Cena Sucks t-shirts could have been sold back in 2008 ... if it wasn't for John Cena
by Geno Mrosko on Dec 19, 2011 5:30 PM EST
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Quite a few pro wrestling fans were relatively shocked at the revelation that WWE is is now selling t-shirts that say "CENA SUCKS" in big bold letters. Above them reads: "Let's go Cena," which is obviously just the company doing its best to capitalize on the most popular chant in industry over the past five years.
In fact, I can't remember the last time I watched a show that featured the polarizing star that didn't also feature the crowd letting him know exactly how it felt with that dueling chant.
It should have come as no surprise, really, that WWE would seek to make money on it. After all, cash is king and if there's money to be made, you can bet your bottom dollar Vince McMahon is trying to make it. That's why this shirt was approved.
What is surprising, though, is the recent news that this shirt could have been in arenas across the globe as early as 2008. Why weren't they? Mr. John Cena himself refused to sign off. He was asked on Twitter if it was true that WWE was selling the new "CENA SUCKS" shirt and he answered with this (HT to the crazy guys over at ChadDukesWrestlingShow for keeping their noses to the ground):
"They have wanted too since 2008. I told them no. Finally I just said I dont care. Im fine with the way things are. Some like me. Some don't."
Sure, John, you're clearly fine with the way things are. It couldn't possibly bother you that entire arenas scream at the top of their lungs how much they think you suck. No, that wouldn't affect anyone. Kind of like how it never affected Kurt Angle, whose theme song prompted fans to shout "You Suck" along with the beat, even when he was a babyface. He said it didn't bother him, either.
Until he admitted later that he freaking despised it.
Cena also responded to a fan telling him they think it's disrespectful by agreeing with them. "But WTF. Ignore it no longer. It's out there, so those that want to be like that should be able to voice their opinion."
Yes, that is the business of professional wrestling. It's the performers job to make the crowd either love or hate them. In Cena's case, he's somehow been able to do both. If anything, that's a testament to how successful he's been.
Still, there's absolutely no way in hell it doesn't bother him. He's a human being who experiences emotions and has a fundamental moral core. He's the good guy who does the right thing and still gets booed. If it doesn't bother him, that means he's a robot and he's the furthest thing from that.
My hope is that this is leading to a continuation of the storyline they began crafting with Roddy Piper on Raw a few weeks ago. The crowd acknowledges it, WWE is now acknowledging it and it's time for Cena to acknowledge how much he doesn't like it. I'm not asking for a full blown heel turn. But it's gone beyond simply hoping for a compelling story. It's already highly intriguing and it demands attention.
This next year could be the time we finally see Cena deal with the way fans have dealt with him for the past five years. If so, I couldn't be any more excited for you. How about you?
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Or in 2005, when fans first turned on him. The funniest thing to me is that alot of people just think that Cena is a guy whose helpless against what Vince and creative want for him yet in reality he’s got tons of stroke and uses it just like all top guys have.
"@bigfootsilva, I want to tell you a joke so funny it will make your head grow. It goes like this..Oh wait, I see you have already heard it." -Chael Sonnen
It's depressing that of all the things Cena could've politicked on to keep from happening, this is what he chose.
Cena could’ve prevented the Miz from main eventing Wrestlemania XXVII.
Cena could’ve had Edge main event Wrestlemania 22.
Cena could’ve turned himself heel.
Cena could’ve not made the Nexus to look like the biggest jobbers in the business.
Cena could’ve stopped “Y2Cheap,” “fart juice,” and “JBL is poopy” from becoming things that exist.
And instead, he chose to kill this.
What?
Of course he’d want to prevent the WWE from selling merchandise that says he sucks. If the guys in charge asked if you would approve of an “Asterisk is a long-winded, annoying bastard and here’s why” column every week, wouldn’t you say no? He is only human.
The other things are rightly on him. If he was given the option of putting Nexus over, for example, but didn’t want to and opted to make them look weak, that’s poor on his part. Not wanting to “authorize” the sale of ‘Cena Sucks’ merchandise, you can’t fault himthe for lobbying however hard.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Dec 19, 2011 7:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Well, in you think about it in dollars....
If those T-shirts have Cena’s name on them he’s making royalties. He skipped out on a lot of money over an emotional issue. Cena is no Kevin Nash that’s for sure.
by Mr. Sunny Days on Dec 19, 2011 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
If your boss told you you'd get a raise if the company changed their letterhead to
‘[You] are a big dumb schmuck who isn’t good at his job’, would you be gung-ho about doing it? I know I’d give it a hell of a lot of thought, and would probably say no.
Do they mean it? Probably not. Is it something that nags at the back of your mind, that people don’t like you, and gets old quick? Probably.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Dec 20, 2011 1:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
No problem.
I would do it. I’ve worked hard enough to be good at what I do, I know my worth and abilities so I’m not insecure about it. The reality of who I am and what I do wouldn’t change.
You can’t be too much of a mark for yourself. Self-deprecation is often very lucrative when you can separate the show you’re putting on and your real life reality. Think of Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton or a number of stand-up comics, actors and other entertainers who have made careers out of laughing at themselves.
Wrestling’s not any different. It’s still all theater. It’s all about working over marks and taking their money. So, yeah, if it’s good for business, go with it and laugh all the way to the bank. That’s pretty much what Jim Ross is doing with his “Good old’ JR” character and that’s what I expected Cena to be doing.
If Cena is still insecure about his work he should simply work on perfecting his craft and improve. Conquer the critics. Otherwise, he should just just enjoy the boos knowing they only result in new cars to his collection.
by Mr. Sunny Days on Dec 20, 2011 1:50 AM EST up reply actions
Pro wrestling is a business where half the people in the industry depend on people hating them.
Any smart person would accept that offer in a second, especially if they got to make more money the more they got people to hate them. LeBron James became the biggest basketball star of the 21st century, and earned more money than God solely by making everyone hate him.
Nobody in the professional wrestling business should be petty enough to not cash in on people hating them.
Even George Lucas cashed in on people hating him. Cena has no excuse not to when half the people in his industry depend on people hating them.
Cena isn't George Lucas
There’s a difference between cashing in on audience heat because of what your character did, and cashing in on the fact people don’t like you, period. Bret Hart was heavily booed when he was at the end of his WWF run with the Hart Foundation. Was he screwing himself and the other people in the back because there never were any official anti-Hart/anti-Canada merchandise? Arenas chanted “Die, Rocky, Die!” Was The Rock being selfish for never pushing for “Rocky Must Die” gear? Lita got plenty of heat for her affair with Edge. Did she do something wrong for not proposing they sell “Lita Is A Ho” merchandise?
So, you’d be okay if, since it would bring possible traffic to the site, the guys unveiled a new running column about how people think you’re a schmuck and don’t like you?
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Dec 20, 2011 1:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Cena is not screwing anyone over. However, he is being insecure.
Bret Hart’s anti-American run was a work. Often styled as shooting but a work nonetheless. There weren’t anti-Hart/anti-Canada merchandise because WWF probably didn’t think there was money to be made in producing that merch. It’s worth noting that even though Bret didn’t personally enjoy doing the anti-American promos he went along with it still and did a lot for Austin.
When fans rejected Rocky Maivia and arenas chanted "Die, Rocky, Die!" , the WWF and Dwayne Johnson adjusted themselves. They adapted and went with the flow instead of stubbornly struggling against it. Maivia turned heel and worked HARD to develop his charisma. We all know the results that came out of that.
I don’t know if "Lita Is A Ho" merchandise would have sold. Yet, Amy Dumas adjusted and went along with the flow as well, inadvertently rejuvenating her character and helping cement Edge over as an edgy main eventer. So I give her credit for not being a mark for herself and passing by a very hot angle which did much business.
Adapt and adjust, go with the flow. Those that do generally find much success.
by Mr. Sunny Days on Dec 20, 2011 2:12 AM EST up reply actions
Like Mr. Sunny said, Lita, Hart, and Rocky all cashed in on people hating them.
They all made a lot of money because of it, and in the cases of Lita and Bret, it produced the best work of their career both commercially and critically, in Rocky’s case, people loved his dickish attitude so much he became the biggest star in wrestling history, and had no choice but to turn face again.
If Cena broke down, turned heel, and embraced the hatred of the fans instead of downplaying it, he’d reap the same benefits Lita, Hart, Rocky, and Hogan did. Cena is selfishly wasting people’s time for not going heel after half a decade of X-Pac Cena heat being directed at him.
So, you’d be okay if, since it would bring possible traffic to the site, the guys unveiled a new running column about how people think you’re a schmuck and don’t like you?
Yes, especially if I got to make money off it.
Remember Cena is approved by kids.. and who do kids love? Other kids.. and that’s what Cena is.. he’s childish.. with all his bunk jokes. I think this PG era, its too hard for him.. it goes against his grain too much… so its labored & contrived promos & same old moves of doom are all we get. Either that, or he is just a child.
by Rawuncutnxrated on Dec 19, 2011 8:01 PM EST up reply actions
I want a full bore heel turn.
Simply….its time for Cena to put his chips on the table and see whether or not he would have the success that he’s still garnering; if he becomes a heel.
"We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again."-Nathanael Greene.
by scorpio_x on Dec 19, 2011 8:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions
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