What did you think of Cena’s future in 03/04?

[ChitownKnight]

What did you think of Cena back then? 04 was when I️ first started watching, Cena and Eddie both got me into Smackdown at the time. I️ knew Cena was going to beat JBL for the belt and Have a run similar to Eddie’s for a while, but I️ didn’t think he would become face of the company for the next decade, as well as a movie star.

[Deleted]

I definitely wasn't expecting him to be company ace for the next decade plus.

In 2004 after Lesnar left, yeah... Cena was default one of the top guys on SmackDown. However...for him to be *the* top guy of the entire company within a few years, I just couldn't believe would happen tbh. Especially not in goddamned 2003, would I have believed it.

I just didn't think he was all that special, especially after coming hot off the heels of the likes of Stone Cold and The Rock. Clearly WWE thought different. He had mediocre matches and lame, try hard promos. How else was I to see him as anything but a midcard guy?

/thoughts from back in the day, not reflective of current opinions.

[Mozenrath]

I thought he was interesting since the debut against Kurt, but it wasn't really until he picked up the rap gimmick that I really had much of a feel for who he was beyond buff guy in trunks.

[Deleted]

I thought he would do well but not be where he is today. Once he turned the world title into a spinner belt I knew.

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

when he debuted against Kurt I thought he would be big cause I used to read the old Ross reports and Jim was really high on him.

Comparing him to Young Sting... which isn't a terrible comparison.

That said I did not expect him to be the company ace for like a decade.

[Jokaine]

Around the time of Wrestlemania XX I thought Cena would eventually become the biggest star in the business. He seemed to have crossover appeal and the rapper gimmick gave him something that stood out and appeared to legitimately resonate with live audiences.

[A damn road sign]

I used to have Cena/Orton pegged as a future dream match, then the first SmackDown vs. RAW game came out and got me more hyped for it eventually happening, and then they pissed it away for the first time in a throwaway lame DQ finish on the Guerrero RAW tribute, and then they ran it into the ground in 2009/2010 and OH MY f***ING GOD PLEASE MAKE IT STOP AHHHHHHH.

I was wrong about that. Could always tell they had big plans for him though. I love Cena.

[fw91]

2003 Heel-Comedy Jobber.
2003 Face- Fringe Main eventer but mid card favorite/main stay
2004-Future main eventer

[Instant Classic]

I was only a kid back then and he was my favorite so I loved it.

[Ron Woodsman aka Shempaholic]

I thought he was boring as hell and his career would go nowhere. I may have been wrong about that.

[Fade]

As soon as he debuted the rapping/thuganomics I said "That's the next Stone Cold Steve Austin". I was sorta right and very, very wrong at the same time.

[Deleted]

I thought he'd fizzle out and be in TNA or Japan in a few years

[BrodietheSlayer]

Nov 5, 2017 3:31:53 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave is Correct said:

when he debuted against Kurt I thought he would be big cause I used to read the old Ross reports and Jim was really high on him.

Comparing him to Young Sting... which isn't a terrible comparison.

That said I did not expect him to be the company ace for like a decade.

Yeah, I was thinking Sting as well. Of course, it didn't hurt that the Stinger Splash was one of the go to moves he used to do. And he did end up being WWE's Sting; that "Franchise Guy" that the company pushed to the moon. It's too bad WCW never long term did for Sting what WWE was willing to do for Cena.

[willywonka666]

Honest to God-my brother said he would be big

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

Nov 5, 2017 16:05:46 GMT -5 BrodietheSlayer said:

Nov 5, 2017 3:31:53 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave is Correct said:

when he debuted against Kurt I thought he would be big cause I used to read the old Ross reports and Jim was really high on him.

Comparing him to Young Sting... which isn't a terrible comparison.

That said I did not expect him to be the company ace for like a decade.

Yeah, I was thinking Sting as well. Of course, it didn't hurt that the Stinger Splash was one of the go to moves he used to do. And he did end up being WWE's Sting; that "Franchise Guy" that the company pushed to the moon. It's too bad WCW never long term did for Sting what WWE was willing to do for Cena.

He also kinda looked like Sting.

Someone once photoshopped Surfer Sting paint on him and he could have made a convincing Sting clone for a Halloween Havoc >_>

[Deleted]

I thought he was going to be a future main eventer. I just thought they were going to make Randy Orton the franchise guy while Cena would be the dependable #2 - #3 guy like Orton and Batista were. I'm so glad that wasn't the case.

[The Rick Jericho]

Was a fan. Miss the crowd on his side when he was a cool face.

And I really miss that Boston accent. Bring it back! It added an extra element to his character.

[-Lithium-]

Nov 5, 2017 13:40:00 GMT -5 A damn road sign said:

I used to have Cena/Orton pegged as a future dream match, then the first SmackDown vs. RAW game came out and got me more hyped for it eventually happening, and then they pissed it away for the first time in a throwaway lame DQ finish on the Guerrero RAW tribute, and then they ran it into the ground in 2009/2010 and OH MY f***ING GOD PLEASE MAKE IT STOP AHHHHHHH.

I was wrong about that. Could always tell they had big plans for him though. I love Cena.

Lol @ the Orton/Cena first match. I remember me and my friend trying to wake up his little brother to see when we realized Orton was going to be Cenas opponent that night. I guess we really bought into the "This is the new Austin/Rock rivalry" thing. It was disappointing though. Though I remember being pretty hyped in 2007 when they started feuding. Mainly cause Orton had just started doing his psycho who punts people in the head thing and I really liked it. Of course Cena went over clean at Summerslam and there wasn't even the obvious "FU countered into RKO" spot that I was looking forward to...

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Thought he would be big, he just kinda had that air about him, carried himself as such.

Even if I hate the dude overall and I can honestly say his run from like 08-12 is some of the worst I've ever seen from a top guy, back then, I felt he would become something big. He did. But boy was he overdone hard...

[Welfare Willis]

I remember thinking there he is... the guy who will be the star of Fred: the movie.