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Roman Reigns As John Cena: The Next Big WWE Mistake

October 12, 2015 | Posted by Greg De Marco

Roman Reigns is poised to become the next face of the WWE, filling the “John Cena role.” According to 411Mania’s Greg DeMarco, this is the WWE’s next big mistake just waiting to happen.

Throughout its history, WWE is marked by mistake after mistake. For everything that works, there are those that do not. For every Hell In A Cell, there’s a Punjabi Prison and a Kennel In A Cell. For every Elimination Chamber, there’s the Championship Scramble. For every Hulkamania, there’s the Lex Express.

And as much as I personally like the guy, and his character, I can’t shake one feeling…

“Roman Reigns as John Cena” is the WWE’s Next Big Mistake.

“As John Cena”

For starters, I need to define exactly what “As John Cena” means. And it’s a simple definition: the face of the company.

For a decade, John Cena has been the face of the WWE. He’s everywhere, and in all reality, he’s everything. In times of need, the WWE always goes back to John Cena.

Look back at 2014. The WWE needed wanted to create a new star in Daniel Bryan. They turned to ol’ reliable himself, John Cena, to put Bryan over for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2013. This started a chain of events that ended with Daniel Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 30.

During that time, the championships were unified. Randy Orton was the WWE Champion, and the company wanted to take the World Heavyweight Championship off of Alberto Del Rio for the “epic” unification. Who did it? John Cena of course!

Shortly after Extreme Rules 2014, Daniel Bryan was forced to vacate his championship due to injury. The WWE, once again left in a bind, once again turned to John Cena. Cena captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money In The Bank, leading to the eventual SummerSlam massacre dealt out by Brock Lesnar. We’d later learn that that beatdown was originally intended for Daniel Bryan, a move that would likely have broken the internet.

Over the past two years, the WWE has ramped up their efforts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and their support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Who is at the forefront of those efforts? John Cena.

This doesn’t even consider the media appearances and the Make-A-Wish record. Nor does it count the merchandise and DVD sales.

By now the pattern is obvious. While John Cena can’t wrestle in every match, or be in every segment, he’s at the forefront of all things WWE. And as WrestleMania 32 draws near, there is already talk that John Cena is in the conversation for potential opponents for The Undertaker.

Why? Because John Cena.

Roman Reigns As John Cena

The Shield made their debut at Survivor Series 2012, and brought about three top stars for the WWE’s future. Since their split, all three members have competed in the main event of WWE pay-per-view events, including WrestleMania itself.

Somewhere along the way, Roman Reigns was seemingly tapped as “the” guy—the one who would soon carry the “face of the company” title. Not a real title (even though John Cena and Randy Orton feuded over it), the face of the company is indeed the most coveted title in the business.

Many of us live in denial about Reigns’ future position with the company. I myself have doubted his spot due to his recent placement in a midcard with The Wyatt Family and Bray Wyatt himself. But with John Cena on his way out—at least in the short term—Roman Reigns is the company’s obvious selection.

Don’t agree? Look no further than their latest Susan G. Komen Foundation segment, held on Raw:

Ninety-nine percent of the roster stood on the stage as nine breast cancer survivors took the ring alongside two WWE superstars.

Those superstars? John Cena and Roman Reigns.

There are two videos posted to the WWE’s YouTube channel Thursday introducing Breast Cancer Survivors.

Who made those introductions? John Cena and Roman Reigns.

Couple that with the recent rumors that Roman Reigns is expected to walk out of WrestleMania 32 as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, likely as a result of a triple threat match with champion Seth Rollins and resident Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar.

The writing is on the wall. Roman Reigns is the heir-apparent in the WWE.

And it’s one giant mistake waiting to happen.

The Next Big Mistake

After each well-defined era, we have a down period for the WWE. Hulk Hogan’s prominence was followed by the less successful era led by Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock lead the next prosperous era, followed by a void that Triple H, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero couldn’t fill. Then came John Cena.

The WWE is trying to prevent that void from happening. Vince McMahon obviously believes he can avoid nature and prevent a down period. The reason is simple—the stakes have never been higher. The WWE is a hotter commodity than it was back then. The television contract is worth more. They launched the WWE Network, going against the successful pay-per-view model. All achieved during the John Cena era.

Cena is 38-years old, and is about to take a hiatus for a period of time we haven’t accurately confirmed and a reason we haven’t identified. I’m sure Vince McMahon has tried to avoid it, but he obviously hasn’t been able to. The WWE themselves have acknowledged at least a small portion of Cena’s leave, noting he won’t be on an upcoming European tour.

Maybe it will work. The WWE successfully forced John Cena down our throats, and they are about to do the same with Reigns. While many are hoping Dolph Ziggler wins the United States Championship from Cena at Hell In A Cell, I could easily see Cena dispatching of Ziggler at the event then losing to Roman Reigns during the open challenge the following night.

When I watched Roman Reigns “take over” for John Cena during the Komen segment, I got the feeling that he can’t handle it. He needs to have something more to him. Headed into WrestleMania 31, I was in full support of Reigns as the champion. Maybe I felt comfortable because I knew he didn’t have to be “the man” just yet, with Cena still around. But knowing he’ll be in the spotlight on his own, I can’t shake the feeling—he’s just not the guy.

And I don’t know who “the guy” is. Dean Ambrose has the fan support, but his character can’t do what John Cena does. He can’t be “the face of the company” as The Lunatic Fringe. Seth Rollins could do it, but he’s entrenched in a heel reign that isn’t ready to end. He could turn into the savior when Reigns fails, though.

Cesaro, my personal favorite, has the in-ring tools but lacks the communication skills to be the face. Ryback is a dark horse candidate, but doesn’t seem to have the company momentum behind him and still looks like a walking Wellness Policy violation.

Roman Reigns could be a mega star. A heel turn would do wonders, possibly even a run as a heel Heyman Guy. He’s got money written all over him, but in the same way as a Randy Orton or an Edge. Orton has never been the face of the company. Edge never was either.

Top stars? Yes. but not the guy to carry the banner.

The Reigns Era is going to happen. It remains to be seen if it’ll be a true era, or an error. If I were a betting man, my money would be on the latter.

Greg DeMarco is a wrestling fan of over 30 years and has worked on the independent circuit as a promoter, announcer, character and booker. As a featured contributor, Greg has been applying his opinionated style to the world of pro wrestling for 411Mania since October 2010… and has been pissing readers since day one!

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And as always…

article topics :

John Cena, Roman Reigns, WWE, Greg De Marco