Money In The Bank '11 was a sad, difficult experience for me

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

I was watching Wrestling With Wregret's new review for MITB 2011. Objectively, it was a fantastic show. The main event was great, and the right guy went over. But it was not fun to be a John Cena fan during that period, at all.

Even as a kid, I've always rooted for the wrestler who entertains me the most, face or heel. So I didn't care about the narrative about Punk being overlooked, or how other fans were tired of seeing Cena win all the time. Punk was great, but John was just more charismatic to me. I liked his cheesy superheroism over Punk's snark, still do. And every other fan was "how can you not be behind Punk"? Because I'm just not, dude.

I guess you could say that's a testament to Punk's charisma and working ability that he was able to get me so emotionally invested in that match. But I had to bear the brunt of a lot of grief talking with fans who thought I was a dweeb for liking Mr. Kid Friendly over the edgy cool guy.

Seven years later, both men definitely get the credit they deserve for that match. But that night after he won, it was just....uuuugh.

[lucas_lee]

I was there for that. I remember the boards back then. I'm pretty sure I have you some grief too and I apogize for that. You shouldnt have to have dealt with the level of shit you got for your views. I apologize if I contributed to that

[Abdullah]

I feel you. But I don't. You shouldn't let what others think of your favorite wrestler bother you so much.

I'd love to be a Cena fan - you always see him, ironically, he always gets a showcase, and most people go out of their way to do the 'I like John Cena the person' thing. Seems like a sweet deal.

But then again, I say that as a fan of someone who isn't even around enough to be a jobber.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

May 19, 2018 10:15:38 GMT -5 lucas_lee said:

I was there for that. I remember the boards back then. I'm pretty sure I have you some grief too and I apogize for that. You shouldnt have to have dealt with the level of shit you got for your views. I apologize if I contributed to that

Eh, don’t worry about it. It’s just wrestling.

[msc]

Hey, all my faves have been hated online over the years. Rock was all catchphrases and couldn't work properly, a topic which is back in vogue this decade! Oh, and HHH the Smark God had to carry him to title matches. Owen Hart was the less good Hart brother, only over because of Bret and dying. Bulldg was shite, Bossman was shite. Mr Perfect was mediocre.

A lot of these opinions have been "improved" (bias alert) by general fan opinion as time goes on. I think all have their significant upsides noted (as well as their flaws) instead of a black and white binary response.

Think we're already seeing that with Cena and reaction to, for example, his AJ matches, but def we'll see more of it as time goes on. Dude has an amazing CV of matches to his name, and I speak as someone who wasn't a big fan, especially during his 2005-10 period.

[Derk!]

The way you felt that night, is the way many felt for nearly a decade, and it was satisfying seeing Punk win the big one.

I'm honestly glad the mindless Cena hate has died down a ton, however.

[Ryushinku]

Hey, I gotcha. I feel along similar lines. Cena has always been one of my favourites, even in the times when he was disliked the most by others.

Punk was someone that took a while for me to warm up to appreciating. His reputation as a wrestler being sky-high before joining WWE actually worked against him for me, in his early years, and he took a while to adjust to the different style I felt. Probably the stuff with Morrison and Jeff Hardy in 2009 then onwards really made me a believer.

By 2011, he was firing on all cylinders and the bout was every bit as good, and better, as I hoped. I didn't actually mind who won, both were favoured by me (Punk winning the more fun option), so I was fine with the outcome.

Still, you just can't let it bother you. True perspective only comes when something is all said and done, the big twists and turns have happened and obstacles faced.
And, actually years sooner than I expected thanks to Reigns, Cena's phenomenal quality and quantity of work with a wide variety of opponents is already an outstanding testament.

Now, lemme tell you about being a Kane fan for 21 years! That's been a tough road, too!

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

May 19, 2018 11:19:11 GMT -5 Ryushinku said:

Hey, I gotcha. I feel along similar lines. Cena has always been one of my favourites, even in the times when he was disliked the most by others.

Punk was someone that took a while for me to warm up to appreciating. His reputation as a wrestler being sky-high before joining WWE actually worked against him for me, in his early years, and he took a while to adjust to the different style I felt. Probably the stuff with Morrison and Jeff Hardy in 2009 then onwards really made me a believer.

By 2011, he was firing on all cylinders and the bout was every bit as good, and better, as I hoped. I didn't actually mind who won, both were favoured by me (Punk winning the more fun option), so I was fine with the outcome.

Still, you just can't let it bother you. True perspective only comes when something is all said and done, the big twists and turns have happened and obstacles faced.
And, actually years sooner than I expected thanks to Reigns, Cena's phenomenal quality and quantity of work with a wide variety of opponents is already an outstanding testament.

Now, lemme tell you about being a Kane fan for 21 years! That's been a tough road, too!

I personally think Punk is underrated as a wrestler. There are more athletic guys, but he was hard working and a fantastic storyteller.

[Cyno]

There were times I definitely suffered John Cena fatigue, but I was a fan of the guy in late 2005-6 when the hate was probably at its freshest and strongest. And this was before he started to become IMO one of the best workers in the entire WWE when his matches were typical "Heel kicks his ass, but face pulls off the five moves of doom in sequence to win the match" formula WWE has loved since the days of Hogan, at least.

I was rooting for Punk at the time because CM Punk was my favorite wrestler in the company at the time. But I was still a fan of Cena's. The Roman Reigns superpush makes me appreciate Cena as both a promo and a wrestler even more.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

May 19, 2018 11:51:15 GMT -5 Cyno said:

There were times I definitely suffered John Cena fatigue, but I was a fan of the guy in late 2005-6 when the hate was probably at its freshest and strongest. And this was before he started to become IMO one of the best workers in the entire WWE when his matches were typical "Heel kicks his ass, but face pulls off the five moves of doom in sequence to win the match" formula WWE has loved since the days of Hogan, at least.

I was rooting for Punk at the time because CM Punk was my favorite wrestler in the company at the time. But I was still a fan of Cena's. The Roman Reigns superpush makes me appreciate Cena as both a promo and a wrestler even more.

And in retrospect, I totally understand that sense of fatigue. More guys really should have been elevated during Cena’s top years, and I remember being a Punk mark during his early WWE run (yep, I’m that one fan who enjoyed Happy Smilin’ Punk). But I was just really into the drama of Cena’s matches, and I felt he had this infectious energy about him.

[Jiren]

Punk beat John Cena, I was ecstatic.

I'd cheer for Mahal over John Cena, hated him since 2003

[thecrusherwi]

I wasn't around here in 2011 so I don't really know, but I'm glad that wrestler preferences are mostly are accepted here. You might have to put up with threads bashing your chosen person if they are unpopular (like if you are a Reigns or Lesnar fan today), but most people don't have a problem if you like someone. Heck, most of the criticisms are fair or at least more justified than "Roman SUUUUUCKS" like you get most other forums I've seen.

[ISO Mid Thigh Pull]

I still can't believe Mike Patton killed that buff child.

[EyeofTyr]

One aspect I will say that I thought they did well at the time was the shades of gray surrounding Cena and Punk, Cena wasn't an outright heel as he in kayfabe rightfully shouldn't have been for his role in it and had a legitimate argument for his side and Punk wasn't an outright face as he shouldn't have been with how demanding he was and had a legitimate argument for his side. It was one of the rare modern cases of the Mr. McMahon character adding something to a storyline rather than taking away from it too, as he and Johnny allowed Cena to stay superhero like rather than forcing him to become Corporation Rock. Which as much as people wanted a heel turn from Cena for so long and maybe under the right circumstances in this situation it could've happened and worked, I think they would've mishandled it and really butchered Cena's character.

In hindsight the story's layers while not complicated or deep are made all the more impressive when you think of how many times they've tried to do similar plots since and have bungled it so badly with the likes of Roman.

[Deleted]

It was one of the greatest nights ever, in my opinion. I had ZERO sympathy to Cena fans then, and I still don't.

For the first time ever, Super Cena was defeated and it seemed like the world was bright again.

...then they proceed to NOT have him get fired, let him beat an exhausted Rey Mysterio, and hog all the main events during Punk's reign.

As I said, ZERO sympathy to Cena fans.

[MAGGLE]

Greatest WWE match ever IMO

This feud between Cena and Punk was perfect until HHH got involved.

[edgestar]

May 19, 2018 10:32:53 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

I'd love to be a Cena fan - you always see him

LIAR!!!!

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

After years and years and years of Cena dominating everyone, laughing and shrugging off losses and going right back to doing the same thing over and over people deserved something, anything else.

[Deleted]

f*** you. I love the Big Show. Come at me.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

The aftermath was a sad, difficult experience for me. I thought there’s no way they can screw up such a huge, obvious angle. There was almost no work to do. Punk stays home, fake crashes WWE events, eventually comes back to challenge the “new” champion. They blew their load in two weeks.