What should WWE do to get the crowd behind John Cena?

[MERPER]

Simple

Have him get "Injured" at Royal Rumble and say he is out for a while, don't mention him on TV or anything..

Mania Hogan in ring and Rusev comes down and threatens to attack him, challenging him to a match. Just before attacking Hogan the music hits and Cena comes out and takes out Rusev leaving him laying in the ring for Hogan to pin.

Hogan gets one more Mania moment, Cena stopped the unbeatable Russian fans cheer..

I'd be ok with this and get behind it as it goes with my prior mentioned comment about having him feud with Rusev.

But, unless it's a real injury, there is no way they sit Cena for a few months during the height of Mania season. Like the guy or hate the guy, he is still their most marketable superstar and gets great crowd reactions. Can't keep him away for a fake injury for that long.

 

[kadroan]

You can't take chants as a measure of anything. The Cena back and forth chants have become fun and just the thing to do. Remember how Angle would come out to You Suck chants? What a lot of fans dont understand is that Cena is in a perfect spot that is actually a bonus for the WWE. Because of his unique reactions he can easily put over both heels and faces without it affecting his character or popularity. Why would the WWE get rid of someone that has that ability? Personally I think that the reactions he gets are the best reactions a wrestler could have. Take Punk vs Cena at MITB for example, what other face could have help create that atmosphere? NOBODY!!! If it was DB instead he would have been cheered. Cena being the face and Punk being the heel yet completely flipping the reactions is a really rare thing. Seriously how many other times has that happened?

Yeah true. Cena is legit. If anything, I'd be worried if he didn't get a reaction at all.

He's probably the most consistent wrestler in no matter what storyline or match he's in, he can get people to be interested in.

 

[RobertTheBruce]

This is 100% wrong. Sorry, but even if you hate Cena, no smart or decent fan is rooting FOR Rusev.

Everyone wants to see the guy lose. It's plain and simple.

Just like if you hated W. Bush or Obama as president you still wouldn't want to see another country get the better of them or America. It would be the same premise.

Would you have a few a-holes still boo'ing Cena? Sure. You will in any and all situations.

But to the OP's question. The best way to get a vast majority of the crowd behind him is in a feud with Rusev.

I'm not even sure how this is debatable.

Nope.

I'm a huge Rusev fan. They don't even use kayfabe to get over. Simply go out every night, run off some facts and figures about Americans, and all the overweight, toothless yokels covered in Doritos go absolutely beserk. It's the old Hart Foundation treatment. Love it.

And just like Hart he dominates everyone he steps into the ring with. And also points out that he's not as generic as everyone else in the roster due to his nationality. Shaemus should take note.

Outside of the USA (that's a real thing btw) Rusev is quite a hit.

On a side note, imagine the pop if they did a show in Moscow?! And why shouldn't they?! One thing WWE consistently forgets is what the first W in their name stands for... WCW sure as hell knew what it stood for.

 

[MERPER]

Nope.

I'm a huge Rusev fan. They don't even use kayfabe to get over. Simply go out every night, run off some facts and figures about Americans, and all the overweight, toothless yokels covered in Doritos go absolutely beserk. It's the old Hart Foundation treatment. Love it.

And just like Hart he dominates everyone he steps into the ring with. And also points out that he's not as generic as everyone else in the roster due to his nationality. Shaemus should take note.

Outside of the USA (that's a real thing btw) Rusev is quite a hit.

On a side note, imagine the pop if they did a show in Moscow?! And why shouldn't they?! One thing WWE consistently forgets is what the first W in their name stands for... WCW sure as hell knew what it stood for.

I am not, in any way, knocking Rusev's ability or how well he and Lana have played their characters.

I am simply replying tot he OP and then the other response. When asked the best way to get the crowd behind Cena, this is the best way that currently exists on the roster.

Of course, I am only referring to the American aspect because the vast majority of their viewership (TV wise) and events are USA related. Of course, it wouldn't work as well for special shows and tours of other places outside of America.

There is no perfect solution, obviously. There rarely, if ever, is. Pitting him against Rusev in a full-on USA vs. Russia thing is the best way to get a majority of the crowd behind Cena.

 

[RobertTheBruce]

I just feel it's such a catastrophic waste of Rusevs perceived invincibility and streak. I actually think the crowd would turn if they pitted them against each other.

Give the rub to Ryback or Ambrose. Even Reigns if they don't put him with Lesnar. Short of Brock, it's the last sure fire way they have to give someone a massive push in one match.

 

[RobertTheBruce]

Orton. Cena. Big Show. Henry. Shaemus. None of these guys need it. I would even put Ziggler & Bryan (possibly even Rollins) in that category.

 

[RasslingFan]

After going to a house show last night in Montgomery I saw first hand that Cena is still waaayyyy over. If there were boos you couldn't here them over the cheering. Rollins even tried to get the crowd to start a lets go cent chant presumably so he could get some cent sucks chants as well. Didn't happen. I'm not a John Cena fan but children and women love him.

 

[evadavid787]

They have to give him a compelling story outsjde of the Main event. Maybe something where he loses to Lesnar then goes on an epic losing streak. Turn the #lolcenawins to #lolcenaloses. Have him lose for months and months and put the whole roster over and tease retirement and go into acting.have him leave for 3 ppvs, make a surprise rr return and come back recharged and ready for redemption.

 

[Khaosom]

Look at the history of the title 80% of the holders have fit into a specific body type.

They have to give him a compelling story outsjde of the Main event. Maybe something where he loses to Lesnar then goes on an epic losing streak. Turn the #lolcenawins to #lolcenaloses. Have him lose for months and months and put the whole roster over and tease retirement and go into acting.have him leave for 3 ppvs, make a surprise rr return and come back recharged and ready for redemption.

This idea teases into a part time champion. Someone who isn't 100% WWE. Cena doesn't show a weakness, he always comes back ready for more, that's an issue. Never any doubt. I mean the man came back still partially injured and was winning belts. The losing streak is on Dean Ambrose at the moment. As for Ambrose holding a title, they need to start letting him cut promo's like he did in other feds as Moxley, then we'd see what he can really do. Seth Rollins could be champion leather or not, but they haven't let him prove himself as a singles competitor. As for the comments about Rusev, if he gets over in other countries, thats good for him. As for me I find him as boring as watching paint dry. Once again it's WWE recycled...Anyone else remember Nikolai Volkoff? The Iron Sheik? Ok, more recently Tiger Ali Singh, All these anti-american's from WWF..

Alas, I went off topic. The best way to have Cena get back to being where they want him is to just simply give him a GOOD story line. Something akin to Randy Orton or Edge and him. Have it play out over 6 months minimum. Other than that the most assured way is having him turn heel for a year or two and then have a bigger heel come in and him be like Deadpool from Marvel, not exactly a good guy, but not the bad guy either. In the mean time, have someone like Daniel Bryan have a good run as champion.