For The Record 4.05.09: Cena Speaks for Millions

Note: In this article, Dwayne Johnson will be referred to as “The Rock.”

Let’s make something perfectly clear. Criticizing The Rock is not a treasonous act. It’s okay to express disappointment in the grappler-turned-actor. Fortunately, John Cena has the guts to convey what millions of wrestling fans feel. The Rock has essentially “turned his back” on pro wrestling.

That doesn’t make The Rock a bad guy. He made a career change. It happens all the time. And who can blame The Rock for choosing acting over wrestling? As we have seen over the past decade, wrestling destroys bodies and shortens lives. Acting is obviously a safer line of work. It is not hard to understand why The Rock made the move to Tinseltown.

But what irritates millions of fans and numerous wrestlers alike is not that The Rock became an actor. The gripe is more along the lines of this: The Rock does not give back to the industry that gave him his start.

The Rock could give back in a number of different ways. He could appear at one or two televised events per year. He could grant WWE.com interviews once and a while. He could show up on special broadcasts like Raw’s 800th episode.

He doesn’t need to wrestle, become a weekly on-screen character, or appear at every Wrestlemania. He just has to show the fans that he hasn’t forgotten about them. Instead, he does something that speaks volumes. He omits himself from all things pro wrestling.

If The Rock wants to completely divorce himself from pro wrestling, that’s totally within his rights. Cena’s point is merely this: It is disingenuous for The Rock to profess his love for the wrestling business while he simultaneously avoids participation in virtually anything wrestling-related.

Why are Cena’s thoughts on The Rock so offensive to the IWC? Do they think Cena is the only person on the planet to “dare” question The Rock?

There are millions of non-IWC fans who wonder why The Rock never appears on WWE programming. They see him on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Disney Channel, and the silver screen. Those fans are forced to ask the most obvious and common question concerning The Rock, “Does he think he’s too good for wrestling?” If those fans think the answer is yes, how can The Rock possibly be as appealing or “endearing” to that audience as before?

Cena is speaking on behalf of those people. He knows that most of the IWC will laugh at him and hurl ugly insults in his direction. But Cena also knows that there’s a large segment of the wrestling fanbase that agrees with him wholeheartedly. Cena is merely voicing what millions of people already feel.

Cena’s comments have probably been rejected by much of the IWC because they hate the messenger. There’s no doubt in my mind that the backlash against Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Stone Cold, or Ric Flair would be virtually nonexistent if they expressed the same views about The Rock as Cena did. Yet, Cena’s remarks inspire revolt.

Keep in mind though that Cena’s comments aren’t coming from some gun blazing loud mouth newbie. Cena is a future Hall of Famer who in one year will have logged in more time as a WWE wrestler than The Rock. Over the years, Cena has earned the right to speak authoritatively on who truly cares about the wrestling business and who doesn’t.

Cena has walked the walk. He’s headlined Wrestlemanias, won world championships, and recovered from major injuries. Let us not forget that this is the same John Cena who returned from neck surgery MONTHS AND MONTHS earlier than expected to win the 2008 Royal Rumble. It’s the same John Cena that for months following the Royal Rumble put over Randy Orton at Wrestlemania and Backlash. This wrestler that the IWC seems to hate is the same man that enabled JBL and Batista to score landmark career victories throughout the summer of 2008. It almost seems like he came back early last year just to put guys over. Those are just a few examples of Cena giving selflessly to the wrestling business.

John Cena is just like Triple H in that he eats, sleeps, and drinks professional wrestling. When insanely loyal wrestlers in the mold of such names past and present as Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Bruno Sammartino speak, we listen. Cena, who has flourished despite excruciating pains, trials, and sacrifices, has shown himself to be an insanely loyal wrestler. He has earned the right to be heard and respected, no matter how unpopular his opinion is.

With the above wrestlers giving so much for the business that they love, it’s easy to understand why The Rock’s decision to virtually disown wrestling is aggravating to some of “the boys.” The Rock won’t even appear for an occasional cameo. Sure, some will argue that he doesn’t have enough time to fit wrestling-related activities into his schedule. But that begs a logical question: Why does he make time for everything else?

All and all, the IWC should give Cena a break. He didn’t say anything outlandish. In fact, he’s probably speaking for the silent majority of wrestling fans.

Does that mean The Rock is doing the wrong thing? No. Will he continue to draw criticism for avoiding the very industry he claims to love? Yes.