What is better: The Cena era? Or the Shield/Brock era

[ChitownKnight]

Of the last 2 decades what would you say is better? From 05-14, Cena single-handedly dominated that time period (minus the year long reign from Punk). While since 2015, Brock, Roman and to a smaller extent Seth has dominated. Which era was better? I’d say the Cena era

[Deleted]

I only watched from 05-06/11-14 of Cena's era so I can't make a comment. Apparently I got out at the right time because people make it seem like the worst thing ever so yeah, I'm really looking forward to these responses.

[Deleted]

Cena by default, but not really because of him.

At least there was some relevant star power still present in the company in the mid 00's. Cena, Triple H, Batista, Undertaker, Angle, Michaels, Edge, Jericho, Kane, Mysterio, Booker T.

If we're looking at now? They are more and more looking to the past instead of building to the future. How many times have they trotted out one off appearances for wrestlers? How many of today's stars are as prominent as the people I listed above?

[Bo Rida]

Cena. A lot was rough back then (especially the guest hosts) but there were still good points and enough that was meaningful. Some champions weren't great but at least showed up. Plus it had The Shield actual run as a stable. It was a slow decline with some peaks.

The second period started ok, Smackdown was really good around 2016,then it started going downhil, then the wheels fell off, then went over a cliff late 2019 and is still falling.

NXT's best period straddled both eras so that's a tie. That's also the best consistent run on any show during that time.

[Tiffany Stratton's Daddy]

The Cena Era. It got stale at the end, but honestly, I can remember scheduling my life around watching Raw or SmackDown each week. It had its lows as does every era, but at least I enjoyed it.

Now? It's punishment to watch.

[Lizuka #BLM]

I hated most of Cena's run but holy shit that period of time made for so much better of television on the whole than the trash they're putting on now. And it wasn't even particularly good.

[Starshine]

A good chunk of 2005-14 didn’t have 3 hour RAWs, so that’s an automatic advantage.

[Instant Classic]

Cena era. I grew up in it, by the time he won the title for the first time I was only 10 years old. Rewatching shows from that era on Peacock make me miss Cena so much more. Those were great times to me.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

While I did enjoy a good chunk of 1997-2001 WWF, the entire Cena era was way more fun and less embarrassing than Attitude.

Yeah, I said it.

[Mozenrath]

I think Brock/Shield has had some benefits over it, like match quality, whereas Cena era had generally better angles. Rudimentary, yes, but they had fundamentals usually minus some standouts. WWE has lost the ability to hit fundamental story beats. It's like WWE is in 1999 mode with angles but without the characters and atmosphere to get away with that, and they only really got away with it in '99 since WCW was shitting blood and ECW was imploding.

[Mozenrath]

Jan 19, 2022 4:02:36 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

While I did enjoy a good chunk of 1997-2001 WWF, the entire Cena era was way more fun and less embarrassing than Attitude.

Yeah, I said it.

I think, if nothing else, the general quality was higher than 1999 WWF, which has aged like a sneaker filled with chocolate milk sitting in the baking sun.

Cena era had some real dreck mixed in there, but the angles were usually coherent. 1999 was cocaine booking without the cocaine. WCW, WWF, and ECW all had severe problems in '99, but WWF had more characters to coast on so they didn't burn as fast as the other two did.

[Mid-Carder]

Shield/Brock are better top guys than Cena but the Cena era was more enjoyable

[King Devitt]

Only one of them made me stop watching WWE completely for the first time since the 80's and it wasn't Shield/Brock era.

[Stone Coke Miami Watson 🥃]

Cena era was the last time I paid to see RAW, went to a house show, and went to Wrestlemania.

Other than the network (which I discontinued a few years ago), WWE has not seen another dollar or Nielsen rating from me since.

[Cyno]

Cena era had stuff I liked and I even liked Cena himself. In fact, 2005 was when I started watching wrestling again after a post-Attitude Era break.

I stopped watched WWE regularly in 2018 and entirely by 2019. There was some stuff I liked in those years, but it was more hatewatching that was bad for my mental health than anything else.

Cena era wins by default.

[polarbearpete]

I think the Cena era, at times, benefited from more meaningful and better storylines, and more legends in their prime. I think the match quality of the current era is higher, and obviously the women’s division is on a whole different level of important than in the Cena era.

[Kay Faban]

Time is a flat circle.

Someone save this so in 10 years we can hear how much better this era is than the Breakker era.

[Deleted]

2005-2008 was great.

Ever since 2009, WWE has been terrible to watch, save for a few good moments they throw at us every now and then.