If you believe everything you read and/or hear, WrestleMania XXX will feature John Cena versus The Undertaker…with the internet’s favourite wrestler John Cena being the man to finally end the Undertaker’s famous Streak.
Without resorting to swearing, I think I can clear that up in one word. Nonsense.
As with almost everything related to the “backstage” business of wrestling, we can’t be sure where this story came from either in terms of who was openly discussing this backstage at a WWE event nor who exactly leaked it to the World Wide Web. Despite all that though, wrestling fans have been going up in arms, with many threatening to boycott the WWE if such a match and result ever came to pass. Indeed, some seem willing to never watch the company again if, in New Orleans next year, John Cena’s hand is raised in victory over the dead-man.
My question to those people would be what’s the fuss?
Let’s get things clear from the start. If the WWE can book the much talked about match between The Rock and Brock Lesnar for WM XXX, John Cena would appear to be the only person left under contract who would be a big enough name to challenge The Undertaker at the biggest show of the year. At a push, with a suitable storyline, erm, push behind him there could be mileage in a CM Punk rematch, but beyond that who is there?
Can you really say, hand on heart, that the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Ryback, Mark Henry, Alberto Del Rio, The Big Show…well, ok, you get the picture…are credible enough challengers to make you think The Undertaker could be beaten at ‘Mania? Hell, even The Shield would struggle to make believers out of you.
John Cena on the other hand, is a man who fans most definitely could believe CAN defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania. That is evidenced by the reaction to the “leaked” plans that he might do so next year. Some fans hate Cena so much that they ignore all logic and, eleven months out, are ready to riot. The “smart” fans button can be pressed in many different ways in the new era.
And therein lies the reason why I think that whatever we think about their booking and match-making, someone in the WWE still has the little spark of genius and can still play a large proportion of the audience for fools.
Imagine that anyone else on the roster was linked to this possible match outcome. No-one would give them any credibility. But as soon as Cena’s name is attached people, knowing the power and control he has, immediately read it as if it’s 100% true and that Cena will end The Streak.
Also as important is the fact that Cena’s young fans will also believe, for vastly different reasons, that their main man could defeat the Dead Man at ‘Mania.
By a simple leak of a booking idea, the WWE have already ramped up anticipation for a match that may never happen. And if it does happen in New Orleans there will be a large proportion who will believe that Cena could win. I struggle to believe that this is an unintended consequence of a leak from an unknown source.
If I was a betting man, and William Hill’s would accept it, I would put money on next year’s WrestleMania seeing John Cena versus The Undertaker, especially as I think that the WWE will find a way to book The Rock against Brock Lesnar. (Although admittedly, if The Rock is really through with wrestling, I’d say Lesnar/Undertaker would be the way to go).
At the same time I would put the rest of my money on The Undertaker winning that match and making it 22-0. The WWE aren’t daft enough to have Cena ending The Streak; I’m also convinced that Cena himself isn’t daft enough to want to end it either.
Of course those of you who are convinced that Cena will win won’t have their fears calmed by my words of reason, but that will be music to the ears of the WWE management. They can still keep the fans guessing, one way or the other.
– By Matthew Roberts
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