Keys to the Game 7.21.07: The Great Cena vs. Lash Bash
Posted by Joe Estee on 07.21.2007
This week we break down John Cena vs. Bobby Lashley at "The Great American Bash" (Damn you rhyming dictionary)
Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, what awaits us Sunday is pure competition. This is Ali vs. Frazier in Manila…Celtics vs. Lakers in the Garden…Sparky and Buster in Michael Vick's basement. But before we get to today's article, let's take a look at some of the responses to last week's article, which asked the question whether winning a championship was easier than keeping it. We maintained that it was far easier to initially win the title than keep the title, but Chris Jacobs raises a few valid points:
"Winning is easier than keeping. Granted once you have the belt everyone is coming after you, so you have a more chance of an ass whoopin, BUT...When you win, you cannot be DQed or counted ou; you MUST win by pin or submission unless otherwise stated. Once you have the belt the roles are reversed. If you are in a position that you cannot win then all you have to do is get DQed, or just walk out of the arena and take the count out, unless rules are stated otherwise…you are the champ man, just pay someone to run out there and attack the guy and help you win."
Well, Chris, were this the pre-Mr. McMahon era, I would agree with you. However, with the advent of general manager-type officials whose main goal is entertaining the audience, champions can be placed in extraordinary situations For example Cena squaring off against The Great Khali and Umaga the night after a high profile pay-per-view title defense. In this contest, Cena did not even have to be involved in the contest to lose. More recently, check out the five man match for the WWE title at Vengeance.
Michael Joyeux remarks:
"Just read your article on 411, just wanted to say that it is a very interesting idea and should definitely be explored further in greater detail, it would definitely make for some interesting reading... "
Thanks, Michael. We here at Keys to the Game, hope to explore this intriguing topic a little more deeply next time, but we must warn you that this may take awhile, since our attention span is fairly mercurial, and we're far more likely to write an article on wrestling pets, the effect of t-shirts, and beginning our multi-part series on Great Wrestling Thespians.
Finally, Heather Carpenter asks:
"What, no survey?"
Our deepest apologies. At Keys to the Game, our love of the sweeter science of wrestling is only exceeded by our love of our surveys, which in turn , is only exceeded by our love, nay our need, to consume mass quantities of alcohol, which will actually be a key element to next week's article, as we review the Great American Bash Sunday Night. This is in response to a survey, so we feel obliged to honor the needs of our readers.
Thank you one and all for the kind words and otherwise. Keep them coming. Speaking of championships, (he said with obvious segue) this Sunday at The Great American Bash, two of the most dominant forces in professional wrestling, John Cena and Bobby Lashey, will lock horns for the coveted WWE Championship. With the possible exception of Batista, I cannot think of a more high profile opponent for the Champ.
At the WWE Draft Lottery, Bobby Lashley was drafted to the RAW brand and was forced to relinquish his ECW World title. Believing himself to be an uncrowned champion, Lashley has set his sight on professional wrestling's ultimate goal: The WWE Championship. Lashley, along with Mr. Kennedy, King Booker, and Randy Orton, all challenged for the right to compete for the WWE Championship on RAW's "Beat the Clock" challenge on June 2nd. Upon signing the contract, Cena was uncharacteristically speared by Lashly, whose normally reserved demeanor melted away at the prospect of sending a message to the WWE Champ.
THE PLAYERS
Name: John Cena
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 240 lbs
Age: 30
From: West Newbury, Massachusetts
Signature Moves: FU, STFU
Career Highlights: United States Champion (3x), WWE Champion (3x) World Tag Team Champion, PWI 2006 Wrestler of the Year, WWE Magazine 2006 Superstar of the Year
John Cena is in the middle of one of the most remarkable title reigns in professional wrestling history and is currently the best big-time player in the game today. Over the past ten months, Cena has gained victories in both singles and multi-competitor matches against the likes of likes of Edge, Umaga, The Great Khali, Mick Foley, and Shawn Michaels to name but a few. Cena has already cemented his legacy in WWE history and it is unknown if he has even hit his stride yet.
Name: Bobby Lashley
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 273 lbs
Age: 31
From: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Signature Moves: The Dominator, Running Powerslam, Spear
Career Highlights: United States Champion, ECW World Champion (2x), PWI 2005 Rookie of the Year, PWI 2006 Most Improved Wrestler.
Bobby Lashley entered the WWE with an imposing amateur wrestling resume that included the CISM World Championship Silver Medal in 2002, a two-time Armed Forces Champion, a three-time Missouri Valley College National Champion, and twice won the NAIA National Wrestling Championship (1997, 1998). Yet in spite of this remarkable amateur background, Bobby Lashley has developed his professional style based on his commanding power, speed, agility, and athleticism. In his relatively short professional career, Lashley has recorded victories over The Big Show, Umaga, JBL, King Booker, Mark Henry, Finlay, RVD, Mr. Kennedy and has been the only person to ever break Chris Masters' "Masterlock." On a side note, can anyone explain to us why it's not considered breaking the "Masterlock" when Masters releases you and hits over the head with a chair? It's just a full nelson! If calling it a full nelson was a good enough for Billy Jackhaynes, than it should be good enough for Masters. To quote Mugato: "It feels like I've been taking crazy pills!"
KEYS TO THE GAME
POWER
This is the marquee power match-up. Both Cena and Lashley typically enjoy the advantage in this department against other opponents. But who receives the advantage in this department? For a benchmark, lets look to the seven foot, 500lb Big Show for the answer. Both Cena and Lashley have faced and defeated the giant for WWE gold. At WrestleMania XX, Cena FU'd Big Show twice to capture his first United States Championship. This past year, Bobby Lashley defended his newly won ECW World title against Show, powerslamming him twice in the process. With both men so evenly matched in the power department, it will ultimately come down to who can make the adjustment to not having a power advantage. ADVANTAGE – Even
SPEED
Sitting just a few rows away from Bobby Lashley at a SD!/ECW taping last year, I was amazed at just how fast and quick he is in person. Lashley possesses frightening speed for a man of his size. Were he to effectively couple this with a balance of power and amateur ability, I believe he could overwhelm Cena. ADVANTAGE – Bobby Lashley
ATHETICISM
While John Cena is a phenomenal athlete, Bobby Lashley is a grade above. As stated above, the speed and quickness that Lashley possesses for a man his size is truly astonishing. ADVANTAGE – Bobby Lashley
FINISHER
A drawback in Bobby Lashley's skill set is that he has not been able to establish a consistent and dominant way to close out matches. Over the past two years, Lashey has utilized his Dominator (a front inverted powerslam), a running powerslam (also dubbed the Dominator), and more recently a Spear. While he has had success mixing these up, he does not have one "go to" move to finish Cena off. I don't feel that either of Lashley's finishers can put Cena down for the three count.
Cena's FU on the other hand has been proven to be effective enough to take out nearly everyone in the business today. And regardless of how much email I'm going to get for this one, I believe that the STFU is the most feared submission in wrestling today. Everyone from The Great Khali to Shawn Michaels to Triple H have tapped out to it. This maneuver is especially dangerous because it places you in an extremely difficult position to slide to the ropes for a break. Also, its effectiveness is linked to Cena's immense strength. I myself have even fallen prey to the underestimation of Cena's deadly submission When I suggested that Cena forgo the STFU when facing The Great Khali, I bombarded with this image after the match: ADVANTAGE – John Cena
EXPERIENCE
While Bobby Lashley did have an impressive run as ECW Champion and has been in several high profile match-ups, there are few in the business today with a better big-time match record than John Cena. Over the past three years, Cena has met every conceivable challenge, and walked out the victor. Cena has developed into a much different wrestler than he was when he defeated JBL for the title at WrestleMania 21. Cena has become a seasoned champion that understands what needs to be done to secure victory, and has the focus to carry it out in the ring. With the exception of his brief feud with Shawn Michaels, Cena's mental toughness has yet to be even shaken. ADVANTAGE – John Cena
KEYS TO VICTORY
LASHLEY
Bobby Lashley is as intense as I have ever seen him leading up to a match. We will find out Sunday, if he can match that passion with poise. Lashley needs to utilize his amateur background and superior athleticism to disrupt Cena's rhythm. Lashley will also require an innovative strategy to close out the match, as I still feel that he does not possess a finisher that can put Cena down for the three second can.
CENA
Cena is used to preparing for opponents with some form of advantage, whether it be speed, size, quickness, or agility. However, he has never been overmatched in this many areas. Cena should try to let this match go as long as he can, and take advantage of Lashley's lack of experience as the match progresses. Cena went almost an hour against HBK and nearly triumphed. Lashley has to prove he can handle anything past the twenty minute mark.
IN THE END…
it will come down to who can absorb the most punishment while keeping their focus on their game plan. While I am uncertain if Cena really can outlast Lashley, I believe he holds the required mental toughness to keep his head throughout the match.
This has a chance to be one of those epic matches that both defines and redefines the sport, elevating both contenders to new plateaus. But in the end, Cena's experience will prevail.
