Which is the best way to go about turning Cena?

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

I just posted this in the RAW thread, but since that's on the tail end of death, I figured I'd start a new thread, especially since tonight's RAW gave us the continuation of what appears to be Cena's slow burn heel turn.

So let me posit this question to everyone:

IF they're setting up a Cena heel turn, which angle would be the best approach?

1) Kane (or some other person/persons) pushes Cena into finally recognizing how messed up the crowd's treatment of him is, and he decides to turn heel.

2) Kane (or some other person/persons) pushes Cena into finally acknowledging how much the crowd's treatment of him hurts.

The difference between this and 1) is that in this instance, Cena's resentment over the crowd's treatment of him was always there, he just was forcing it down and trying not to let it bother him even though, deep down, it did. In 1), it truly doesn't bother him until someone makes him realize "Hey, this is f***ed up. You fans suck."

3) Cena is revealed, a la Hogan, to have always been about the money and the fame, and this "Rise Above Hate" and "Hustle, Loyalty, Respect" jargon was just a way to sell more t-shirts and make himself more famous.

4) He comes to a conclusion, independently of anyone's prodding, that he's sick of the fans booing him and cheering The Rock (a guy who's hardly ever around), and decides to turn heel.

5) Other/some combination of the above.

6) Cena is pushed to the brink, but ultimately doesn't turn.

Which, based off of what happened tonight, do you think would be the best way for them to go?

[jadison]

Option number 3 would be incredible. It would almost be too mean, based on what his character stands for. I don't think he would do it.

[Cronant]

Its probably a tease.

[Deleted]

Truth calls him out for basically being fake to Truth's little Jimmy's.

That's right, we need a double turn. Just reversing the storyline from June.

[moneyman20]

I like number 2 a lot. But, I would go with HHH in that role. Why? Because a Two Man Power Trip with those two would be the IWC's worst nightmare and would be the PERFECT way to put Cena over as a heel not only to the casual fans, but to the hardcore fans who've been clamoring for a heel turn for a long time.

Also, it would be perfect because HHH's character has always been a manipulative bastard. Even when he's a face.

[Rican]

He snaps the night after Wrestlemania. He comes out and tries to do one of his silly promos and the boos don't stop. He throws the mic down and leaves and isn't seen for a month.

He comes back at Extreme Rules brutally assaulting someone at random. He is a tweener for a few months, much more aggressive and silent, not playing up to the fans, before feuding with Punk and going full blown heel.

[Mayonnaise]

I like 2 but, I'd probably go with something where he snaps and does something like Diesel's anti-turn. The happy-go-lucky stuff is over and while he still going to fight the good fight, the only people who's opinion matter are those wearing his stuff/supporting him.

[jadison]

Dec 26, 2011 23:35:54 GMT -5 Rican said:

He snaps the night after Wrestlemania. He comes out and tries to do one of his silly promos and the boos don't stop. He throws the mic down and leaves and isn't seen for a month.

He comes back at Extreme Rules brutally assaulting someone at random. He is a tweener for a few months, much more aggressive and silent, not playing up to the fans, before feuding with Punk and going full blown heel.

Dammit, it all sounds so SIMPLE. Why can't things just happen like that?

[HMARK Center]

I read an interesting take on Cena awhile ago where the writer said "Cena is already the heel, just by doing what he does."

I find that an interesting take; he knows he gets crapped on in a lot of places, and just keeps refusing to acknowledge it...and it empowers him that he isn't allowing it to hurt his career. It drives anyone who dislikes him batty.

So he doesn't change. No "and I blame each and every one of you" promo. He just keeps truckin' along.

[Codebreaker]

Since Raw hasn't aired where I am in the world and I haven't seen the actual segment with Kane, my opinion might change, but I think that, provided they go ahead with the turn, it'd be either 1 or 2. I think he's way too much of a good guy at this point for 3 or 4 to come about on its own, he needs someone to push him there.

Actually, I think I like 2 the best. It'd present him as having some sort of insecurity and conflict, which is more appropriate given the situation (being pushed over the edge by constant taunting), instead of 1 where's he's like "Hey, I never really thought about it like this, but man, you guys booing me like you do is actually kind of rude."

In reality, I could see them not turning him heel but making him more aggressive towards the Cena Sucks crowd. When he cuts promos, he could thank those who are cheering him, and then insult those that are against him instead of brushing them off and laughing.

[jadison]

Cena needs a "Cane Dewey" kind of promo, replacing hardcore wrestling with his hustle, loyalty, respect superhero babyface ways. Like he reads something on the internet, or a fan does something or says something so vile that he goes over the edge. Something to make him realize that the last 7 years just have not been worth it.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Cena would work best as a cocky, egotistical heel who flaunts his greatness in everyone's face, but unfortunately I don't think that's where WWE's headed with this Kane thing.

If he does turn, more than likely they'll eventually have Cena admit the boos have gotten to him all this time and he then turns into a dark, vengeful version of himself. Bad idea, as that's the version people rightfully fear would cause older male fans to cheer him.

[mcd]

While I would like #3 I don't think he is able to do that, Hogan doing it was shocking because he played good for so long even with a few dastardly things he did when pushed to the brink and he finally saw his star legitimaly wane and seized it. John Cena the regular guy isn't that, WE know he has money, power and an ability to say who and when he looks less Superman against. But as of yet he hasn't done that from what we hear.

Having him do this slow burn into a guy who busts his hump and still hears divided chants CAN work, however Kane may not be the personality best suited for it, so this may not work like the WWE thinks it should and worst case this may wind up in revisionist history as something that SHOULD have worked, but ultimately didn't.

My hope is that Cena can pull off a complex long standing turn and have the time and backing to realise it to fans.

[Codebreaker]

Dec 26, 2011 23:50:53 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

If he does turn, more than likely they'll eventually have Cena admit the boos have gotten to him all this time and he then turns into a dark, vengeful version of himself. Bad idea, as that's the version people rightfully fear would cause older male fans to cheer him.

That's a good point. What if he turns heel and retains the traits that make the adults boo him in the first place? I know a lot of it is very face-centric, but what if there was a way to translate it all for a heel? For example, in the ring he could actually acknowledge the five moves of doom and squash/destroy people with it or something.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Dec 27, 2011 0:00:22 GMT -5 Codebreaker said:

Dec 26, 2011 23:50:53 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

If he does turn, more than likely they'll eventually have Cena admit the boos have gotten to him all this time and he then turns into a dark, vengeful version of himself. Bad idea, as that's the version people rightfully fear would cause older male fans to cheer him.

That's a good point. What if he turns heel and retains the traits that make the adults boo him in the first place? I know a lot of it is very face-centric, but what if there was a way to translate it all for a heel? For example, in the ring he could actually acknowledge the five moves of doom and squash/destroy people with it or something.

The way I see it, since people dislike how he lets stuff roll off his back, heel Cena could amp that up and act like a deluded prima donna during his promos. Don't like his juvenile jokes? Heel Cena should get even more lowbrow.

[crimsonwolf]

Dec 26, 2011 23:50:53 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Cena would work best as a cocky, egotistical heel who flaunts his greatness in everyone's face, but unfortunately I don't think that's where WWE's headed with this Kane thing.

If he does turn, more than likely they'll eventually have Cena admit the boos have gotten to him all this time and he then turns into a dark, vengeful version of himself. Bad idea, as that's the version people rightfully fear would cause older male fans to cheer him.

Wouldn't the company run the risk of rooting for a Cocky Heel!Cena as well. That's actually what caused his face turn to happen in 2003 in the first place.

Honestly, i believe the best way for Cena to stay a heel if he turns would be a pull a Triple H styled Reign of Terror.

[Codebreaker]

Dec 27, 2011 0:30:42 GMT -5 crimsonwolf said:

Dec 26, 2011 23:50:53 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Cena would work best as a cocky, egotistical heel who flaunts his greatness in everyone's face, but unfortunately I don't think that's where WWE's headed with this Kane thing.

If he does turn, more than likely they'll eventually have Cena admit the boos have gotten to him all this time and he then turns into a dark, vengeful version of himself. Bad idea, as that's the version people rightfully fear would cause older male fans to cheer him.

Would the company run the risk of rooting for a Cocky Heel!Cena as well. That's actually what caused his face turn to happen in 2003 in the first place.

Honestly, i believe the best way for Cena to stay a heel if he turns would be a pull a Triple H styled Reign of Terror.

Wasn't it less the element of cockiness and more the fact that he was rapping and being hilarious in general that got him over? As much as I'd love to see that character again, if they want him to be heel and for me to dislike him, he can't go back to that.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Dec 27, 2011 0:30:42 GMT -5 crimsonwolf said:

Wouldn't the company run the risk of rooting for a Cocky Heel!Cena as well. That's actually what caused his face turn to happen in 2003 in the first place.

Honestly, i believe the best way for Cena to stay a heel if he turns would be a pull a Triple H styled Reign of Terror.

Yes, but he wasn't considered by adults to be a dork in 2003. I think an old school-Kurt Angle approach would work perfectly- a hypocritical version of his "white meat" babyface persona who cheats and belittles the audience. He'd have the same attire, mannerisms and stupid jokes, only he'd be evil.

The key is to make sure that heel Cena isn't "cool". Making him a worldbeating badass destroyer would give fans too much incentive to admire him.

[Deleted]

This whole "Heel Cena" thing will eventually end up having Cena turn back into a face once fans catch onto his heeling ways like The Rock. Say he turns heel next year I can see it going on for a while but honestly it's a way to get the fans back on his side when it's all said and done so that those cheers don't happen. Besides Cena going heel would be a great way to flesh his character out. The best stars can travel the heel and face line whenever they need to. Cena needs to do that.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

I'm thinking that other person should be The Miz. Let's say the Miz has another one of his "rape moments" on Cena, and the crowd cheers and eats it up. The next week, Cena cuts a hateful promo on the fans. Cena's demeanor is a hybrid between Disfigured Cody Rhodes and CON-spiracy R-Truth; he is acting as if The Miz actually DID rape him, and lashes out at the fans for "taking joy" in "watching him suffer."