The reinvention of John Cena over the course of the last 12 months has been remarkable.
Since last winning the WWE World Heavyweight title (for the 12th time), Cena has gone from scapegoat for fans bored of his dominance, to the man at the centre of one of the most excititing transitions in the company’s history.
And throughout, Cena has remained the most marketable Superstar on the WWE roster, despite a large proportion of fans falling utterly out of love with the doctor of thuganomics.
It is a role Cena has admirably held for a decade and although his outside of the ring activities with charities, sponsors, in movies and marketing haven’t diminished, his assault on the most prized possession in WWE has.
However, this is no bad thing.
While Cena has stepped out of the spotlight at the top of the roster, it has allowed for the likes of Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan make the step up to establishing themselves as the next generation of the best entertainers in the business.
The biggest benefactor, though, is Kevin Owens.
The WWE NXT champion added the US title to his repertoire with an historic victory over Cena at this week’s Elimination Chamber, ushering in a changing of the guard as well as promising a fine rivalry between the pair.
Cena had previously brought the US title back to life with his challenge of the previously unbeaten Rusev and a series of weekly open challenges for the title allowed a succession of middle card Superstars the chance to gain notoriety and a shot at a title.
And while Owens’ transition onto the main roster was inevitable, thanks to Cena it seemed natural and carried greater gravitas.
Cena has suffered as the all-conquering baby-face of the company with fans as much as he has gained financially, but he is not to be blamed for his employers’ insistence to keep him at the top.
What must be taken from Owens’ shock win in Texas is that the WWE is taking notice.
A Cena loss to a newcomer at a PPV was unheard of, even up until last week. The fact that it happened is a massive step towards the future and a sure sign that Cena’s time may well be coming to an end as a top-level performer.
With such a strong NXT roster in both the men’s and divas’ divisions, Owens’ victory is an exciting one for fans gagging to see the next crop of Superstars given more sunlight and some of the older names put out to pasture.
Love him or hate him, it was only right that Cena was at the heart of this significant change in thinking and, as he always does, he sold it superbly.
