The Wrestling 6&1 12.10.11: Maria Versus AJ!
Posted by Greg De Marco on 12.10.2011
Maria takes on AJ in Vs, the 5&1 Preshow makes its debut, a look at John Cena’s role as the face of the WWE, and a possible replacement for him, Candice Michelle is your “&1” Model of the Week and more!
Yet another busy week. We had the big syndication announcement for The Greg DeMarco Show (well, it was a big deal on the program and on the syndication partner, anyway!), and a lot of work went into that behind the scenes this week...which I'll talk about in a later point. The wrestling world provided plenty of news as well.
The comment responses are currently alive and well in The Preshow, but for the main column, tt's award time!
No one really earned the above award this week. In fact, all of the comments were pretty close to the same level. You all brought it this week, and I appreciated that. But we do have a few winners...
People are probably gonna flame me for this, but John Cena was well on his way to being able to fill that "void", that Rock is now being brought in to fill, if it hadn't been for WWE Creative. ... From "Ruthless Aggression" to the "Doctor of Thugganomics", and even into the initial run on top, Cena's progression was going quite well; he'd developed a real connection with the audience, and his character was evolving at about the pace the audience was taking it. ... And then the "Super Cena" nonsense started. Johm Cena went from a organic character that the WWE audience was developing imto WWE Creative's attempt to recreate 1980's "Real American" Hulk Hogan. John Cena was no longer the star that the fans had the "buy in" for, and it's been downhill since. ... Not sure about any date, to say that this was the exact point where the WWE lost out on the "next Rock", but June 2005, with the hotshotted move to Raw, is about as good a date as any. ... Cena lost all of the nuance and character traits/flaws that the audience loved him for, and folks haven't forgiven the WWE since. ... John Cena got his "Rocky Maivia"-moment, just as his star was about to launch, and he's been stuck ever since.
Posted By: scipio2009
You, sir, are spot on, and thus you are...
I agree with your comments and most other comments on The Rock. It's strictly business. The Rock was part of a huge boom when wrestling was intensely mainstream, whereas now it's more outside and niche-like (even though it still generates a shitload of money). Cena, Orton and Punk are struggling to become a name like Rocky, which is just a sign of the times and, sometimes, WWE's lack of foresight. ... Regardless of that, I severely doubt there will be another wrestler who can pop ratings or be more over than The Rock. He is the Hulk Hogan of modern wrestling and really is doing the WWE a FAVOUR by coming from a filming schedule to do a live show. ... Orton and Punk are just a little too egotistical in this regard, and while I can understand how they've been slighted (for reasons previously stated by yourself), making it a public issue only makes them look bitter. ... It's impossible to say if someone like Danielle will be the next Trish. Let's face it, Trish was incredibly lucky to become so popular and got a LOT of screen time with T&A, as Vince's personal assistant and more before becoming a good wrestler. Her character helped establish her with the audience before she started wrestling a lot. Much like when Tajiri was first brought in as Regal's assistant, the guy was super-over for a long time because of his previous character. ... The bottom line is, it depends on how the WWE handle her, and I assume she'll be handled like all the other Divas. For that reason, there won't be another Diva that will achieve the success Trish did.
Posted By: Banz
First off, you brought it. Second off, you complimented me. Thus...
Mr. De Marco, you are wrong on TNA / WWE. Here's why:
1 - ODB and Jackie attack the pretty women of TNA. Beth and Nataly does the same. Nothing.
2 - Albert Del Rio wins the Rumble loses to Edge at Mania. Nothing. But Robert Rode losing at BFG people we are ready to write TNA off for good.
3 - How about Christian's week long title reign vs James Storm 3 week title reign?
Hell imagine if TNA had the finish to Henry vs Show from the last 2 PPVs? My God the iWC would'implode on itself.
You are being unfair, Mr. De Marco. WWE should not get a free pass. That's unethical.
Posted By: Mike Rodriguez
Whats kinda depressing is the WWE wants the next Rock, not the next Ric Flair. I'm sure as wrestling fans we would love to see a new Ric Flair, somebody that stays around for years but doesn't get stale, helps redefine wrestling, puts on five star matches(ones that people actually see), gets other guys over while staying popular, and won't jump ship. I see two guys like this CM Punk(duh) and Dolph Ziggler. ... Yes there is Dolph bandwagon getting full, but the guy has been in beast mode most of the year. Let him cut some more fastly delivered #heel promos on TV. Remember when he cut his hair early this year and became created wrestler number 5? They almost crushed the guy but he fought it and got it back. I just hope he doesn't get Morrisoned.
Posted By: Guest#0184
Woah, that comment is kinda 10%er of you there. Why?
One reader comment and one other column I saw earlier this week, made me immediately think deep into the possibility of creating another face to the level of popularity that John Cen has. In fact, it spawned my next...
John Cena is the face of the WWE. Many people are calling for him to turn heel, even if we (I said) are all wrong. I said last week that you can't turn John Cena heel until after WrestleMania 28. Now, I need to recognize up front that there is a chance the WWE will go with a half-assed heel turn for Cena during the Road to WrestleMania, only to do a mutual respect thing with The Rock the night after ‘Mania and turn him back.
But now my mind has been 100% changed. Turning John Cena—a real heel turn—would be an insane decision. 100% insane. I didn't change my own mind, my friend (and former promoter) "Die Hard" Derek Gordon finished off the work that my broadcast partner Patrick O'Dowd had already started...
"Piper said it best when he referred to Cena as "the face of the company", because he truly is. There is not one piece of WWE merchandise that doesn't have Cena's image plastered on it. His likeness is synonymous with the WWE brand. He IS the WWE brand and he IS the Hulk Hogan of this generation."
Derek couldn't be more right here. Since 2004, the WWE has built John Cena up at the Hulk Hogan of this generation. And they were successful with it. He truly is the top stay in the company, no one else comes close (save for The Rock). To turn him would in fact undo a lot of what has been done.
"In my personal opinion, I truly believe that a Cena heel turn would be catastrophic for merchandise sales. Not just because he's the face of the company, but because he is the ONLY legitimate idol. ... In his promo on Raw, he summed it up by saying - "If you don't watch, we don't work". John Cena is a true leader, but most of all, he's a true hero. And a hero that kids can idolize is something that today's youth desperately need."
Listen, wrestlers and professional athletes shouldn't have to be our kids' idols. But they are. And that is okay. I don't want my kid to dream of working a 9-5 job like Mom & Dad, I want my kid to dream big. That's why they idolize those who have a larger-than-life profile. If today's kids don't dream, the world will soon become a very depressing place.
You may hate him, but what you don't realize is that you need him. He is not only the face of the WWE brand, but the face of responsibility for the WWE Universe. A universe whose product is based on the foundation of full contact violence, yet can pull itself away from the fantasy warfare and fiction to remind your kids that they are trained professionals and... I can't believe I'm saying this... entertainers. It's FAKE. It's a STORY. It's a bunch of CHARACTERS. The responsibility lies in telling the kids NOT to follow the things you see on TV...but if you are, then follow a guy like John Cena.
I've gone out of my way to teach my son that wrestling is fake. He knows that the wrestlers are working together, and that the result is predetermined. He knows that they protect each other. I do this so he won't try to take any actions he sees on television. I know that wrestling is just a TV show, but for some reason it's much easier for people to separate production with reality on a true TV drama over a wrestling program. It just looks more like a real event, much like watching NFL football.
Ironically, Cena's catchphrase is "You Can't See Me". And the truth is - the fans can't see him right now. Nor can they appreciate him.
I don't know how the WWE will someday replace John Cena. It will likely come after another era change. I think the WWE will become cyclical, thus getting edgier again. We won't see another attitude era, because it the WWE's marketing presence is very different now than it was in 1997. But someday the WWE will have to replace him, and then he'll likely be truly appreciated.
You Decide: Do you agree that the WWE, and all of the WWE Universe, NEED John Cena to be a face and the face of the WWE?
Stay tuned for part two of my 2 Point Perspective later in this column, where I investigate just who could replace Cena at the top of the card—and it's 100% based on a reader comment.
The following is from our post-show newsbite for the last Greg DeMarco Show.
The Sheik came to the show ready to discuss his two most controversial issues. He discussed this NWA World Heavyweight Championship situation in detail, including how his title win came about, why he was stripped, and all of his interactions with the offices of the National Wrestling Alliance. The Sheik also discussed the controversial nature of his gimmick, and how he responds to the criticism that the gimmick is racially insensitive, inappropriate for this time period and stolen from generations gone by.
Click here to listen to the program, or listen here:
Here is what's not printed there...
During the November 29 show, I received a message on Twitter from a guy named Bruce Wirt. Bruce is the host of the Voice of Choice Nation, a wrestling radio show that airs live every Wednesday from 5 PM – 8 PM on AM 1360 WNJC in Philadelphia. The show has a website at VOCNation.com where their show streams on Thursday & Friday. Bruce's show often features wrestling personalities like D-Lo Brown, So Cal Val and Sgt. Slaughter. The show also has a great relationship with legendary journalist Bill Apter.
They also host other wrestling related content on the site, and were in search of some fresh programming. They had heard the show before, and when we returned from hiatus we were basically given a pseudo tryout as Bruce listened to the show. He was sold, so he offered me the chance to syndicate the show on the Voice of Choice Nation. And I took it.
Now, when I developed the show with Patrick, we had no clue what it would look like. We knew we could engage an audience, and knew we had a different perspective to offer. We let aspects like Buggy, Steve Cook, Justin Freemyer and our eventual move to hosting guests just happen, and it all fell into place. We never forced anything (except one ill-advised battle rap), and it all just works. I've gotten multiple offers to take the show elsewhere, but those offers didn't really offer anything. No money, and we had to leave our core audience at 411Mania. When Bruce wanted to stream the show on his site all weekend, it was a chance to grow our audience and develop as radio hosts. We aren't leaving 411Mania, and we aren't changing our normal broadcast time of Tuesdays at 10:30 PM eastern. In fact, we're only making small changes by changing some of the audio to be more FCC friendly, cutting back on the swearing and being a little more professional in our production and preparation.
But it's still the same show!
And Bruce Wirt wouldn't have it any other way. He wanted our show the way it was, and that's what he got. And for you haters, wanna know why Bruce likes our show? In his words, it's because we don't come off as a bunch of hacks who do nothing but swear and complain about the product, only focusing on the one or two things we loved from 1998. We have strong opinions and are definitely critical of the product, but we maintain a love for a wrestling and a passion for putting on a good show. And he was also impressed that the show comes off like a professional production. He's familiar with Blog Talk Radio, and all of the issues that come along with it. But we've overcome that better than most shows, and he recognizes that as well.
If you're not familiar with the Voice of Choice Nation, head over to their site at VOCNation.com. Bruce's radio show also streams there, as does the other programming he has.
Here is the VOC Nation schedule:
Wednesday: Bruce's show airs on broadcast radio, then streams on his website
Thursday/Friday: The Voice of Choice Nation with Bruce Wirt streams
Saturday—Monday: The Greg DeMarco Show with Greg DeMarco & Patrick O'Dowd streams
Tuesday—Wednesday: The Suplah, The UK's hottest podcast with Liam Dunne & Andy Quann streams
(Yes, the show is named after Tazz's hilarious suplex call on Smackdown in 2008)
This past Wednesday yours truly made an appearance on Bruce's show, which is embedded below. To hear me, hit up the 45 minute mark of the show. But I highly encourage you to listen to the entire thing, it's full of good stuff.
So hit up The VOC Nation site this weekend and see how everything comes out. I'm excited to see and hear it myself.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla returns to action this Saturday night with FEAR. And holy crap, is this an awesome card. Take a look...
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World Championship Tag Team Title Guerrilla Warfare Match
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson - Champions) vs. Appetite for Destruction ("Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen & Super Dragon)
Non-Title Dream Singles Match
PWG World Champion El Generico vs. Dick Togo
American Wolves (Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards) vs. Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno & Stupefied)
The Amazing Red vs. Roderick Strong
Future Shock (Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly) vs. RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime & Johnny Yuma)
Kenny King vs. TJ Perkins
Eight-Person Tag Team Match
"Pretty" Peter Avalon, Ray Rosas, & The Dynasty (Joey Ryan & Scorpio Sky) vs. Famous B, Chris Kadillak, Candice LeRae, & Willie Mack
Los Luchas (Phoenix Star & Zokre) vs. Fightin' Taylor Boys (Brian Cage-Taylor & Ryan Taylor)
First big note is that Los Luchas won't be able to appear due to a family emergency. PWG hasn't announced a replacement match, but in all honesty they don't need to. I mean, it's the opener, and PWG normally delivers with their card changes. For what it's worth, PWG did make a Facebook post with the following: "There will be a couple of changes to the undercard on FEAR. Don't worry, you won't be disappointed!" I'd bet this is a minor tweak that impacts the 8-person, or a local team coming in that people will enjoy. This card is stacked, so there's no reason to worry.
Of course, the major selling point of the program is the return of Super Dragon, who hasn't wrestled in PWG for a few years. He made a huge surprise return at Steen Wolf when The Young Bucks attacked Kevin Steen, challenging him to a Guerrilla Warfare Match and noting that he didn't have a partner. But why tell you about it when you can check it out for yourself.
The advance tickets for this show sold out, and they would have done the same had only one match been announced. This is a lost art in wrestling—not announcing an entire show ahead of time. There is a certain level of fun seeing The Super Smash Brothers hit the ring, not knowing who their opponents will be and being shocked and elated when it's The American Wolves of Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards. Same reaction having Amazing Red come out only to be followed by Roderick Strong.
But that does make my job harder, as I have less to preview! Obviously the biggest draw is the returning Super Dragon teaming with Kevin Steen—easily the most popular combination possible for PWG at this time—facing two of the most hated (in a good way) wrestlers in all of PWG, The Young Bucks. The Bucks are amazing as heels, and this style of match (basically a street fight) will hide any "ring rust" that Super Dragon might have (if any). No doubt that this match will be insane, and the result is not one easily predicted. PWG has had both established and makeshift teams as champions, so either team could pick up the win and leave Reseda with the belts.
The semi-main event hasn't gotten the attention it deserves, as PWG World Champion El Generico sets the title aside and serves as Dick Togo's final opponent on American soil. Togo is nearing the end of his retirement tour, and Generico has the honor of being his last opponent here. PWG management has indicated he played a large role in the formation of the company—unknowingly—so I expect a tribute to Togo before all is said and done.
If that isn't enough, you have the two matches I mentioned above (American Wolves vs. Super Smash Brothers and Roderick Strong vs. Amazing Red). I don't see why Ring of Honor, doesn't use the Super Smash Bros or Amazing Red, but this plays to PWG's strength of being to put together unique matches that no one else really can (or if another company does, it's so small scale that no one notices). The ROCKness Monsters do battle with Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly in a sleeper candidate for match of the night, TJ Perkins battles Kenny King in a match where Kenny King's technical skill might surprise some people, there's an eight-person tag that will no doubt be a crowd pleaser, and some sort of re-booking in store for Brian Cage-Taylor and Ryan Taylor.
I am stoked for this card, and really wish I was in SoCal to see it. I will definitely have more coverage on the results next week, as I expect this one to be as newsworthy as the last.
You Decide: If this were on iPPV, would you order it?
Last week I reported on the signing of Lingerie Football League player Danielle Moinet to a WWE developmental contract. Now we can report on the singing of Kira Forster, better known as Taya Valkyrie from World of Hurt—the Lance Storm hosted Canadian reality show that also produced developmental Diva Tenille Tayla. Tayla hasn't started in FCW as she is recovering from shoulder surgery.
This news has me wondering out loud about the future of the WWE Divas. The WWE is putting some focus on Beth Phoenix and Natalya. They reportedly plan to put Kaitlyn with then in Pin-Up Strong (Kaitlyn turned at the Smackdown taping, but it's reported to be removed from the final cut. This is written prior to my seeing Smackdown, so I don't yet know how it's being handled on television).
The signing of Tayla and Korster represents the WWE signing women who can actually wrestle. Moinet, while not trained as a wrestler, has raw talent as she's an accomplished athlete (not just in the LFL, mind you).
Not sure? Take a look at each woman in action...
The WWE should also take a look at Nicole Matthews—Tenille Tayla's opponent who is world traveled and well known for her work in Shimmer.
Both have spent time training with Lance Storm. I've long believed that Storm should be in the WWE training the Superstars of tomorrow. Maybe I'm only partially right as he should be training the Divas of tomorrow.
Another signing is that of UK star Britani Knight, who competed at the last SHIMMER tapings as well. Her family is highly regarded in the United Kingdom, and she's another welcome addition to the roster. Add to that FCW Diva Leah West, real name Irena Janjic, who moved from Australia to Canada to train with the aforementioned Lance Storm. I'm telling you—he should be the next Fit Finlay!
Couple these signings with the pending return to the ring for Kharma, the development of AJ Lee and the athleticism displayed by Eve Torres and it appears that the WWE might actually take their female division seriously. MIGHT. I wonder if this is at all influenced by Kharma, as he was part of those pushing to bring her in to the company.
You Decide: Is the WWE headed in a direction where they will take their female division seriously?
In our continuing coverage of women's wrestling, we've come to a the biggest match in the career of one of our famed DeMarcettes, Terra Calaway.
Terra steps into the ring with former TNA Knockout Winter for the WILD World Championship. If you're not familiar, WILD is the World Independent Ladies Division, promoted by Travis Leland. He brings together the best women's wrestlers in the world, and promotes them on events throughout the world. WILD doesn't present its own shows, rather it provides promoters with a showcase match for their card.
Terra Calaway, DeMarcette and pioneer of Terra Calaway's Takedown Breast Cancer 2011, won the WILD North American Championship earlier this year, and is the #1 contender to Winter's world championship. The match takes place on EPIC's card on Saturday December 10.
I know Steve Cook will hate me for this, as he was very vocal about my decision to even cover it on last week's Greg DeMarco Show. But this EPIC show has become a source of great controversy, as EPIC promoter Gary Yap has publically criticized women's wrestling, and specifically targeted our Terra Calaway in his criticism. He went so far as to call women's wrestling "clothed porn," a comment that our own Buggy Nova completely refuted on our program. Take a look at Terra Calaway's photos online and you'll see that while she is a very beautiful women, she wears far more clothing than most female competitors. Furthermore, men's wrestling is far worse in both the outfits and the nature of the performance.
The biggest problem I have with Yap's statements is that he himself knows they are false. He is simply trying to drum up controversy publicize his show, a practice he became known for in the past. However, unlike Eric Bischoff (who has long believed that controversy creates cash—hey, he should name a book that!), Yap makes these promotional statements without considering the talent he's talking about. Meaning that Travis Leland, Winter, and especially Terra Calaway had no clue that Gary would do this, and had they, they wouldn't have gone along with it. If the guy had any credibility, his comments could be damaging to Terra's career. But everyone knows the guy is a piece of garbage, so his comments on Terra can be completely discounted. Yes, I am sticking up for Terra. Not because she's a DeMarcette, but because she is a genuinely great person who, like all four DeMarcettes, works her ass off training and promoting herself in hopes of building a career in women's wrestling.
Therefore, I urge any fans in the area to attend this event. Your $10 will help support a good cause (the Lakewood YMCA). Once Terra and Winter steal the show, get up and leave. That's right, get up and leave. Your money is going to support a good cause, you'll have seen the best match on the card, and you'll show Gary Yap that you're there for Terra, Winter & Travis—not for him. Gary Yap doesn't deserve your support, Terra Calaway does.
"You'd need a face ready to take over the kid demographic, and the WWE doesn't have that." ... If only there was a large Irishman with a surplus of limes getting pushed to the top of the card...
Posted By: Howard
Howard, who I assumehope is a loyal reader, completely blew mind with this comment. I long believed Sheamus could be a top face long before most did (based on the crowd reaction he was getting). I could tell early on that he was a company guy. you see, when Triple H was commenting that he saw a lot in Sheamus, I think he was referring to the total package. Triple H is looking at the future now, and he was looking at a guy who could represent the company on a large scale.
So combining Howard's comment with Derek's analysis above, I ask this: Could Sheamus be the face of the WWE?
YES.
First thing we need to do is look at the other options if the title of "Face of the WWE" belonged to neither John Cena nor Sheamus .
CM Punk: CM Punk moves a ton of merch, more than John Cena at the present time. He's gotten mega reactions from the crowd, and he's someone fans can follow. Now. But he didn't always have "it" to the level of a guy who can carry the company. I do believe that Punk can and will carry the company. As a heel. Punk's not a role model, nor could he become one. I do believe that his straight edge lifestyle is one that the WW should push more—and not just when he's a heel. That is an example people can follow. But while his disrespect for authority makes for a great storyline character, it doesn't make him a great role model.
Randy Orton: Face or heel, Randy Orton is still a guy who can snap and literally try to end someone's career or life at any time. Adults and women do love Randy, but he's not a role model for kids.
Rey Mysterio: I might get flamed for this, but Rey is more style than substance. He's a great wrestler, and he has wonderful interactions with kids. But I just don't see him being that face of the WWE that can relate to everyone. It might be the mask, it might be his stature. But he stops just short of being that "larger than life" figure that the WWE needs to have as the face of the company—from both a wrestling and corporate perspective.
Cody Rhodes: Cody is at his best when he's a little big maniacal. Face of the company Cody would work in the short term, but not on a long-term basis.
Chris Jericho: Jericho could easily act and talk in a manner that would please kids, parents, shareholders and advertisers. But he's not all-in. He's a renaissance man for sure, and a very successful one. But it doesn't make him the right guy to be the face of the company.
Zack Ryder: Zack Ryder is getting over thanks to current style and his videos. We need to see what happens once those go away and Zack is on his own to truly carry the company on both the wrestling and corporate sides.
The Miz: Out of all the possibilities, The Miz runs a close second to Sheamus. He's amazing in front of the media, and has shown that, even as a mid-card heel, he can have great interactions with kids (as evidenced during the WWE's WrestleMania 27 reading program). We need to see how people—specifically kids—latch onto him as a face before we can label him the face of the company. I think he might actually have what it takes to get the kids on his side. He's my 5-year old son's favorite wrestler, thanks to his music and his catchphrase.
Who else is there that can truly carry the company? Well, there is Sheamus!
I've always been impressed with Sheamus's ability during media events. He's well-spoken and immediately overcomes any barrier created by his accent. He has the natural charisma needed by the face of the company. His uniqueness doesn't come from being anti-authority (Punk) or borderline psychotic (Orton), it's from being Irish and being a warrior. People can love both of those aspects. The picture at the top of this point shows Sheamus visiting a hospital in Poland. I can see Sheamus interacting with Make-A-Wish kids and military personnel in the same manner that John Cena does. Since his face turn, he's elicited reactions that any face needs. And he was getting them before he turned, too.
Let's do a little test. If john Cena were to get catastrophically injured tomorrow, could Sheamus be inserted as the face of the company? I think he could. I think he'd do a great job. No one can replace John Cena. But Sheamus has the tools to be the true face of the company—he can wrestle, he can talk, and he's engaging. There are no questionable aspects of his character. He'd be perfect for the role, save for one factor.
He's 33 years old. John Cena? 34. Is Sheamus young enough to have the longevity of the face of the company? I'm not sure. But in all other aspects, Sheamus could easily be the face of the WWE.
You Decide:
Last Week: As reported in the Wrestling 5&1 Pre Show, Maria had very little challenge disposing of Madison Rayne. She now has one victory on her march towards the Hall of Bang.
This Week: Maria has another tough challenge in front of her, in the form of popular WWE Diva AJ Lee!
Does Maria get halfway to the hall?
Or does AJ take over?
YOU MAKE THE CALL!
Maria Kanellis vs. AJ Lee. Take your pick!
Stay tuned as next week as I'll reveal the winner!
One of my favorite ex-WWE performers is Carlito (Caribbean Cool). I came upon this video when searching for some Carlito audio for the new opening to The Greg DeMarco Show, as Carlito is a personal favorite of co-host Patrick O'Dowd as well. Carlito's debut was brilliant, as he beat John Cena for the United States Championship in his first televised match. Here is the promo that started it all.
While we're at it, here's the match!
Hit up the ‘Mania on TWITTER (so Ashish will like me, okay?)
Plenty to talk about this week. Discuss John Cena's role and a possible replacement in Sheamus. Are you hitting PWG this weekend? Did you listen to the VOC Nation? What about those Divas? And vote in VERSUS!
Posted By: Starsky 58 (Guest) on December 09, 2011 at 11:06 PM
I may be in the minority on this, but I say AJ without a doubt or second thought.
Posted By: Guest#8722 (Guest) on December 09, 2011 at 11:28 PM
AJ by a mile.
Posted By: Guest#2075 (Guest) on December 09, 2011 at 11:31 PM
AJ, obviously.
CM Punk as the face of the WWE could probably be one of the worst PR moves in the history of the company. CM Punk is an amazing performer, but is kind of an asshole in real life and seems to put himself above everything else. Sure he's willing to put people over and wants to put on great matches, but he seems to only want to do things his own way. He's vocalized his hatred of fans at airports who ask him for autographs and has had a few incidents at house shows heckling fans.
The main thing people seem to forget about John Cena in the amount of Make A Wish work the guy does. Cena has "granted wishes" for over 200 children (number from last year so probably more now) and only 3 other athletes had done more than he had at the time (Hulk Hogan being one of them). He also serves on the Wish Ambassador Council for the organization. The PR that comes from that and the praise Cena gets as a person in general not only shows how horrible of an idea it would be to turn him heel since it wouldn't look good for the company, but it also shows that it just wouldn't be believable. I don't think Cena wants to be a heel and if he's gonna be like his real life persona, he pretty much never can be one.
Posted By: SHADE (Guest) on December 09, 2011 at 11:35 PM
AJ Lee,Tanille,and Candice FTW!!
Posted By: Mutatron101 (Guest) on December 09, 2011 at 11:43 PM
AJ
Posted By: jason (Guest) on December 09, 2011 at 11:50 PM
I do like AJ, but Maria gets my vote!
Posted By: Guest#3427 (Guest) on December 09, 2011 at 11:58 PM
AJ is so much hotter
Posted By: MNM (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:03 AM
shit two of my favorite divas mah fuck it i choose A.J
Posted By: ojmendez (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:17 AM
Maria
Posted By: Elevenseven (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:20 AM
I am madly in love with AJ so she gets my vote easily
Posted By: destro (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:22 AM
AJ!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted By: Guest#3183 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:27 AM
AJ is insanely hot
Posted By: Guest#0568 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Aj
Posted By: Guest#4435 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:39 AM
A.J.
Posted By: Jerry (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:41 AM
Something just adorable about AJ. She wins.
Posted By: Tapout42 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:44 AM
Nearly 25 pics of a girl
Posted By: Terra WAS talking about you! (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:53 AM
Maria
Posted By: B (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:55 AM
Two of my favorite Divas all time but Maria takes this one.
Posted By: Bobby (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:57 AM
I truly believe once Triple H is fully in charge, he will do wonders for the Diva, Cruiserweight, and Tag Team divisions because he doesn't have McMahon's hard-on for big, lumbering hosses- and I think as an actual in ring performer he understands the need for each division to succeed in order to contribute to the company as a whole.
Posted By: Guest#0757 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:01 AM
Man, I love me some Maria, but this is no contest. AJ rules all, every time, all of the time.
Posted By: Jeremy Thomas (Registered) on December 10, 2011 at 01:02 AM
AJ.
Posted By: Guest#0151 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:07 AM
something.
Posted By: Guest#4554 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:07 AM
I truly believe once Triple H is fully in charge, he will do wonders for the Diva, Cruiserweight, and Tag Team divisions because he doesn't have McMahon's hard-on for big, lumbering hosses- and I think as an actual in ring performer he understands the need for each division to succeed in order to contribute to the company as a whole.
Posted By: Guest#5236 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:12 AM
As much as I'd like to a heel turn for Cena, he's the guys all the kids love and is this generations Hogan, so you have to keep him face.
And hopefully WWE is getting the message & start taking the divas division seriously. Bringing those newly signed ladies up can only help the future of the division.
Oh and I love me some AJ!
Posted By: SilentOx (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:18 AM
Maria all day!
those "rookie divas" look like keepers
hopefully they do get Storm in as the diva trainer. damn I miss Candice
Posted By: ramone (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:32 AM
Yea Aj.....looks like and has the body of a 16 year old girl...
Posted By: marialooksgrown (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:32 AM
The 6: I don't think Cena NEEDS to be the face of the WWE nor does he NEED to be a heel. Yeah I would like to see him be a heel, even if it's for a short time, but that is unlikely. I think it would be better if they didn't have to protect him all the time. Yeah he is the face of the WWE, but he can take losses and have no negative effects.
The 5: Good show
The 4: It looks like a great show but probably wouldn't order it if it was on IPPV.
The 3: I want to think they are going to take the division seriously with the DoD, Kharma, and these recent signings, But I can't. I don't trust that they want the division to be better.
The 2: Should be a good match between Terra and Winter.
The 1: I think if anybody is going to be the face of WWE over Cena, it would be Sheamus. Mainly because he appeals to kids more than Orton or Punk.
VS: Both are hot and I'm an AJ fan, but Maria is hotter and gets my vote. She also has the better pictures in the column.
Video-A-Go-Go: I enjoyed CCC when he first arrived, wish they did more with him and wish he was more motivated.
And 1: Candice is very hot, great pics.
Lobster Head FTW!!!
Great column this week.
Posted By: Still Guest#8287 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:39 AM
AJ. Normally like Maria, but AJ is girl next door sexy.
Posted By: TDC (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:46 AM
I vote for AJ!
Posted By: Finn (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:00 AM
AJ's cute and all, but Maria wins by a mile.
Posted By: Guest#2046 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:20 AM
Maria
Posted By: armchair theologian (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:33 AM
AJ. Tough call though.
If WWE signed Nicole Matthews, they may as well sign Portia Perez. Great heel team, seem to be good on the mic.
If WWE signed those women to build a division around Kong, there is hope. I'll wait until I see it, but that's a lot of talent.
Ironically the division would look kind of like the KO's when they debuted.
Kong as the immovable object.
Natalya and Beth as believable strong, agile, and skilled enough to challenge her at times.
Matthews can certainly be a heel that can do some of the things TBP did.
AJ is too small to take the Gail Kim/Taylor Wild role of spunky never say die challenger that Kong can't quite keep down.
But I'd really love to see Daffney play Foley to Kong's Undertaker. Minus fall from cage and the ear thing.
At least I can dream until after WM when my hopes get killed.
Posted By: Guest#5722 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:39 AM
love the column but really> is it possible to be able to watch the videos without having the other background noise?
Posted By: raven (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:39 AM
I LOVE AJ
Posted By: DX (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:56 AM
AJ will get there eventually...
for now, MAKE MINE MARIA!
Posted By: Megadeth (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:07 AM
maria!!!
Posted By: Guest#5920 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:09 AM
Maria
Posted By: BenPiper (Registered) on December 10, 2011 at 03:11 AM
Maria
Posted By: frogf (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:19 AM
Maria easy...
Posted By: Bob (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:35 AM
Whats wrong with you people? AJ is no where remotely hot. She's just a skinny Vickie Gurerro. Maria gets my vote
Posted By: Hatt Mardy (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:43 AM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#6292 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:44 AM
I first want to say how much I enjoy your column. Secondly, I actually think it's great that you put versus at the bottom (it actually forced my friends to read the article). Now to comment on your opinion of Sheamus, I whole-heartedly agree, as I believe the WWE as well. Sheamus is your atypical face in the WWE. He's, for a lack of a better term, "different". And it may be the fact that HHH saw potential in him that he is now being pushed as a top face, but I (in my delusional thought process that the WWE actually cares about the next generation of fans) truly believe that the WWE knows they have someone that can connect to the majority of younger fans. They have him as a beacon in their anti-bullying campaign speaking about how he was bullied; for what it is worth, I believe that is a true testament to the faith they have in him. My sister's son who is 7 LOVES Sheamus for the simple fact; as he puts it, "He's doesn't look like everyone else but he's so good!!" Now, granted I don't think the WWE will ever get away from the Hogan-esque wrestlers: those big and bulky, all "charisma", no workrate wrestler. But it is nice to see someone break the mold in term of how a wrestler should look and act. Especially when it is a person that understand not only the business but the responsibility they have towards the younger audience and the younger fans.
Then again it may be because my family is full blooded Irish and my nephew like seeing some kick ass that can't stay in the sun too long.... you never know hahaha
Posted By: Mr. SC (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:57 AM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#8232 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 04:52 AM
Maria
Posted By: Tony (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:08 AM
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND PURE, AJ!!!!!!!
Posted By: Tony Acero (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:11 AM
I'll take the 14 year old for 200 Alex.
Posted By: Bob The Builder (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:26 AM
AJ
Posted By: me (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:34 AM
AJ, next question.
Posted By: JJ (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:38 AM
AJ for the WIN!!!
Posted By: Donatello (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 06:00 AM
Maria, Maria, Maria, a billion times Maria!!!
Posted By: Michael (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 06:09 AM
Maria
Posted By: Steve (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 07:04 AM
Maria
Posted By: Al WIlson (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 07:05 AM
At this point the only possibility of a Cena heel turn could IMO be a "semi" heel turn a'la Bret Hart in 1997 (i.e. being a heel in the U.S and a face in Canada and Europe). In Cena's version he would retain his goody two-shoes character and keep the support of all the kids and the women, but would start acting heelishly towards the boo-boys in the audience.
Posted By: Migz (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 07:22 AM
I really think Cena could be the first headliner to get booed at his own HOF induction.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 07:22 AM
AJ ftw.
Also, another problem with Seamus as the face of the company could be the accent. His does get a little thick at times, and it can be a bit hard to understand him. I'm sure that if he ever became the face of the company VKM/HHH might have him sit down with a speech expert and maybe get him to tone it down a smidge.
Posted By: Guest#2364 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 07:51 AM
AJ!
Posted By: Cole Miner (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:09 AM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#5997 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:34 AM
Maria.
Posted By: The S-Man (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:40 AM
Maria
Posted By: Steve (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:53 AM
Can someone explain to me why everyone is picking AJ? I thought it was based on looks?
Posted By: No Offense, Marks. (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:56 AM
Maria as always. How anyone can like the ugly little troll AJ is beyond me
I would like to say something about Cena. The IWC hypcorisy of the guy is unbelievable. By all means, dislike the guy because you(the IWC) want to, that's fine. But don't try to actually back up your points though. You either say he has childish catchphrases(while worshipping the Rock), childish insults(while worshipping the Rock) and then you refuse to praise him(he's far bigger than Evan Bourne but manages to pull off the same ring entrance perfectly)
Mr. De Marco, what do you think of the IWC and it's hypocrisy?
Posted By: Guest#2498 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Maria.
Posted By: T-Mirk (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Maria, easily. AJ has weird ribs that look like a nursing dog.
Posted By: Guest#0752 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Maria
Posted By: JDMPJM (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 10:56 AM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#1101 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Good God, man, you just threw Maria under the bus, didn't you? NOBODY that isn't already in the Hall of Bang could possibly beat A.J. If it isn't obvious, I'm voting for A.J.
As for Sheamus ... yep, you're spot-on. If Cena suffers a career-ending injury (not a la Ric Flair where the doctors underestimate a man's determination to rehab, but straight up even rehab won't fix him), Sheamus could easily be slotted in. He even had an anti-bullying segment on the Muppets episode of RAW. He's totally an adult role model for kids. Heck, even as a heel he could be a role model, save for the fact that he was exceedingly arrogant as a heel.
Posted By: Nick V (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:23 AM
maria
Posted By: me (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Against anyone else AJ would have stood a chance, but...
Maria!
Posted By: Phobia (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Maria.
Posted By: Fortunes's Fool (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Why does their need to be a face of the WWE? Why does it have to be mainstream accepted? Doesn't everything in the mainstream mostly suck? Call me old fashioned, but I like the idea of Wrestling being for Wrestling fans, and people who look down on you for liking it, can suck IT!(pun not intended) Wrestling is something that is just ours, and frankly that's part of it's appeal. Every time a celebrty tries to show they have a conscience it pisses me off to no end since they're only doing it for good PR. If I don't care when Tom Cruise and Bono do these BS charities I sure as hell am not going to care when HHH's Irish flunkie suck-up is going to.
Posted By: awsome69 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Maria hands down
Posted By: kid (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Maria, it's no contest.
Posted By: guest#6102 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Aj is winning over maria? are you serious bro? Maria all the way
Posted By: Guest#0949 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:44 PM
AJ is a homely midget. She is the female version of Hornswoggle.
Posted By: Dr. Jones (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Guys, guys. This is based on "who is hotter," not "who would be more likely to give me their phone number."
Maria is x1000 times hotter than AJ.
Posted By: Guest#6007 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:19 PM
AJ!
Posted By: Dr. Doctor (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Maria...she dates ROH Superstar "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett. Lucky bastard.
Posted By: In the know... (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 01:56 PM
Maria
Posted By: ThePeepsChamp (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:12 PM
AJ
Posted By: J-Mo (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 02:17 PM
I think Sheamus could be a stop gap to fill the "face of the WWE" role that Cena currently occupies.
I would like to point out however that Cena really did get that role by default. That role was going to be given to Brock Lesnar until he decided he didn't want to be a wrestler anymore.
It worked out well for him (and Dana White) because he is edgier than Cena and makes for a better "face of" the UFC.
I think the thing about being the face of WWE has never really been about who they pushed the hardest for the role. Hogan became the face of the WWE because he was larger than life and no like every other beer gutted wrestler of that era. He had charisma for days and knew how to excite a crowd.
Following Hogan the WWF had no real face. Say what you will but neither Shawn Michaels nor Bret Hart were good for business. It wasn't until the masses got behind Stone Cold that the E had a new face. Rocky is the only other person that could rival Austin at the time in terms of popularity and has shown to be the greatest main stream cross over wrestler of all time.
Cena isn't as popular as the other guys I listed, have the demographic hates his guts and the younger ones and the ladies are going to turn on him soon enough.
What hasn't happened, really since Brock, is to have that larger than life type of Superstar that captures the imagination of everyone in the crowd and has the charisma to back it up.
Randy Orton is a spoiled brat that could have been the golden boy but is legendary in his douche bagginess.
There is no one on the scene right now that is capturing the hearts and minds of the current fans and has the ability to bring in new fans based soley on their charisma.
Sheamus is good, but he isn't that good.
This is just another reason why the need for territories is so large because you have no one how is sharpening their skills and developing their voice and charisma that can come in as almost a complete package.
They are going to have to find a legit badass that can wow people or just figure on making another "new generation" to serve as the face of the company ala Hart, HBK, Diesel etc.
Anyway, that's my two cents.
Posted By: TGFA (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:01 PM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#2683 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:02 PM
AJ
Posted By: angel (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 03:39 PM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#7025 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 04:07 PM
Maria
Posted By: dudeluvgun (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 04:18 PM
AJ's cute and all, but Maria gets my vote.
Posted By: Dubhagan (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 04:56 PM
Maria
Posted By: Guest#9972 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Maria by a cuntry mile
Posted By: supernovak (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:09 PM
maria..easy
Posted By: Guest#1512 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 05:09 PM
Maria
Posted By: Vote! (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Onwards to the Hall of Bang, Maria ftw
Posted By: Bozzy (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 06:45 PM
AJ
Posted By: Galen H. (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 06:55 PM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#7738 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 07:04 PM
Maria
Posted By: Guest#7713 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:43 PM
Why does their need to be a face of the WWE? Why does it have to be mainstream accepted? Doesn't everything in the mainstream mostly suck? Call me old fashioned, but I like the idea of Wrestling being for Wrestling fans, and people who look down on you for liking it, can suck IT!(pun not intended) Wrestling is something that is just ours, and frankly that's part of it's appeal. Every time a celebrty tries to show they have a conscience it pisses me off to no end since they're only doing it for good PR. If I don't care when Tom Cruise and Bono do these BS charities I sure as hell am not going to care when HHH's Irish flunkie suck-up is going to.
Posted By: awsome69 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Everything is cool and loved by their individual sects until it actually reaches the mainstream. Think about it while we all bash Hogan, Flair is still rolling around the ring and we still give him a pass somewhat. Hogan went mainstream and Flair never did. While they are two of the best ever, one is more homegrown and the other is a pop icon. Little bits of Flair are hear and there, but its not like Hulkamania.
Posted By: Guest#0435 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:44 PM
I dunno what crack people are smokin' but to not have Maria win, that's not cool. Maria by a mile!
As for Cena needing to be the face of the WWE, I don't completely agree with that but for now, yes, he HAS to be. However, if someone else could establish themselves as the face of the WWE and take John's place, then I could see John becoming a heel and moving away from being a face. Remember, right now, John is suffering with some of the WWE universe because he is a heel and has been that way for way too long. He went from everyone liking him to now where fans are split and half like him (mostly women and kids) and half hate him (mostly men). Some feel he's stale, his moveset is the same 5 moves of doom, he's too goody-goody or whatever have you as the reason.
Personally, WWE developmental needs to bring in a young star and start grooming him to be the next John Cena now, as developmental has been lagging. By bringing in fresh faces, they can see who has the "IT factor", so to speak and who doesn't and work with that person to become the next face of the WWE.
As for the current stars, I personally DON'T see any one of the them as the next big face of the company. However, as for the next big heel, CM Punk would fit the bill to a tee. His anti-establishment and freedom of character and rebelious nature makes him a perfect fit.
The only other possible two would be Sheamus and Orton, but Orton is molded to be similar to the next Austin-style character, and Sheamus...I personally thought of him as more of a HHH-type myself. I just don't see either one of them becoming the next face of the WWE. It has to be someone brand new and someone they can groom and mold to be that next big thing.
Posted By: AGNJoe (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Uh, Why Is Candice Michelle NOT in the Hall of Bang? Easily better looking than #4-6.
Posted By: M Dub Cee (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 09:04 PM
AJ.
And really, Sheamus is an excellent option to be the face of the company. When the fans turned him face I remember thinking: "Man, the crowds sure love the fella, if they keep him as a badass who takes names and kick asses, he'll be super over very soon". Fast forward some months and he's very very over as a face, and I' surprised they almost didn't change anything about him (except for that horrible nickname).
Hell, he appeared on the MTV's EMA!
Posted By: Guest#0341 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 09:50 PM
1st of all, I'm digging the new format with the pre-show stuff.
Maria vs AJ...well, I've never been a big fan of Maria, but I have to choose her cause she's pretty sexy, and AJ is "adorable", like a sister or something.
I could see Sheamus as the face of the WWE regardless of his age. When it was brought up way back that he could be a good face, I laughed it off until I saw him initially on Smackdown. He was (and still is) being a face without running around kissing babies and being corny and cheesy, like the WWE has most faces do. It became natural instead of being forced. People WANTED to cheer him, and Sheamus gave them a reason to. I hated his initial heel run cause he was being so forced onto the crowd. So it's good he was able to develop into a good interesting face instead of the sort of generic heel he was.
Posted By: SS87 (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 09:52 PM
AJ!
Posted By: WooHoo (Guest) on December 10, 2011 at 11:09 PM
Maria. :)
Posted By: gene (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 03:20 AM
I'd say Maria from a purely looks/sex appeal standpoint. I find AJ to be more "Cute" than "Sexy".
That being said, I'd much rather watch AJ on my tv, hell, I'd rather bump into AJ on the streets too.
So I like AJ much more than Maria, but Maria would get my Hot vote.
Posted By: Pat (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 05:17 AM
AJ
Posted By: Christopher (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 08:09 AM
I think Randy Orton would be the face of the wwe if John Cena wasnt
Posted By: akdfj (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 09:57 AM
AJ for me too.
Posted By: beef23 (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 10:48 AM
I have to go for AJ. There's just something so hot about a fellow geek...
As for the idea of a women's wrestling renaissance in WWE, I'll believe it when I see it. We have no idea how many of those women will even make it out of developmental at this point. Not to mention, WWE sucks hard at committing to new directions, which is why the product is so utterly stagnant; even if they did try to give it a shot, if the new ladies weren't an instant hit, they'd likely go right back to the Barbie dolls.
Posted By: HeartBurnKid (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 12:05 PM
aj
Posted By: Guest#0157 (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 01:25 PM
See, for the most part, I agree with you about Cena. He seems like a great guy, he's a good role model for the kids, he does charity, he's dedicated to the company etc. etc. That would be wonderful if he was also helping buyrates. But RAW keeps slipping into the below 3's and buyrates are lower than they've ever been. He may shift merch, but less people are watching every week and, as the face of the company, that sadly falls upon him.
As far as a heel turn goes, in the short term, yes, merch may go down as Cena is no longer the superhero face but long term it would shake things up a bit and maybe help draw some interest back in the WWE. Of course, it all depends on whether Vince is willing to take that risk or not...
Posted By: mr_wishart (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 01:48 PM
The problem with continuing on the Cena Train as is, is that the man has already peaked in terms of popularity. His big years were '06-'08, and even then he was still getting booed. But I'll give him credit during that period because he was the kind of guy who could draw in casual fans. I had two friends in college who hadn't watched wrestling since the late '90s. They tuned back in because of Cena. Granted, they were both female and liked him because they thought he was hot, but that doesn't change the fact that he was bringing in new fans.
Today, however, it's a case of diminishing returns. The man has been the face of WWE since his first WWE Title win in April of '05 at Wrestlemania 21. We're coming up on 2012. That's 7 years at the top. Without out any extended period of absence for Cena beyond injuries taking him out for maybe 3-4 months at the most. Rock, Austin, and Bret all had around 5 years at the top. Shawn had a 3 year period in the mid '90s and then was relegated to special attraction status in the '00s. Hogan had 8 years from '84-'91 where he was the guy, but even by around '90-'91 people were starting to realize he was incredibly stale. Cena's in late period Hogan territory where he's still clearly the company's biggest draw...but that isn't saying much because no one else is really moving anything on a large scale (interest, merch, whatever). So he's a big fish in a small pond.
You have some potential successors in guys like Sheamus, but WWE seems unwilling to pull the trigger on anyone for extended period before they panic and go back to Cena. Look at post-MITB Punk. He was hot. But the ratings didn't change so they freaked and gave the belt to Del Rio so they could return things to the status quo by letting Cena take back over.
They're running a big risk by continuing to run with Cena as THE guy. He will always be a draw, but it was be on a constantly diminishing scale in the same way Hulk Hogan is a draw but only the only people who still care about him now are a remote group of people who don't give a shit about anything wrestling-related except for a short nostalgia kick. Which is why Hogan didn't do a thing for TNA's ratings. And why Cena is now only a minor blip in WWE's ratings. They need to run with a new guy. Sheamus seems ideal since he has the cartoony Hogan persona they seem to love, and he can be a much bigger draw internationally than anyone else on WWE's roster, but it's still a matter of putting him in that position. And they don't seem willing to take that leap.
Posted By: Guest#3675 (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 01:53 PM
wow, that's a close one...
AJ
Posted By: Guest#3255 (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 02:17 PM
Candace! I recently saw AJ live, and was surprised at how little, and UNHEALTHY, she looked. Her ribs sticking out looked like what a homeless dog's would. Cute face, but until she eats a cheeseburger or 3, I gotta Go Daddy.
Posted By: John (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 02:59 PM
The problem (I think) with Cena is that for all his pros and cons, he IS the face of the company, yet on too many levels he isn't representable to a too big number of fans.
It's a cliché, but he does more often than not cater to his fans (i.e. kids), and while it isn't his fault, he is not in a position where he should be the face of the WWE. He just doesn't connect well enough with too many fans.
Cena needs a re-branding, and if that needs to happen through a heel-turn, however short, then the sooner the better. Basically get his edge back. Also, link this comment to the one in the first perspective bit in this article about creative ruining Cena.
Posted By: Candy Bottocks (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 05:02 PM
maria
Posted By: bobeperu (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Maria's a little cuter than AJ, but both of them are at their best when they aren't trying to look sexy.
Posted By: G-Walla (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 07:02 PM
Maria's a little cuter than AJ, but both of them are at their best when they aren't trying to look sexy.
Posted By: G-Walla (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 07:02 PM
MARIA~!
Posted By: Mark (Guest) on December 11, 2011 at 09:34 PM
gotta deff go with aj
Posted By: whosoever (Guest) on December 12, 2011 at 04:28 PM
gotta deff go with aj
Posted By: whosoever (Guest) on December 12, 2011 at 04:32 PM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#0580 (Guest) on December 12, 2011 at 05:53 PM
aj please
Posted By: Guest#3806 (Guest) on December 12, 2011 at 05:54 PM
Here's a follow-up thought for everyone: if Cena turns heel at WM, what's he going to do next? Rock isn't going to be around full time and Cena needs something big to do or it will be a waste of time. Answer:
Move Sheamus to Raw and make Sheamus/Cena the major storyline of 2012. Move CM Punk and others in and out when necessary but have Sheamus be Cena's main challenger. Imagine what a huge, iconic feud (culminating in Cena turning face at WM29) could do for both men.
Posted By: Howard (Guest) on December 13, 2011 at 11:47 AM
AJ
Posted By: Guest#7870 (Guest) on December 18, 2011 at 11:08 AM
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The latest edition of 
Both have spent time training with Lance Storm. I've long believed that Storm should be in the WWE training the Superstars of tomorrow. Maybe I'm only partially right as he should be training the Divas of tomorrow.
