Hogan created. Hogan barely wrestled for pete's sake.

C'mon he didn't even stay in the same lockers as others, and he didn't travel the road much for house shows, and I think he stopped for a long time in the WWF. HBK never had that problem. The question will always remain what would have happened if HBK went to WCW. We know what happened to WCW when Hogan came, it went under. If Hogan was so important to wrestling where is WCW today. Hogan himself according to how you built him saved wrestling.

When Hogan left for WCW look who followed. He took most of his close friends with him, Piper, Brutus, Savage, Barbarian, Meng, Jim Duggan, Nasty Boys, Jimmy Hart, etc... Basically his supporting cast from the old WWF. Is there anything here you have missed? Had HBK left who knows who would have followed. Maybe Taker would have left to, feeling like he wanted to get a paycheck. HHH definitely would have followed. Get my point? Look at the draw that Hogan's people had, and then think about the future WCW would have had with Nash, HBK, Hall, HHH, and possibly Taker etc...

HBK was always entertaining either in the ring, or on the mic. When they people chanted "you suck" he replied " its only cuz your mother taught me". He was always controversial. His character is unmatched, and it isn't about how many titles you have won, or how many times you have won them. It is the legacy you left behind. Shawn has always been a great performer, and his print on wrestling is more noticeable than everyone else's because nobody does it quite like the Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels.

 

[Megadeth]

Cena will be an afterthought in wrestling. Unlike Hogan, Austin, Hart, etc. He hasn't really done anything revolutionary to further the business. Hulk made wrestling mainstream. Bret really opened up the WWE's world-wide presence, and Austin really modernized the industry into what it is today. What has Cena done that is so important. I could see Cena following in the steps of the Rock and ditching wrestling to become a full time actor. I consider Cena more along the lines of Goldberg. They are both popular, although I think Goldberg in his prime was more over than Cena, but when it comes down to it, how many people truthfully would consider Goldberg as the greatest of all time. He could prove me wrong, but I am doubtful. Had Hogan not gone to WCW and turned heel, I think people would have grown tired of him and it may have tarnished his legacy somewhat. Hart was really only on top for like 4 years from 93-97, and the Montreal Screw-job has added some sympathy which has added to his popularity, and Austin again really only had 4 or 5 years on top as a wrestler. There have been a few exceptions so as HHH being on top for most of the decade, and the Undertaker being around for so long, but if HHH wasnt apart of the McMahon family would he have stayed a top guy for so long. I'm not saying he is undeserving of it, but it has to help. And with the taker, how much of his 20 year career has he spent as the number 1 guy. He has spent most of his career carrying the mid-card, getting people over preparing them for the main event. The final example is HBK, he may have started around the same time as the undertake, but he had a several year break from his back injury, which really helped rejuvenate his career when he made his return. So unless Cena can find some way to extend his shelf life, his time in the spotlight will soon be coming to an end.

@truk24 You are a bit to much of a HBK mark. He is one of the greats, but to say he made Bret Hart and not the other way around is more than a stretch. Shawn was notorious for being difficult during the 90's to get along with, he DID request his own dressing room and constantly refused to put other people over. Just imagine if Hart had refused to but HBK over at wrestlemania. That iron man match was customized to get Michaels over and that is when Bret passed the torch to him. How many titles did Shawn forfeit instead of dropping them to someone else. How many times did he "lose his smile." I think HBK will be remebered as one of the greatest ever, but you need to quit marking out so much for one person. And for the record, WCW went way up when Hogan arrived, and had Time Warner not merged with AOL WCW would almost certainly be around still around. Although WCW wasnt quite as popular when McMahon bought it, Nitro was still one of the highest rated shows on TV. Your argument that wrestling would still be the same it is today could go double for HBK.

 

[Kyphael]

All right, I hate the Hulk Hogan character as much as the next guy but to say Shawn Michaels had a bigger impact on the business than him is insane. Shawn Michaels was an important piece of the transitional stage of the WWE, from the 'New Generation' to the "Attitude Era". He passed the torch, as you said and that was his only noteworthy function in the grand scheme of it all. Elaborating matches and whatever is just nitpicking and overanalyzing. How much of an impact did he truly have? Would the first Hell in a Cell occurred withotu Shawn Michaels? Yes. Would it have been as great without him? Probably not but Undertaker vs. Mankind would have still followed and that one is the most popular of the two. The first Iron Man match was a snooze fest. Literally, nothing happened for a whole hour. Just headlocks and arm drags. I know this technical "wrasslin" but give me twenty minutes of Benoit vs. Angle any day.

The point is, was he a draw as champion? No. Was Hogan a draw? Yes, probably the biggest. I don't have the numbers but sure as hell one of the biggest, whereas Michaels was not.

 

[Slyfox696]

Moderator note: Let's get this back on topic. This isn't HBK vs. Hulk Hogan, this is John Cena's place in history. It's fine if you want to compare Cena to Hogan or Cena to HBK, but HBK to Hogan isn't necessary.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I REALLY think that Kyphael is pretty dead on with his list of all time greats... I think I've never seen anyone consider most of wrestling's top stars in such an unbiased manner (or as close as you can get to being unbiased when it comes to wrestling), and I hardly can picture a thing I'd change about that list.

However, I'm not too fond of truk24's glorification of HBK as being the greatest wrestler ever. Now in another thread, I've already uttered my utmost respect for everything HBK did and achieved in wrestling - but he unfortunately cannot be the "greatest ever". If you read the HBK/HOF thread and my post in it, you can read that I truly do respect what HBK has done, and that he managed to keep WWE afloat in very dire times... but at the same time I had to acknowledge that he never was "the" man. At various points in their careers, people like Hogan, Austin, Rock, HHH and to a lesser extent Bret Hart were "the" men... but HBK was never to play that role. Sure, he left a huge impact, and left us many memorable moments... but he will never be considered the "greatest ever", as there are too many others who have had a greater impact individually than The Heartbreak Kid. HBK is an awesome wrestler, a skilled performer in the ring, and great on the mic... but for some reason, he quite reached the heights a Hogan, Austin or Rock reached.

Now as far as Cena is concerned... I think it is really too early to tell right now. As of now, he is the uber-face of WWE, and has been for quite a few years now. And the problem with that is that he has become one-dimensional. Ever since his face turn, he has practiced the same routine, same gimmick and same character on and on again. He sure is the face of this current generation of WWE stars - but mainly because of a lack of any other guy who could portray that face right now. There are few "true" faces in WWE left - currently I'd think that Batista is maybe the only other one as thoroughly over as Cena, and the problem with him is that is already past his 40ieth birthday and ultimately will not be able to last anywhere near as long as Cena could still go. So the nod has to go to Cena, as he is as close to the "total package" WWE needs as one can get right now. But in order for him to even get into a league of people like HHH, HBK, Taker or Bret Hart, he definitely needs to broaden his horizon, and at some point will have to alter his character and add some depth. He can't go on with this gimmick forever. But if he can pull off a heel turn once the time comes, and really get people to hate him... that could be the groundwork of his own "immortality". But I truly believe that at this point, it is way too early to tell. What I definitely do respect about Cena though is his apparent true love for the business - I believe there hardly ever has been a guy as passionate about wrestling as Cena (and that if only half the things we hear/see about him are true), and this is the thing that definitely speaks for Cena. But as of right now, considering his recent push and huge improvement - Randy Orton is the next in line for legend status. Of course it also depends on what Orton does with this huge opportunity that is given to him right now; he definitely has the tools and the ability - but it still remains to be seen if he can make use of all that in a way that will cement his status as well. If he plays his cards right, Orton could go anywhere. Maybe not into realms of the trinity that is composed of Hogan, Austin and Rock, but definitely into areas of HHH, HBK or Taker.
Cena, on the other hand, definitely needs some more depth as of right now. He works on a superficial basis right now, in my opinion. He somehow just seems "too" good and "too" right; and I am somehow missing the substance to his character. For some reason, I cannot understand "why" Cena plays the role he plays, or why I should accept his character the way it is. But Cena definitely has a lot of potential, and has already achieved a lot... but right now, just as with Orton, a lot of things still depend on what he can do with that he is given. He can succeed, but also yet fail. I doubt he will end up the greatest wrestler in Pro Wrestling History - but if he plays it right, he will definitely leave his mark in the record books of wrestling, and he will also definitely be able to earn his spot in the WWE Hall of Fame. But as of right now, I just think it is still too early to tell what Cena's impact will be once all his achievements for WWE and wrestling in general are summed up.

In any case, Cena has had a tremendous start, and all doors are open to him - but it still remains to be seen which he will walk through (or be allowed to walk through), and where those paths will take him.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Im going to predict he ends up being seen in the light of Triple H. Good draw, great worker, and dominant for a very long period of time, but as far as overall lasting impact, not much in way of anything earth shattering. he will leave a wake of great matches, many title reighns, and numerous WMs main evented, but wont have changed anything, and made any break throughs. Being as Triple H is my favorite wrestler, thats certainley no put down. Id say when its all said and done, if he sticks around, Cena may be somewere in teh top 15 to 5 of all time.




EDIT: Y2Jake agrees with this post

 

[klunderbunker]

HHH's level does sound about right. HHH always seemed like the weakest of the big three of him, Austin and Rock. He was great but just kind of along for the ride as they blazed all the trails. Cena is likely going to be remembered by me as the guy that was on top during a bad time in WWE, which isn't his fault but simply the way things turned out. Now this title reign so far is miles better than the last one because I think WWE has figured out how to book him. As far as the greatest of all time however, no. The thing about Cena is he didn't really open any new doors. He's great but he's probably the worst of the greats, which isn't really an insult. However, there's no way of telling where his career will end up either. At this point 9 years ago, who would have seen Rock out of wrestling? Overall not the greatest, but only a few will be above him.

 

[ad21k]

I can't see him surpassing Austin or Hogan under any circumstances.

He would need a few more epic feuds, and maybe even a wrestling boom to get close to the 2 greatest wrestlers of all time.

John Cena is a big name but he's still not quite as big a name as The Rock, Austin, or Hogan. I would put him on about Sting's level at the moment- he will surpass Sting no doubt about that and I can see him doing that this year in fact depneding on how this feud with Orton pans out.

The problem Cena has that there are not as many big names in the business as there were when Austin/Hogan were wrestling. As good as Cena is he can't have truely epic feuds/matches unless there are big names for him to have them with. I mean Hogan wrestled all the biggest names- Sting, Flair, Warrior, and more recently The Rock, HBK, and even Vince Mcmahon. Austin had a decent pick too - Rock, Bret Hart, HBK, even HHH to an extent. Cena has already wrestled all the big names in WWE at the moment. Hopefully Orton's recent evevation will be something big for both of them but we will have to see.

 

[BradTheGreat]

Cena as the greatest wrestler of all time? Cena is a chump. His move set has a wide variety: bulldog, ugly legdrop, the epilepsy fistdrop, a firemans carry, a STF and... well, thats it. Cena is always either the champ, in the hunt for the title or injured, just so little kids dont cry and tear up their John Cena signs. He is a joke in the ring and his only pro is that he is a half decent joker on the mic, but if he trys to be to serious he starts to randomly yell and becomes cliche and so corny that he should be served with a side of butter. He is the 'face' of WWE but gets consistantly booed therefore failing his main objective.
Cena in my eyes will NEVER be near such legends as Austin, The Rock, Hogan, Foley, Hart etc.
He is a footnote in the history of wrestling, a paper champion. Everything that Cena has ever got has been handed to him on a silver platter.

I've Cena Nuff.

 

[AlexEqualsMoney]

....thought i'd jump in on a big topic

There are a lot of people out there that hate Cena more for the sake of hating Cena than for any other reason. Greatest ever? He's not there yet and he may not get there, but there certainly a chance that he could reach it. The general consensus seems to say that Hogan is the bar by which all are measured - his name comes up no matter who you are making an argument for, so i'll base my discussion off of that......

So let's check the parallels:
-Cena is to today's kids what Hogan was to the 80's generation. Hustle Loyalty Respect = Say your prayers and take your vitamins. If his career lasts long enough, he'll have a strong enough emotional attachment with fans who are kids now to pull him through all kinds of storylines.
-Both characters are larger than life good guys that seemingly can overcome anything.
-Both are said to be high in charisma and "low" on in-ring talent.
-Both move merchandise, sell seats, work their asses off, represent the company well, and have enough of the "it" factor to make the leap to film.

Now let's check the differences:
-I personally think Cena gets a bad rap for his in-ring work.....he's the old fashioned power wrestler but with more agility. He's had some classic matches in his time on top. I'd venture that most people would say Cena is technically better than Hogan.
-Hogan during his good guy era had his classic antagonists in Andre and pretty much anybody foreign. Cena has yet to find that one superstar to bring out the fiery feud in him, but it's a pretty safe bet that if he can find that someone it will make for a hell of a show. Maybe it'll be Orton? Maybe Cena will find his Giant in some sort of awe-inspiring power feud?
-Hogan had a tremendous heel turn after his popular had peaked, in turn creating a second peak. Given a similar oppurtunity (and a storyline not completely botched by Creative), Cena could do the same. He's got the fan connection to where it would certainly have shock value and hold peoples' interest. Plus, as demonstrated by the Attitude Era and Orton's face pops, being a bad guy is sometimes more popular than being a good guy. To say that he's "not doing his job" because he's getting booed is unfair - was Austin not doing his job as a heel when he was cheered for being unconscious instead of tapping out? It just means today's audience wants to see a rebel with some grit. So what could be bigger than Cena's good guy image? Cena as a bad guy destroying that image.


Basically I feel that there are enough similarities between Cena and Hogan to where it's certainly conceivable that in the future we'll be hearing both of their names in the "greatest ever" debate. The only obstacles are time, an "arch-nemesis" or at least some long term opponent of equal clout, proper usage of the character, and good utilization of storylines.

 

[Sedated]

This whole topic is a joke, these replys are a joke.

When it comes down to 'debating' who's the greatest it's either Austin or Hogan. There's no Rock, there's no HBK, there's no Undertaker and there's especially no Cena.

All of these people are important wrestling figures but none of them did much of anything. HBK and Undertaker are both in the exact same boat. To say HBK is the greatest and not bring up Undertaker makes the argument pointless and vice versa. They're both amazing performers, they both have good charisma and they've both been around longer then most can remember. They also haven't done much for expanding the biz. They've always been there for the faithfull watchers. Nobody in large enough numbers ever tuned in or tuned out because of either of these men. To argue either of them as the greatest you're arguing wrestling ability and consistency as well as how long they've been around.

The rock/HHH - The rock was always a sub par wrestler, I was always bored by most his matches unless he was fighting a top notch guy. Austin and Rock had amazing chemistry together but Rock by no means had matches like that regularly. The rock rarely carried the belt with out being a heel and that says something in my opinion. With out Austin the Rock would have been forgotten by now. He had a TON of charisma and mic skills but beyond that was just pretty good. Austin paved the way and The Rock followed, he Rock was always lesser to Austin and HHH was always lesser to everyone at that time: Austin, Rock, Undertaker even Mankind. His name doesn't belong in any best off all time discussion.

With all that said Hogan helped wrestling pick up at a time that it didn't NEED it. If it wasn't for Austin we'd all probalbly be watching WcW right now. WcW had it all, the NWO roster and Goldberg who was a huge draw. That's Hulk Hogan, Sting, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Macho Man, Goldberg was there, Brett Hart was there, Ric Flair, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerro, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho. I apologize if some of my time lines are off with the timing of who was there but most those guys I think were there around that time and regardless of any opinions of them now they were all huge - big - decent draws at the time. You could even name guys like fricking Scott Steiner, DDP or Booker T. I think most the guys were horribly mid card but hey, WWF didn't even really have any mid card at that time so.

The WWE was in a total slump, am I the only one who remembers Brett vs The Patriot week and week? It was terrible, by far the lowest point of WWFprograming. Then DX came along and helped things for awhile but Kevin Nash went to WcW, Hart was in WcW, anyone who was anyone at the time ended up in WcW except for HBK. So who did WWF have that made the difference? Austin, he single handedly became a bigger draw then every one of those names in WcW put together. He won WWF the ratings and he won them the war. It's simple as that, once he started things up WWF managed to muster up some more talent in guys like The Rock, HHH, Kane and Mankind. None of those guys would EVER be good - great with out Austin. Austin has had amazing feuds with all of them,if you take Austin out of that equation you're left with nothing. If you take HHH or Mankind or Kane out though it doesn't really matter. The loss of The Rock would have had impact but nothing near Austin. This is more a arguement about whos was the bigger draw/did more for the company but that seems to be what most people turn this discussion into. If you debate a combination of things like wrestling skill/ability that just puts Austin even further ahead.

The bottom line: Stone Cold Steve Austin IS the greatest wrestler of all time.

 

[obamartins]

Without Hulk Hogan wrestling as we know it might not exist? Do you mean wrestling in general, or wrestling in how it is presented today? Hulk Hogan would have been nothing without Andre, and his predecessors. It was VKM, and Hogan together who helped launch the wrestling world in to american pop culture. Not just Hulk Hogan.

I hate to spoil your day, but with or without Hogan wrestling would still exist as we know it. To say that Hogan saved wrestling at a time when it had been growing makes no sense. If anyone save the "WWE" it was HBK. Imagine if HBK had left for WCW, and he joined the NWO. It is on the record that Vince did everything he could to keep HBK out of WCW, and that included an obsurd amount of money. HBK jumping ship would have hurt the WWE's moral big time, and I belive others would have followed. Like perhaps HHH?

Yes, there would have been Austin/Rock. However HBK dropped his title to Austin at WM. That was the passing of the torch, but a bit to early in my opinion. Let me remind you that HBK turned heel long before Hogan realized it was cool. HBK was the first "Grand Slam" champion of all time. He has made the names you have placed above him look like true superstars when he wrestled them, not the other way around. Have you forgotten HBK v.s Angle? HBK v.s Bret Hart? He was the first ever in the HIAC. He was in the first ever Iron Man Match at WM.

How often does HBK perform bad in the ring. He started the "attitude era" when he kicked Jannety, and then tossed him in to some glass. Not Austin and his middle finger, and the whole 3:16 bullshit. HBK could be funny as hell, or dramatic as can be. We have seen him play the devil, and the hero. Both of which clash so well unlike anyone else in the business even today.

He had the look, and everyone knew it. HBK wasn't the biggest, and he wasn't some roid head. Yet, he proved that size doesn't matter. His mic work is untouched, and to suggest that Hogan's mic work is better is comical, brother. The man ended every sentence with brother or dude. Please, I grew tired of him when he lost to Taker, and then finally he realized that he was out of touch with wrestling, and went in to acting, thus ending up with WCW, and turning heel.

HBK was a character that the mature audience could identify with. He is the most charismatic of all time without a shadow of a doubt. His career is damn near a perfect story. Had he only not retired from wrestling. I don't believe his retirement was due to his back. I think the WWE paid him to not go to WCW. Then WCW collapsed, and HBK came back.

Hogan was a gimmick or even a tool. Say your prayers, drink your milk, and eat your vitamins. Please that shit got old real quick. HBK was in your face at a time when there were still gimmicks like Doink the Clown, and Damien Demento. Hogan was still the same old Hogan for little bit in WCW before turning heel. There was a steady progression in HBK's career, and it was much more interesting than anything Hogan created. Hogan barely wrestled for pete's sake.

C'mon he didn't even stay in the same lockers as others, and he didn't travel the road much for house shows, and I think he stopped for a long time in the WWF. HBK never had that problem. The question will always remain what would have happened if HBK went to WCW. We know what happened to WCW when Hogan came, it went under. If Hogan was so important to wrestling where is WCW today. Hogan himself according to how you built him saved wrestling.

When Hogan left for WCW look who followed. He took most of his close friends with him, Piper, Brutus, Savage, Barbarian, Meng, Jim Duggan, Nasty Boys, Jimmy Hart, etc... Basically his supporting cast from the old WWF. Is there anything here you have missed? Had HBK left who knows who would have followed. Maybe Taker would have left to, feeling like he wanted to get a paycheck. HHH definitely would have followed. Get my point? Look at the draw that Hogan's people had, and then think about the future WCW would have had with Nash, HBK, Hall, HHH, and possibly Taker etc...

HBK was always entertaining either in the ring, or on the mic. When they people chanted "you suck" he replied " its only cuz your mother taught me". He was always controversial. His character is unmatched, and it isn't about how many titles you have won, or how many times you have won them. It is the legacy you left behind. Shawn has always been a great performer, and his print on wrestling is more noticeable than everyone else's because nobody does it quite like the Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels.

If anyone save the "WWE" it was Shawn Michaels.....MY ARSE! Back in the day HBK was a playgirl posing, rumored ******, High on somas (muscle relaxers), cocky prick who threw temper tanturums when he could not get his own way & was also having an affair with Tammy Lynn Sytch AKA Sunny in the mean time it did not stop him from getting the shit kcked ou of him by a few Marines or Martey Jannetty.


To the best of my knowledge HBK was NEVER close to joining WCW at any point, one example being the RF Video shoot Interview with HBK's Clique Member Kevin Nash in which he states that. The only time HBK ever hinted about WCW was when he got he his face smashed & hair pulled out during a fight backstage with Bret Hart after which he left the WWF for two months in a huff - but how could he join WCW when he was under contract.....well he couldnt.

If HBK did leave the WWF it would have been extremley damaging to the WWF however the WWF still would have survived with Bret Hart, Undertaker,Ken Shamrock, Legion of Doom, British Bulldogg, Owen Hart, Brian Pillman & emerging stars such as Steve Austin,Mankind & Rocky Miavia & all the while Vince McMahon would have tried to create even more stars like he did with Kane.

HBK did drop the title to Austin at Wrestlemania 14, yet despite having a serious back injury he refused to lose to Austin the man who was going to be the new face of the company, no doubt HBK was jelous of Austin & after lots of persuasion from the people that mattered & The Undertaker who taped his fists & porceeded to tell HBK that if he did not lose to Austin he would have to deal with him when he got backstage HBK finally did the right thing.

Everybody Knows HBK is arguably the best of all time & probabaly is (along with Kurt Angle IMO) in terms of being an in ring preformer however despite being a huge star he is nowhere near the MEGA STAR of HOGAN, AUSTIN & THE ROCK.

You state that HBK turned heel before Hogan knew it was cool. So when HBK turned heel on Jannetty in 92/93 i forget you rekon that had more of an impact on the business as shocking as it was then when Hogan turned heel & joined the nWo!?!?! give me a break. HBK did have an effect when he turned heel in late 1997 & formed DX but that was over a year later after Hogan's Heel Turn.

One of the biggest problems with smart wrestling fans is that is they only ever harp on about how good a match is or how good an in ring preformer this person is & never talk about everyting else that makes wrestling soi special. Example Sid Vicious vs. Goldberg at WCW HH 99 was no technical masterpeice however it was a spectacle of two larger then life charasmatic personas & was one hell of an intense exciting match by two over wrestlers.

Id just like to point out that amazing in ring preformer HBK regin as WWF champion in 1996 was the 1st or 2nd least sucsessful run in WWF History (Diseal AKA Kevin Nash was the other). Meanwhile rubbish in ring preformer Hulk Hogan is probably the biggest draw of all time.

HBK started the attitude era when he kicke Jannetty through the barber shop window LOL hahahahahahaha BULL FUCKING SHIT. Austin started to be risky in 1996 while HBK did not start to be risky until late 97. Everybody knows Austin was the biggest main infulence behind the attitude era while HBK was probably the second with his DX antics. Any how the attitude era was slowly implemented in late 97 not 5 years earlier like you stated.

You state HBK was a character for the mature audience.....so dancing around is gay leather costumes with sparklers while having earings was ok for the girls & maybe kids but for real men who come in from a hard days graft at work & wanted some violence it was not.

For you to suggest Hogans promos were rubbish is idiotic, i own almost all WCW footage & Hogans NWO promos were amazing also that just made me think of the crowd reactions Hogan would receive & all i can say is WOW.

HBK did prove that size does not matter but so did Bret Hart & to say HBK is the most charasmatic & best on the mic is your opinion and debatable.

For you to say HBK did not have a back injury & did not retire due to that is idiotic & for you to say HBK faked his injury so Vince McMahon could pay him money not to join WCW is even more stupid. For you to say that WCW went out of busniess maybe becuase of Hogan is idiotic aswell as any person that knows about the busniess knows that WCW went out of busniess mainly due to the TIME WARNER/AOL merger & .com crash along with some bloke called Jamie Keller (i think i may be wrong as ive forgot) who kicked WCW of the air.

Piper & Savage were never good freinds with Hogan.

Lest not forget while im at it the time HBK lost his smile (faked an injury so he did not lose to Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 13 & when he suggested & pushed for midcard wrestler at the time HHH to headline against Austin at Mania 15 instead of The Rock. Not to many people know but HBK tried to hold down The Rock & HHH & Rock had a professional rivalry backstage.

I never comment on the forums but after reading you arse licking of HBK i felt i had to. Also this is about the HBK of old & not the supposed born again christian HBK of today LOL.

Quickly just like to say CENA greastest of all time.............NO CHANCE IN HELL.

IMO...very quickly off top of head
#1 Hogan, Austin
#2 The Rock
#3 Flair,Savage,Andre,Undertaker
#4 Bret Hart,HBK,Piper,Sting
#5 Cena,HHH,Hall,Nash,Angle

Many people should be on the list such as many years ago greats such as
Lou Thez, Gorgeous George, Strangler Lewis or 1960/70s/80s greats such as Dusty Rhodes,Dory & Terry Funk,Von Erics & others like Ultimate Warrior,Goldberg, Rick Rude & in future Orton,Edge etc. Also what about the japanese stars? Inoki is reagrded as a GOD in Japan.

 

[DhA]

I don't think he'll be rememebred as Hogan/Austin/Rock, probably mroe like Hart/HBK...an awesome talent, but the face of the company during bad business times, no one should pretend he is a mega draw like the first three were.......

 

[Slyfox696]

The problem with just about everyone's thinking in this thread, is that they are only gauging Cena on the present, and not the future. And while I know you can't judge him on something that he hasn't accomplished, you can still see all the predictors beforehand.

First off, anyone who said HBK will go down as the greatest wrestler of all time, is dead wrong. He's not even in the discussion, and Cena has already passed him up. The same will go with Triple H in a few years. Cena's also already passed up Bret Hart, because he is a much bigger name OUTSIDE of the wrestling business than Hart was, and is probably a bigger draw inside of it. So, with those out of the way, let's focus on the Big 3; Rock, Austin, and Hogan.

Rock and Austin both suffer from the same problem when it comes to the wrestling business. Their time in it was too short. AT BEST, you could say that each of them had about a 5 year run in the main-event (Austin 97-2002, Rock 98-2003). After that, they were both pretty much gone from active wrestling. John Cena is getting ready to begin his 4th year in the main-event, and unlike either Austin or Rock, is showing no signs of slowing down. Additionally, already, he has already worked as many good matches as either Rock or Austin did in their main-event. So, that leaves us with one (major) factor left; drawing ability.

And this goes back to what I said earlier in my post. You all are basing Cena's ability to draw on the NOW, not what it will be. People used to talk all the time about Cena''s fans were only "women and children". Well, women were not a fanbase that existed that strong until Cena, and those children will grow up to remain wrestling fans, and other children will take their place. Thus, you will begin to see more and more (and you can already see it a little) that as the older wrestling fans move on, there will be more to take their place, mostly because of Cena's drawing ability. And unlike Austin or Rock, there will be no precursors to his drawing, and those fans will be drawn because of wrestling, not because of shock.

Austin drew fans, not because of wrestling, but because he was finger flipping, beer drinking employee who beat up his boss and cussed a lot. That's why Austin drew fans. It wasn't the wrestling people wanted to see, it was the over the top antics. Cena, on the other hand, draws people in with his WRESTLING based character. So, while it may not come as fast as Austin's did, it will come eventually. You can already see it everytime he leaves and then comes back, you can see it in the increase in business, in the amount of merchandise he sells, and the house show attendance. Cena is the man with an upswing effect on the WWE. And the Rock? He never created fans either. He took the ones Austin had, and ran with it, but he never created fans either. A tremendous draw? Of course, but he never created fans...Cena has, and will.

So, that's why Cena will topple the Rock. He'll be in the main-event longer, put on more great matches, and he is creating a bigger fanbase. So, why will Cena be put ahead of Austin? Because Cena has a MUCH bigger mainstream appeal than Austin ever did. Austin wasn't someone you could put on Good Morning America. He wasn't the character that Americans wanted to believe in. Cena, on the other hand, is. And while outside exposure has nothing to do with his ability inside the ring, it certainly will continue to open more and more minds and eyes to the wrestling business. "Damn, that Cena is everywhere, he must be a big deal. I should check him out". That, in turn, will ALSO lead to more and more fans turning Cena on.

Again, don't just look at what Cena has done so far. Look to what he WILL do, and has continued to do. THAT'S why he is already ahead of Hart and HBK, and why he WILL pass Triple H. And it's why I think he'll pass both Austin and Rock.

As far as Hogan? Well, Cena will have a lot of work to do, but wrestling will enter another boom period, and when it does, you can guarantee Cena will be at the forefront of it. And when that happens, then we'll talk about why Cena is greater than Hogan.

 

[Miko]

I would put him closer to Bret Hart, not wrestling wise as they wrestle completely different styles but Bret was the one guy pre-attitude era that could be depended on to keep the company's head above water. He'll be remembered up there with Hogan, Austin and The Rock, so there is every reason that Cena will be too and rightfully so.

This is what I posted in the Official John Cena thread, I still stick by it but as Slyfox posted above me that is what he is now. The question of what will Cena become is very different.

I've seen people on this board talking about Randy Orton heading the next boom period as opposed to John Cena. Whether that be true or not is quite debatable. I do think however if there is another boom, it will be John Cena leading with Orton in tow. If there is another boom then we can compare Cena to Hogan, Austin and The Rock.

I was once sad enough to draw up a list of the people I consider the top 10 of all time, I believe Cena came in at 6th or 7th and outside of Sting was the only active wrestler to make it. No HBK, no HHH, no Undertaker and no Kurt Angle. So of course there is the possibility of Cena climbing the list.

I often claim that had The Rock remained in wrestling he would have surpassed Austin and maybe even Hogan, the same could be said for John Cena although my gut instinct tells me Cena has peaked, if this is true then he has already reached the status of one of the best. Still I am usually wrong about these things, so who knows what the future holds for John Cena.

 

[Saeros]

Even in the future, i cant see Cena becoming a household name on the level of Austin, Rock, Hogan etc. Wrestling needs a boom period for that.

I partially agree with whoever it was that Cena isnt doing his job if people are booing him consistantly.

When Orton turned face in 04, he didnt do his job, people didnt get behind him enough. Same as Cena nowadays.

People cheer whoever Cena is facing, even if they "hate" that person. HHH is definatly known as one of the top heels of the past 10 years, and at mania 22, he was getting cheered more than Cena. It says something.

Unless something changes, Cena will never be known as a top 10, or even top 15 performer.

And Truk, that HBK rant made me wretch. I have a friend just like you who marks for HBK and forgets everything else other wrestlers have done. To get him where he is today and to make him. I will never doubt his wrestling ability, because imo he is second only to Angle, but NEVER did he have a huge impact on the wrestling indusry.

HIAC - most famous match was Taker vs Mankind, and thats the way it always will be.

HBK like cena, isnt even a household name. By that i mean that people outside the wrestling industry knowing who they are that dont watch wrestling.

For example, over here in the UK on a quiz show a few years back, a panal of 6 celebrity contestants had to answer a rounds worth of questions on wrestling (its a comedy show btw)

1 of the questions was 12 pictures of wrestlers from throughout the years, from what i remember the wrestlers shown were

Austin
Rock
Hogan
Taker
HHH
Bret Hart
Flair
Sting
Andre the Giant
Big Daddy
British Bulldog
HBK

out of those 12, here were the results (as far as i can remember for some) of how many of the panalists knew them.

Austin - 6/6
Rock - 6/6
Hogan - 6/6
Taker - 5/6
HHH - 2/6
Bret Hart - 4/6
Flair - 2/6
Sting - 5/6
Andre the Giant - 4/6
Big Daddy - 3/6
British Bulldog - 0/6
HBK - 0/6

that there could actually be a servey in a way, as to show who are household names and who are not. Obviously Big daddy was only known due to him being English and from the 70's when it was quite big to watch over here.

 

[CCS]

No way theat he'll end up the greatest in history. One could even argue that he even isnt the best wrestler RIGHT NOW. Cena is a very good wrestler and he's the current mainstream face of the WWE but that really doesnt mean much in actual wrestling fans minds. People who watch wrestling will always remember Ric Flair, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels as the greatest wrestlers ever. No disrespect to Cena but he isnt looked at in the same light as those guys. Overall he'll be remembered as one of the top three of this generation and one of the top ten all time, but not the best ever.

 

[obamartins]

The problem with just about everyone's thinking in this thread, is that they are only gauging Cena on the present, and not the future. And while I know you can't judge him on something that he hasn't accomplished, you can still see all the predictors beforehand.

First off, anyone who said HBK will go down as the greatest wrestler of all time, is dead wrong. He's not even in the discussion, and Cena has already passed him up. The same will go with Triple H in a few years. Cena's also already passed up Bret Hart, because he is a much bigger name OUTSIDE of the wrestling business than Hart was, and is probably a bigger draw inside of it. So, with those out of the way, let's focus on the Big 3; Rock, Austin, and Hogan.

Rock and Austin both suffer from the same problem when it comes to the wrestling business. Their time in it was too short. AT BEST, you could say that each of them had about a 5 year run in the main-event (Austin 97-2002, Rock 98-2003). After that, they were both pretty much gone from active wrestling. John Cena is getting ready to begin his 4th year in the main-event, and unlike either Austin or Rock, is showing no signs of slowing down. Additionally, already, he has already worked as many good matches as either Rock or Austin did in their main-event. So, that leaves us with one (major) factor left; drawing ability.

And this goes back to what I said earlier in my post. You all are basing Cena's ability to draw on the NOW, not what it will be. People used to talk all the time about Cena''s fans were only "women and children". Well, women were not a fanbase that existed that strong until Cena, and those children will grow up to remain wrestling fans, and other children will take their place. Thus, you will begin to see more and more (and you can already see it a little) that as the older wrestling fans move on, there will be more to take their place, mostly because of Cena's drawing ability. And unlike Austin or Rock, there will be no precursors to his drawing, and those fans will be drawn because of wrestling, not because of shock.

Austin drew fans, not because of wrestling, but because he was finger flipping, beer drinking employee who beat up his boss and cussed a lot. That's why Austin drew fans. It wasn't the wrestling people wanted to see, it was the over the top antics. Cena, on the other hand, draws people in with his WRESTLING based character. So, while it may not come as fast as Austin's did, it will come eventually. You can already see it everytime he leaves and then comes back, you can see it in the increase in business, in the amount of merchandise he sells, and the house show attendance. Cena is the man with an upswing effect on the WWE. And the Rock? He never created fans either. He took the ones Austin had, and ran with it, but he never created fans either. A tremendous draw? Of course, but he never created fans...Cena has, and will.

So, that's why Cena will topple the Rock. He'll be in the main-event longer, put on more great matches, and he is creating a bigger fanbase. So, why will Cena be put ahead of Austin? Because Cena has a MUCH bigger mainstream appeal than Austin ever did. Austin wasn't someone you could put on Good Morning America. He wasn't the character that Americans wanted to believe in. Cena, on the other hand, is. And while outside exposure has nothing to do with his ability inside the ring, it certainly will continue to open more and more minds and eyes to the wrestling business. "Damn, that Cena is everywhere, he must be a big deal. I should check him out". That, in turn, will ALSO lead to more and more fans turning Cena on.

Again, don't just look at what Cena has done so far. Look to what he WILL do, and has continued to do. THAT'S why he is already ahead of Hart and HBK, and why he WILL pass Triple H. And it's why I think he'll pass both Austin and Rock.

As far as Hogan? Well, Cena will have a lot of work to do, but wrestling will enter another boom period, and when it does, you can guarantee Cena will be at the forefront of it. And when that happens, then we'll talk about why Cena is greater than Hogan.

First off you state that John Cena attracts wrestling fans because of his wrestling based character & disagree with that assesment as IMO he attracts teenage girls because they find him attractive & children because of smart marketing of his character & merchandise therefore he does not atrract the hardcore wrestling fans who like to watch technical wrestling from the likes of Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit & Eddie Guerrero & rave about the ROH product etc.

Like i said you stated that Cena atrracts wrestling fans because of his wrestling based character & Austin did not. While i disagree that Cena attracts wrestling fans, i agree that Austin did not either during his heyday because Austin attracted the casual fans which you need to do in order to become a MEGA STAR.

You said The ROCK never created any fans & your wrong because the reason i became a fan was because of him! When i really started to watch wrestling in 1998 The Rock was my fav despite the fact that he was a heel because i thought he was so cool. Everybody else liked Austin i did not, all my friends had Austin T-Shirts but i had a Rock T-shirt. To say that The Rock never created any fans is absurd as the WWF in 2000 was bigger then it ever has been in term of having fans & Austin was injured for most of that year & The Rock was the man who kept the ball rolling with Triple H as his supporting cast. The pinnacle of wrestling was THE Rock vs. Austin match at Wrestlemania 17 IMO that was the highest point the busniess has ever reached (at least in my era as i think Hogan vs. Andre was also a big deal) & the reason i think this is because i renember that EVERYBODY was talking about it & i mean everybody.

Hogan, Austin & Rock are household names which means even if people dont follow wrestling they more then likely will know who these wrestlers are. Even when Hogan,Austin & Rock were all wrestling they were household names & everybody new who they were & im sorry to say that Cena is not a Household name today as an active wrestler & i cant see him being one in the future.

Hogan was so huge during the 1980s im not even going to bother explaing how over he was not to mention how over he was in the 90s & 2000s. Austins run was cut short by injury however he revolutionized the idustry,made wrestling more popular then it ever had been & most importantly made it cool to watch wrestling. Meanwhile The Rock became so popular that they turned Austin heel not to mention the fact that no one has crossed into the mainstream/hollywood from wrestrling like The Rock. Hogan was apart of two wrestling boom periods while Austin & Rock were apart of one.

Cena has been apart of no wrestling boom period & wrestling today is in a slump. Cena has not made an impact on the wrestling industry. Cena is not cool he is lame & corny & dresses like an 11 year old old!

Austin made wrestling go into the mainstream, The Rock & Hogan are #1 & #2 wrestler to have crossed over into Hollywood. What has Cena done? Made some rubbish WWE FILMS? Also me being a smart arse has to say that Cena has not had 4 years in the main event when you consider the time he has had off due to injurys & his WWE Film commitments etc.

Hogan, Austin & Rock had to Draw Money but today WWE mostly draws becuase of the name WWE & not the actual wrestlers.

In the future who knows how big Cena will be, Ive criticised Cena & admit that i dont really like him but i do know & respect what he brings to the table & the wrestling busniess is better off today with him in it.

I think there is somebody who is on the verge of becoming a bigger star then Cena however & that is .....Randy Orton. Ive always liked Orton but always thought that something was missing, well he has found it whatever it is. Orton will go on to be bigger then Cena in my Opinion.

If Austin wrestles at Mania 25 i think the roof will blow the FUCK OFF!!!!

Matches that trancended the business -

Hogan vs. Andre - Wrestlemania 3
Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior - Wrestlemania 6
Austin vs. Bret Hart - Wrestlemania 13
Rock vs. Austin - Wrestlemania 15
Rock vs. Austin - Wrestlemania 17
Rock vs. Hogan - Wrestlemnia 18
Hogan vs. Austin - Wrestlemania ?????!!!!!!!!
Cena vs. ?????????????????

I will say that if Cena turns heel it could make a huge impact but well just have to wait & see.

 

[DDPK7]

cena is a absolute joke, he kicks out of peoples finishers which makes the superstars look weak, he does embarrasingly kiss ass promos which only make kids happy and he spends about 10 months as the wwe/world heavyweight champion which just makes him boring, i want him to go back to smackdwon as hhh or jeff hardy would be a better major raw face than cena ever could be

 

[Fizzy]

Sly I agree on everything except the Hogan part. Cena is great. He is young, he is the face of WWE right now, and he is the "household" name of wrestling as of right now. I will even say he is the greatest in wrestling right now because I firmly believe it is true. In my mind at the end of his career he will surpass Rock and even Austin, but I believe Hogan is taking it to far. Hulk made wrestling, and nobody else will ever equal what he has done for the business. No matter how good Cena gets and no matter how many title reigns he will have, he will always be second all time behind Hogan.