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Ok so I just read the "5 Simple Reasons why John Cena should not be champion" column and got kinda bothered by it. Not that I am bothered by what someone thinks about John Cena - I could really care less - but that anytime I read a column that someone puts up in this vain, it always seems to come across like the author is presenting his opinions as fact. The article I reference actually had me a couple times being like - why is it this guy thinks I am stupid if I don't "know" what he is talking about... and then shake my head and go "wait, he is just giving opinions"...
Right - so that conversation never really happened in my head but you get my point. So whether it is me trying to defend my opinion on John Cena, or me trying to write a column that I don't make someone feel "wrong" because they don't agree, or maybe it is because Tuesdays are pretty slow round these parts....I present to you:
Top 5 Reasons (in Sean Weymouth's opinion) why John Cena is a perfectly fine champion:
5. AGE:
John Cena is a young guy. Why is that important? Well to me, as a long time WWE fan, it is nice to see someone carry the title that hasn't been on my TV screen for 10+ years... Ha Ha.... Ok seriously, I think it is very important for WWE to have a champion that is young enough that he can relate to the audience and be believable doing it. I think that is very important because if you look at the young kids that are cheering him - well those are fans that will grow as he grows. Sure some of the hardcore fans like myself are not a fan of his - but 10 years down the line you are going to have those 10 year olds become 20 year olds and that is your new crop of diehards...wouldn't it be nice to have a guy that you watched as a kid make it to when you are older and able to buy tickets on your own, go to shows on your own, live and experience the nostalgia? Personally I say it is...that is why I went and bought tickets to see The Hulk come and go through bean town or am pre-ordering his DVD etc... Plus, as a diehard remembering those golden memories of the 80's I have become an enthusiast of the business - a complete fan from tickets to DVDs to CDs to shirts to joining wrestling news sites etc...Hey look I am not so selfish to think that I am going to be WWE's target demo forever - hell I am nearing leaving it - so having a young champion (in my opinion) is important just to continue the business. Plus Cena is, barring injury, going to be someone who the WWE can build off of long term because he isn't "getting older now" and he isn't "looking to slow his schedule down". Just my opinion. Disagree if you would like...
4. CHARISMA/LOOK:
Hey I am comfortable enough in my sexuality to say the guy looks good. Guess what, good looking wrestlers bring women and women bring their friends who bring their friends or their kids etc etc etc - a more diverse audience helps WWE sell themselves as overall entertainment. Plus isn't it nice to see some ladies at the shows - unless you are gay in which case maybe you could at least see my point. Cena is young and he looks young, he is built and strong as hell and looks like a freakin' alpha male. He looks the part, he brings a diverse fan base and he doesn't look "unbelievable" when he is matched up against a tank like Big Show or a mass like Big Vis. Now for charisma - he has it. Not just on the mic, but you can tell when he shoots the smile over the camera or he is delivering a promo with a ton of fire or intensity or if he is playing to the crowd goofing or joking about someone in the ring. In a day and age where piped in crowd noise is the norm - getting a reaction is key. Love him or hate him the guy gets arguably the biggest overall reaction nearly every night. Boos, Cheers, that doesn't come to someone who is boring. Just my opinion but I think his charisma and looks keep him at the top of the reaction chain and to me if you are getting a solid crowd reaction - why shouldn't you be champ?
3. IT WASN'T A CAKE WALK:
We aren't talking about a guy that showed up for some Tough Enough tryouts, got put in the contest, won a bunch of pie eating and pushup races and walks away with a million dollar contract... Cena started on the independents. He did his developmental deals. He worked the gimmicks. He was on Smackdown. Ok that last one was a low blow, but you see what I am saying. Cena didn't show up on Smackdown and have people boo the hell out of him but someone convinced the boss that he should have a title run... No Cena did things the right way... he worked the independent dates with 400 people in the crowd. He got sidled with gimmicks like "the Prototype" and others. He hit the developmental system and when he got his 'break' he worked his ass off - anyone remember his debut against Angle? He showed some personality and got over with his rap gimmick - it took awhile (thank you very much BSquared) but still... In my opinion he has worked to get where he is today and as someone who believes in that philosophy I can't argue with earning success...
2. HE'S TRYING:
Chris Benoit John Cena is not...but you can't watch his matches on Raw or Pay-Per-View and not see that the guy is trying. Yeah he was criticized during his first run as Champ that he wasn't working to improve his game - well maybe he wasn't - but I think that it is pretty obvious he has stepped his game up over the last several months. His finisher was over - the FU. It was simple, easy to execute and effective because it Looked Cool - did he need to learn how to apply a new finish? Probably not, but there you see him breaking out the STFU in the Main Event of Wrestlemania of all places. His psychology in the ring is better, his timing is getting sharper and he is looking like a better worker - NOT A GOOD ONE - but to me he is noticeably better than I thought he was a year ago. Guess what, the guy is over and he is young and the kids love him and the women love him...did he need to do more in his matches just to please the die-hards and his critics..nope. But he has tried and as a lifelong fan I respect that. I don't care for him any more or less but credit where credit is due - as far as I am concerned.
1. THE MCMAHON'S LIKE HIM:
What is that? This is a cop out big reason? I say "F" that. Who owns the company? Who is considered the greatest promoter in pro wrestling history? Who is still one of the most talked about people in the wrestling world? More importantly - who is in charge of WWE? Who is the person that controls what we see on TV? Who is the family that have their fingers in every product that has their company name on it. YEAH - and guess what they see something in John Cena. The 'First Family' of wrestling has kept John Cena as the (if not one of the) centerpieces of their brand(s) for nearly 3 years now. Guess what - ol' Vinny Mac has a lot of share holders to answer to... if he chose me to be the flag bearer and star in movies and have merchandise fly off the shelf - I would be honored. Sure business isn't good right now and ratings are a struggle and the buyrates aren't what they used to be - well guess what? That is everywhere! Doesn't have to be because wrestler A is champ or wrestler B is champ... Call me old school, but when you strap the WWE Championship on a wrestler in my eyes that guy has reached the Top...and while the fans may "put someone in a position to be the man" there is only one guy who ultimately makes someone the "man" and you know what if the McMahons believe in him - who am I to argue...I haven't drawn dime one in this business.
Ok. So there they are - my 5 strongest opinions why Cena is a good champ... well I guess go brawl with me on the message board if you don't like what I wrote. I'd be happy to listen to different opinions!
Sean Weymouth
sweymouth@mycingular.blacberry.net
