John Cena enters the ring and poses with his United States championship at WWE SummerSlam 2015. (Photo : Getty Images/JP Yim)
Roman Reigns and John Cena are standing in the ring ready for action. (Photo : Twitter/@Roman_Empire_76)
The name John Cena in the WWE community divides opinion. Some are of the opinion that he's "finished" whereas other people he is someone who's still a very important member of the WWE roster.
After a career that has spanned over a decade that has seen him win the US title four times, the WWE World Heavyweight title 15 times, such questions in the wrestling community are seriously being asked and more frequently.
How should John Cena be booked? The leader of the C-Nation has been a "focal" part of the WWE ever since he stepped foot in a WWE ring and challenged Kurt Angle to a match. Although the 38-year old came up short on that day against the 1996 Olympic Champion, the "heart" and "determination" he showed that day was clear evidence that Cena will be a big part of the WWE roster.
The 15-time world champion as we now know has become a big part of the company. In the ring, feuds with "The Brahma Bull" The Rock, no doubt helped John Cena's stock rise.
What makes Cena's story all the more amazing is the amount of "eras" he has been through. The 38-year old came into the WWE when the "attitude era" was arguably was coming to an end.
From there he was one of the key performers alongside Batistua and of course Orton as they took the WWE into a new era. As Batistua left the company and arguably "The Apex Predator" Randy Orton's role in the WWE changed, John Cena, however, is arguably still the seen as "the flag bearer" of the WWE, even today.
As new roster talent, such as Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens came through the "ranks" the "older" it meant talents like Cena and Orton, arguably have had to take a "back seat".
In the example of Kevin Owens however, John Cena played a "crucial" part in helping him build his career in WWE. Yes, it can be said in the case of Owens that he's hardly a "novice", but to a WWE audience, apart from NXT, "KO" was not very well known at all.
A solid storyline between John Cena and Kevin Owens ensued, a story very much resembling a "master" in the form of Cena and a very "cocky" student who arguably was getting "too big for his boots".
"The veteran" John Cena was a huge part in helping Owens' early career blossom. Arguably as a result of the feud between Boston-born Cena and Canadian wrestler Owens, Kevin Owens' WWE career has really taken off.
That's just one example of Cena's "value" to the WWE. Another example would be the not so long concluded feud between AJ Styles and John Cena. Again just like Owens, Styles is someone who has been well traveled in terms of wrestling but might not be well known by a WWE audience.
Who did creative turn to, to help get AJ "over" with fans? Yes, that's right, John Cena! Just like Owens, Styles as a result of his feud with the leader of The C-Nation has now become a 'prominent' member of the Smackdown roster.
Wrestling fans knew that in the case of AJ, this is a case of a 'seasoned' pro, but the fact that the former TNA wrestler has a feud with Cena and won it clean, has no doubt helped him get over with the fans.
No doubt the WWE has been better for having Kevin Owens and AJ Styles on their roster and that has in large part arguably been down to John Cena, but all things must come to an end have to come to an end right?
John Cena despite being a "fantastic" athlete, even he isn't exempt from the fact that one day he will have to retire. The former 15-time world heavyweight champion has truly been the "flag bearer" for the WWE and when either he or Vince McMahon decides to "call it a day, a huge "void" will be left in the WWE no doubt.
Other great wrestlers have retired before Cena, The Rock, for example, he left the WWE to concentrate on his acting career. What I think is his role with the company will become more "part time" like it is now, that isn't a bad thing. The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar are all examples of wrestlers going "part-time".
At this stage of his career, I think it's necessary keeping Cena on as a part-time wrestler. John Cena's role now in the company should be more about concentrating on helping new talent come through like he did in the example of Owens.
With John due to take some "time off" from the WWE due to filming a TV series, I sincerely hope the WWE creative "rethink" their strategy with Cena and maybe look to get him to "turn heel".
This would inject "fresh impetus" into the Cena character.
Other wrestlers, like I mentioned before such as The Rock "retired" but he comes back "every now and again". If Cena does leave the WWE, then this will hopefully help to put the focus on talent that's going through
Just one thing John before you do, if you do go, please feud with Roman Reigns. If you feud with Roman Reigns more fans mighty actually like him, I mean you helped KO and AJ to be loved by the fans, maybe you can do it with "The Samoan Powerhouse" too?.
