Basic Hulkanomics

So I just watched the John Cena "Word Life" DVD for the first time. It was a good education in how Cena got over in the first place. I'll say this for the guy, he can be very entertaining when used properly.

BUT (you knew it was coming) I'm not about to get all starry-eyed about John Cena and propose, like some have, that a return to "Basic Thuganomics" would get him over again just like it did before.

But (Two but's in a row? What is this, a DX reunion?) more than any gimmick, bad scriptwriting, or PG rating, the ONE thing that is keeping John Cena from getting over is the fact that John Cena is old.

Not physically old. John Cena is only thirty-five and still in great shape. He's old in TV years.

Take any personality on any show that has ever been on TV, and sooner or later, regardless of what heights of popularity they achieve, fans lose interest.

There are only so many stories. Only so many scenarios. Even the best writers run out of ideas. You don't have to go any further than the most popular wrestlers of all time to see that this is true.

Hulk Hogan did more for the business of professional wrestling than anyone. He enjoyed success unheard of or even imagined up to that point. But after winning his first WWF Championship in 1984, by the end of 1991, public interest had definitely waned. His match with The Undertaker at the Survivor Series that year was probably the turning point.

The Undertaker was a better athlete and a fresh face with a new, intriguing story that the people wanted to get behind and the fact that he was not allowed to beat Hogan cleanly for the title expedited public opinion turning against Hogan.

This was felt even more in his feud with Sid Justice early the following year. Many fans were cheering for Sid despite the fact that he was supposed to be the heel. And despite the fact that the WWF was still doing everything it could to present Hogan as the conquering hero.

Sound familiar?

The amount of exposure that personality has is obviously a big factor in how long it takes for this public indifference to set in. The fans turning on Hulk Hogan took eight years. Until then, they were happy to accept him as their hero, believe in him, and cheer for him.

But when the fans decided that they had had enough, no amount of selling or re-packaging by the WWF was going to change their opinion.

John Cena has been on the top of the card for about the same amount of time that Hogan was, however, he's been getting a mixed reaction almost from the beginning because of the greater amount of exposure.

John Cena is on ALL of WWE's weekly programming whether he's on the show live, or in a video recap. When Hogan was enjoying his run, you might go weeks without seeing him in any way, shape or form. You certainly wouldn't see him wrestle. The WWF was smart enough to save him for house shows, the occasional Saturday Night's Main Event, or pay per view, of which they only had four back in those days.

Just like with Hogan, public opinion has turned on John Cena. And no amount of re-packaging is going to change their minds. Just like they did with The Undertaker and Sid, fans today want to get behind someone new like Daniel Bryan or CM Punk.

But just like they did with Hogan, bringing him back to beat Yokozuna for the title at WrestleMania IX even though the fans had clearly moved on, they're going to continue to go to the well with John Cena until they finally realize all they're bringing up is an empty bucket.