John Cena's Farewell Tour Has Been a Total Flop
John Cena's heel turn felt like a transformative moment in the wrestling business. The eternal baby face, embarking on his farewell tour, took a dramatic creative leap during the twilight of his career. It unlocked a myriad of stories to explore and was supposed to allow Cena to do his most interesting character work since the "Summer of Punk" in 2013.
The initial presentation at Elimination Chamber was edgy and Hollywood. Cena was possessed with a rage of violence, with The Rock, a generational movie star, calling the shots. Travis Scott's involvement was a bit odd, but he's a global hip-hop mogul, and to a certain generation, his presence provided an immediate aura.
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Since that night in Toronto, it's all been downhill. But why? How has WWE botched this run, and how can they salvage it?
John CenaGetty Images
Let's get one thing out of the way: The Rock's absence has unquestionably been a detriment to this angle, but with some witty writing, the company could've minimized that.
Cena could've articulated his motives and portrayed The Rock as some overlord operating in the shadows, who could pop up anytime he saw fit. That increases the desire to see "The Great One," but doesn't create confusion when he doesn't appear.
From his opening promo, Cena's material has felt expired by a decade. Since the "Open Challenge" era in 2015, when he showed a willingness to put young talent over, Cena has garnered monster crowd reactions.
He slowly transitioned into the "living legend" who was putting on bangers in the ring and was finally embraced by fans. This idea that he's holding a grudge from back when Obama was in office is a bit hard to rationalize.
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From the jump, he's cut the "you people" style of promo, mixed in with some comedic one-liners. By constantly raising his voice and having the same inflections before the barb that's supposed to generate heat, he becomes a parody of himself.
Almost all of Cena's mic time hasn't ended with him lying flat on his face. Every week before their subsequent matches, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton have decimated Cena, even when the latter has tried to gain the upper hand with a cheap shot. Yet the bell rings for the bouts, and Cena becomes a formidable threat.
The finish to those affairs has featured five total ref bumps and interference from Scott and R-Truth. Cena has won and retained the Undisputed WWE Championship thanks to a rapper and a 51-year-old jobber. This is somehow not a 2K career mode.
The Needed Fix
John CenaGetty Images
Cena has to immediately ditch the bullying-the-audience approach—he needs more depth as a performer. If the plan is to turn him face before he hangs it up, he has to lean more into his personal insecurities and the state of the locker room.
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He should be paranoid about his successor and how he's concerned about the landscape of WWE once he officially retires. Cena should question if anyone can "fill his shoes," which opens the door to teasing his final opponent the rest of the year.
There's likely to be a multi-man match with Scott in the fray at some point, so explain the complexities of that relationship. If The Rock is busy, fill in the gaps of how he facilitated the partnership and why Scott is a valuable asset outside of the squared circle.
Travis Scott & John CenaGetty Images
The inevitable programs with AJ Styles and CM Punk will likely be a step up in quality thanks to past chemistry. Punk, in particular, can evoke a more passionate Cena on the stick, and hopefully, the pair can exchange words beyond potty humor and the art of being a father.
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If the final chapter is another duel with Rhodes, that's fine, but it can't be telegraphed by creative. The climax of this story should come on the final date in Boston. Cena should be determined to leave his hometown as the "Last Real World Champion" and try to avoid a rematch with "The American Nightmare."
There are endless roads (no pun intended) to explore, but this current one is littered with potholes and debris. This Cena story must rediscover the plot before it's too late.
Related: WWE Insider Predicts Huge Rock and John Cena Summerslam News
Related: What's Next for Cody Rhodes? An Update on His Creative Direction
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