Lesnar-Cena went exactly the way it should have. If there’s a rematch, it should go that way again, only more lopsided.
Brock Lesnar’s win over John Cena was just shy of a squash, with Lesnar brutalizing Cena and selling in very limited fashion.
Good. This isn’t about preserving Cena. Perhaps this is the beginning of his descent from the very top. Perhaps it’s the start of Cena’s comeback story – after WrestleMania.
Because from now until WrestleMania, WWE has to be mostly about casting Lesnar as an inhuman killing machine, and Roman Reigns as WWE’s lone hope.
The first part is easy, because that’s what Lesnar is, work or shoot.
The second part, I’m honestly not sure about. As a former WWE superstar recently told me, “Reigns can’t talk. The business is about talking now. He can’t.”
Reigns was on my radio show a few months ago. In a real-life media situation, Reigns is very forthcoming and earnest. A good interview.
But that ain’t TV rasslin’ talk.
I give WWE credit for the way Lesnar-Cena was booked. I give Cena credit for playing his part to perfection, which makes me think that he didn’t see SummerSlam as the beginning of his end. Cena got his ass kicked in anything but half-hearted fashion. He was brilliant, and a legit team player.
Some are bitching that because of Lesnar’s limited dates, the champ won’t always be on TV. I see that as a blessing.
The champ used to NEVER be on TV. That was in every promotion. The Raw-Nitro war moved the goalposts, with PPV and house-show main events being given away on cable. The champ got on TV every week, often wrestling.
Used to be, the champ NEVER wrestled on TV and only cut occasional promos. That made him special. That made the belt special. It made the champ’s matches that much more anticipated. It worked then. It could work now.
Paul Heyman is the best part of Lesnar’s non-match presentation, anyway. Heyman will be there as required.
WWE is taking the obvious path to WrestleMania.
Good. The obvious path is most often the best path.
BTW, if Vince McMahon somehow drags The Rock back to challenge Lesnar at ‘Mania and puts Reigns on the backburner, he’d be admitting WWE can’t build new stars. And he’d be right.
I don’t like Nikki Bella going heel on Brie. I don’t buy sister turning on sister, or brother turning on brother. Owen Hart turning on Bret was the exception, not the rule. The build to the Hart brothers split was also done much better.
Follow Mark Madden on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
