Roman Reigns or John Cena?

[ChitownKnight]

Now I think Cena’s first 4 years (2002-2006) was my favorite character in my near 19 years of being a fan (along with Eddie, Punk and Mox/Ambrose). But from 07 on he kind of fell off (although I did respect him as the veteran ace from 2011 onwards). Roman however was my least favorite shield member but after his heel turn, he has massively improved. I think Cena is the better performer, but Roman overall had the more enjoyable career as a main Eventer

[BRV]

JOHN CENA
World Championships: 16 times
United States Championship: 5 times
Tag Team Championships: 4 times
Royal Rumble: 2-time winner
Money in the Bank: 1-time winner
WrestleMania main events: 5 (22, 23, XXVII, XXVIII, 29)

ROMAN REIGNS
World Championships: 6 times
Intercontinental Championship: 1 time
United States Championship: 1 time
Tag Team Championships: 1 time
Royal Rumble: 1-time winner
WrestleMania main events: 6 (31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38)

John Cena has Reigns bested in number of championships won and overall accolades, and his main event run has been ever so slightly longer, as Cena was the top guy in WWE from 2005 through 2013, even if he wasn't the last match on the show. Reigns has been a consistent main eventer for the past seven years, with the only exceptions being when he stepped away for his health. When Cena stopped being the main event, though, he had his late-career renaissance as the United States Champion in 2015 and as the anchor of SmackDown Live in 2016-17. Considering all signs are pointing to Reigns becoming more of a part-time player after he loses his championships, I can't imagine he has the final act of his career the way Cena did.

So I'll give the edge now to Cena, with the full understanding that Reigns has yet to write the end of his story.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

I would say Cena's better in the ring and that's coming from someone who was pretty critical of his work when he first became a main eventer. I think he has better versatility and his 2015-17 stretch is better then anything Reigns has done. With that said character wise Reigns as the Tribal Chief is much more compelling then Cena who never evolved as a character after 2004.

At the same time it's hard to really knock Cena for that as he just never got the chance to be anyone else so we don't know how he would've done if they had ever turned him heel and given him a different character. I think he definitely had enough ability where he would've pulled it off. With that said I think I would give Cena the edge in that he evolved more in the ring despite not getting a character change like Reigns and on the same token him not evolving as much as a character isn't really something you can harp on him for in that he just simply wasn't given the chance to as Vince never wanted him to change due to him being a big cash cow despite his crowd reactions not being what you would want for a #1 face.

[XIII]

I like Roman, but Cena accomplished the near impossible by getting a decent match out of the Great Khali. Like most others I found the incessant push annoying at times, but Cena managed to overcome the odds and seamlessly transition to the veteran ace. People used to dunk on Cena but the dude legit has a bunch of really good matches on his resume.

I think the only mystery regarding Cena is that he never turned heel, because dude probably would have killed that role. Roman edges him out there because Roman has been great as the Head of the Table.

[Ryushinku]

Well, Cena easy, because I always liked Cena even through the most vitriolic years online.

I do admire how Reigns first dealt with his leukaemia and then managed to finally find a gimmick that works and commit to the heel turn. He's had a great couple years.

[Bo Rida]

It's difficult. They were both forced to fit a certain main event mould and suffered from some forced booking.
Cena did far better within those confines but Roman excelled once he was eventually able to break the mould in a way Cena was never able/willing to.

Roman's Shield run was an obvious high. Cena's highs were more sporadic but he never hit the same lows as Roman.

I'd lean towards Cena but I've missed nearly all of what many consider Roman's best work so I might feel different if I was into that.

[bluebeach25]

John Cena by far. I think he is better than Reigns in almost every Categorie!

- Better Micworker by far
- Has more Charisma (not the better look that easly goes to Reigns but still Charisma and look are not the same automatically)
- Bigger Draw
- Reigns is mabye the better In-Ring worker (i put them on the same level on that one)

[darbus alan]

Cena is one of the most underrated workers in recent WWE history. Roman's found a niche for him that works, but Cena was pretty much the total package.

[Lizuka #BLM]

I'd vastly rather watch Cena and I have zero desire to watch either.

[Fade]

If the question is just preference, probably the Romester. At the least, I was able to get into some of his matches during the awful face run

[Gus Richlen: Ruffian]

I've been a fan of Roman for a decade now. I never had anywhere near that much liking for Cena.

[mc74]

As much disdain I've had for the Superman booking, I will give Cena credit for delivering in the ring.

[tirtefaa]

Despite his current booking, Roman was never shoved down our throat with such disdain as much as Cena was. He was fed everyone and despite it all, he never evolved as a character..If he did get development, he would reset back to his factory settings after the feud was over.

[King Devitt and the Woke Mob]

Honestly neither, but if I had to choose it'd be Roman.

Reigns never ruined the product so much for me that I stopped watching.

By time Roman came around I was pretty much numb to the Cena 2.0 booking.

[fw91]

Cena. For better or worse, he always had your attention. Roman was hit or miss until the bloodline took off.

[flowercity]

Dec 29, 2022 22:48:40 GMT -5 fw91 said:

Cena. For better or worse, he always had your attention. Roman was hit or miss until the bloodline took off.

This a great way to put it, well said.

Cenas longevity as a top act is quite impressive. Roman’s early days in that role were vastly inferior to Cena’s early run at top.

[Celgress]

Roman's boring me to tears reign makes me yearn for the Super Cena days of old. So, Cena gets my vote. Of all the top supermen Vince created Roman is by far the most boring. I'd take Hogan, Austin, Rock, or Cena any day over Roman without hesitation.