When I first read this thread I thought, Edge wins no brainer. But then I thought about it. I realized that there is a lot to being a wrestler and it's not just about pure technical ability. I'm going to list certain categories which I feel are most important for professional wrestlers and then list who wins what category. Winner is the guy who wins the most categories. So simple even a smark could get it. Let me warn you, this will be long.
1) Promos. Who cuts better promos? Now John Cena can cut a promo a lot better than people here will say. John Cena is very underrated on the mic and he can at times be very convincing. That said, I can't go against Edge here. The guy is just awesome on the mic and can really convince a crowd. Edge 1-0
2) Better Feuds. Edge has been in the business longer and thus has been in much more memorable feuds so this already favors him. Over the past few years I have really clued in closely on these two guys and the feuds that they had. John Cena has had some really good ones. He had Orton (1st time), HBK, HHH, Umaga, and almost every fued he's in really draws my attention. That said, I can't miss an Edge feud. He is the best at making business personal. Edge leads 2-0.
3) Better Seller? Who can sell moves better? This category is as tough as they come to pick. Both superstars are very good sellers. John Cena can make anyone look legit. He made a match with Swagger gold and while they were both good wrestlers, Cena sold all of Swaggers moves perfectly. Edge on the other hand does the same. He takes a lot of bumps and falls and makes them all look very painful. After dwelling, I give this category slightly to Cena. Edge leads 2-1.
4) Best PPV performer. Really, it mostly depends on how you do on the big stage. This question is who is better when all the money is on the table. John Cena held the belt for over a year. In that time, all of his PPV matches were very good. He always brought his A-game for PPVs. I'm going with recent history for Edge as I feel that's all that is relevant. Edge's PPV matches were outstanding. He's done almost every kind of match, taken every kind of bump, and everytime I look at a good match, I see Edge. Very close call here, but John Cena's lackluster feud with Big Show gives Edge the win. It should be noted though that if Edge feuded with Show over PPVs, Cena could have easily taken this. Edge leads 3-1.
5) More believable. You really can't compare the ultimate babyface to a psycho heel. It's up to the viewer to make you truly believe them. John Cena is a believable face. In his promos he preaches about hustle, loyalty, and respect. Listening to a Cena promo and watching what he does, you think, wow this guy is the face of the company. Even when he's not chasing or holding the belt, he exudes that he is the guy. Edge on the other hand makes you feel, I hate this guy. When I first became a fan of his, because I used to hate the guy badly, I thought he was the world's biggest douchebag. After thinking about it, I realized that it's his job to make you hate him and he did it successfully time and time again. I'm going to give this to Cena. Edge has to be in a title feud to exude what Cena does, but Cena can do it when not chasing/holding. 3-2 Edge.
6) Better technical wrestler. John Cena is not a technical guy. He's got a limited moveset and I feel that hurts him here. Most people look at the "5 moves of doom" or whatever, but he's got more than that. That said, he's just not as technically sound as Edge is. 4-2 Edge
7) Better finisher. It's really the thing. Who has a finishing move that makes you say, it's over. John Cena has two really, the AA and STF. But what will give Cena the win is the multiple ways he uses these. It's not simply guy gets up from the shuffle and walks into the AA, and it's not a drop toehold out of nowhere and STF. The IWC thinks that but really they're not watching. John Cena has that power game and he can turn any hold into an AA or STF. He's good at changing an opponents finisher into one of those moves. He is also very good at modifying his moves to the scenario like his LMS with Umaga. Edge's spear is good and can come from out of nowhere, but he can't really apply it the many ways Cena can. 4-3 Edge.
8) Better champion. This category kills Edge. I love an Edge title reign as much as the next guy. I think that when he actually retains his belt, he does it very well. However his reigns are always just so short. Meanwhile, I never tired of Cena's year long reign. Booking plays a big role in this, but it is an important category. I like both of these guys as champs, but I gotta give it to Cena. Tied at 4.
9) Durability. Another important category. You can't perform if you're hurt. There's no way. Edge gets hurt a lot. He takes a lot of time to heal mostly because he takes so many bumps. Cena on the other hand doesn't take as many vicious ones and he benefits from it. Edge has had two belts from him removed due to injury and Cena returned early from a very bad injury to win the rumble. Gotta give it to Cena. 5-4 Cena.
10) Who is more versitle? This deals with is he a good face AND heel and how they can do both. Edge has been the slime ball for a while, while Cena has been the bend but not break guy for a while. I saw some of Cena's older rapper stuff and I found it like a muscular K-fed. I didn't like his heel work as much as everyone else. Edge though, in his feud with Christian for the title was a very convincing face and made you just want to cheer for him. I liked Edge's combined face/heel work much better than Cena's. Tied at five.
Last Category) Making younger stars. It's not about how your career is, it's how you aid the next generation. Which of these guys is better at making another star? It's appropriate that these two guys tie is broken by arguably the most important one. Now, let's start with Cena as usual. John Cena can build stars well in my opinion. He's a bit to young yet, but we are already seeing his work with Sheamus. In every encounter, Cena has made Sheamus look like a big deal. Only time will tell how this ends, but Cena is a guy who makes everyone look better just by being in a fued with him. Edge now is a master at this as well. He got people to care about the second Hardy. His actions left a hole open for Matt to just run through and eclipse Jeff for the last time. Matt didn't take it, but looking back at Edge's career it would be very tough for me to say that Edge hasn't built Superstars. His work is all around. That said, I have to give it to Cena. As I said, everytime he's in the ring, the other guy's starpower raises and sometimes he can take a "weak link" and make him a showstopper. John Cena wins the contest 6-5.
It's tough when you look at everything that it takes to be a superstar and these two are very good when you look at their work closely. However, when you look at the total package, I have to say that Cena is better. Whether that's due to booking or not is irrelevant in my book.
