WOR: Cena vs. Sullivan planned for Mania

[Steveweiser]

From the new Wrestling Observer Newsletter just released...

The other planned match which turned into a behind-the-scenes story this week is one that hasn’t been even hinted, John Cena vs. Lars Sullivan.

Sullivan, real name Dylan Miley, 30, was scheduled to debut on the main roster, probably in a dark match, on the 1/7 Raw in Orlando. He either didn’t show up at the arena, or did and left the building, believed to be due to an anxiety attack.

The office, which is a lot more understanding of mental health issues due to its experience with Mauro Ranallo, talked with him and smoothed things out and everything was fine. He was then supposed to do a dark match at the 1/8 Smackdown tapings in Jacksonville. Not only did he not show up in Jacksonville, but he apparently flew back home to Colorado. Nothing else is known, whether they will change plans or how it will be handled.

Sullivan was scheduled for a monster push. The Cena match was confirmed and logic would say if he was facing Cena in his first big match, with Cena working limited dates and Sullivan being groomed to be one of the top guys in the company, that Sullivan would have won that match. But we were also told that would be premature and that while the match was on the books, there has been no discussion this far in advance regarding the finish.

While this was not told to us directly, all hints and signs pointed to the angle getting started at the Royal Rumble. So the Rumble show will likely tell the story as to whether they will go with this program or not. They may feel it’s just something they can work through or they may feel that it’s a risk giving that much of a push to him.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Mental health issues are tragic. I don't wish them on anyone. I have anxiety disorder. It f***ing sucks.

That said, I really hope they don't do this. I would be most happy if he never made it to TV.

[Optimax]

Jan 11, 2019 8:10:58 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

Mental health issues are tragic. I don't wish them on anyone. I have anxiety disorder. It f***ing sucks.

That said, I really hope they don't do this. I would be most happy if he never made it to TV.

This!

Given how nervous he clearly is, prefer they build him up slower than January debut straight into a Cena at Mania program.

[Deleted]

I've been having the feeling for awhile just from how much they were pushing the free agent thing and how they also do that with Cena.

That said this is an outright f***ing horrible idea. Even getting past the racial stuff - which is a BIG thing to get past - I really just cannot see a scenario in which Lars ever gets even slightly over. Not even NXT crowds ever particularly cared about him and he's really not all that impressive of a power guy - he's not really all that big and he has a terrible finisher.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

I wonder how much those inflammatory message board posts being dug up has played into this anxiety. Like, he’s on the verge of making it to WWE’s main roster, the big time... and then his internet paper trail, which he almost certainly forgot about as he went on with his life and his career (if not necessarily those inflammatory views, I can’t know for sure), caught up with him and now he’s seen in a completely different light and getting abused as such.

(And no, none of that is condoning anything he said, just to be 100% sure)

[Dub H]

Jan 11, 2019 8:24:45 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I've been having the feeling for awhile just from how much they were pushing the free agent thing and how they also do that with Cena.

That said this is an outright f***ing horrible idea. Even getting past the racial stuff - which is a BIG thing to get past - I really just cannot see a scenario in which Lars ever gets even slightly over. Not even NXT crowds ever particularly cared about him and he's really not all that impressive of a power guy - he's not really all that big and he has a terrible finisher.

WWE really latches in the weirdest guys for big pushs out of the gate.It is just part of the mentality that Vince doesnt care about "perfomance" or "how over he is",he sees money in someone he will push then.

[Dub H]

Jan 11, 2019 8:26:14 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

I wonder how much those inflammatory message board posts being dug up has played into this anxiety. Like, he’s on the verge of making it to WWE’s main roster, the big time... and then his internet paper trail, which he almost certainly forgot about as he went on with his life and his career (if not necessarily those inflammatory views, I can’t know for sure), caught up with him and now he’s seen in a completely different light and getting abused as such.

(And no, none of that is condoning anything he said, just to be 100% sure)

Honestly i wouldnt be surprised that he wants to wait until people forget(But a big number will always remember). It is the smartest thing to do to wait it go down.

[Pgarodactyl]

For a moment, I read this header and asked myself why Kevin Sullivan would be working Wrestlemania, let alone with John Cena.

Then I remembered Lars.

Yeah, mental illness sucks. Hopefully he can get the help he needs.

[realist]

I think the things that he said were disgusting, but I also feel really bad for the guy. This is his dream and to see anxiety possibly stop him.

[blissified]

That would be a LARSly forgettable match.

[Deleted]

I've dealt with anxiety for most of my life, so I hope he gets the help he needs. But like Lizuka said, he wasn't even over in NXT (and I liked the guy) so rushing him into a program with Cena on the main roster is weird.

[Dub H]

Jan 11, 2019 9:40:22 GMT -5 @dax said:

I've dealt with anxiety for most of my life, so I hope he gets the help he needs. But like Lizuka said, he wasn't even over in NXT (and I liked the guy) so rushing him into a program with Cena on the main roster is weird.

This is basically the same that they did with Sheamus

Sheamus was barely 2 week in ECW before Vince decided to ship him to RAW and after destroying jobbers beat Cena for the Title.

[Tiger Millionaire]

I would totally be down for a Kevin Sullivan led Dungeon of Doom to end Cenamania.

[The Trashman]

What a terrible idea

[Deleted]

I've suffered with anxiety since I was a kid so I feel him on that. It's terrible.

But bruh, this dude hasn't done a thing on the main roster yet. There's time before WM so they need to develop Cena's opponent a bit and there's not enough time to make this match seem like it isn't a pre-show match.

[brettappedout (BLM)]

Add me to the anxiety sufferers list.


Also I know Mania is at an outdoor stadium so it may not be as loud, but Lars in front of a mostly smarky crowd in New York chanting whatever at him seems like a bad idea for his well being and WWE in general.

[Deleted]

Getting the old Yokozuna treatment of defeating the top star on his way out I see. Poor dude though. Anxiety is a MFer to deal with.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Lars Sullivan? Oh the white supremacy guy? f*** him.

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2019 10:04:37 GMT -5 @kn said:

I've suffered with anxiety since I was a kid so I feel him on that. It's terrible.

But bruh, this dude hasn't done a thing on the main roster yet. There's time before WM so they need to develop Cena's opponent a bit and there's not enough time to make this match seem like it isn't a pre-show match.

There are other things I'd rather see Cena do for WM like an IC title program with Ambrose (since he's never held the title) or, hell, a program with EC3. As for Lars, they should just have him start out by winning the Andre (if that's still a thing) at WM or something. Not that it's really ever helped anyone who's won it, but he's not ready to be thrown in there with Cena just yet.

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

Jan 11, 2019 10:47:18 GMT -5 @dax said:

Jan 11, 2019 10:04:37 GMT -5 @kn said:

I've suffered with anxiety since I was a kid so I feel him on that. It's terrible.

But bruh, this dude hasn't done a thing on the main roster yet. There's time before WM so they need to develop Cena's opponent a bit and there's not enough time to make this match seem like it isn't a pre-show match.

There are other things I'd rather see Cena do for WM like an IC title program with Ambrose (since he's never held the title) or, hell, a program with EC3. As for Lars, they should just have him start out by winning the Andre (if that's still a thing) at WM or something. Not that it's really ever helped anyone who's won it, but he's not ready to be thrown in there with Cena just yet.

I'd have Lars murk some mooks for awhile, then lose the Andre to someone in a fluky way and feud with them afterards.