Levin: Cena’s Place in WWE’s Food Chain

For years, the words John Cena and role player didn’t seem to fit in the world of professional wrestling. Now that the 16-time world champion doesn’t appear to be part of the company’s world title picture anytime soon, that role might be the one that best fits for the time being.

There are many who believe Cena will win 17, 18, 19 or more world titles before he hangs up his jorts, but for now, he is on the bench waiting to be called up to the main event. The current situation between Cena and The Miz along with Nikki Bella and Maryse at their sides does nothing for me other than makes me laugh at how great a performer The Miz is and how WWE is missing a golden opportunity to cash in on his brilliance with a WWE World Title run.

Maybe the idea of role player is exactly what the company needs. If he is going to pursue other projects in television and movies, his current position suits him well. If there is a plan for him to make a run at No. 17 (which I hope never happens), then WWE must rethink its steps before putting him back on top of the food chain.

WWE has done the right thing to move away from its cash cow and allow others to stand in the spotlight. AJ Styles took off with the title before Cena snatched No. 16 away at the Royal Rumble. Bray Wyatt has been a solid champion so far, but his place in title history won’t be cemented until his confrontation with Randy Orton – which should be phenomenal. There are others like Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura (please come to SmackDown Live) who will teeter on the brink of super stardom and some – like Luke Harper – who will tease us with a potential title shot like a hooker working over a Las Vegas casino.

Cena, for all his success, needs to stand back and let all of this happen.

Although you know my feelings about Cena, his oversaturation caused by the McMahons’ lack of trust in other would-be champions (Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose), I respect the work he does in the ring now as opposed to his shtick a few years ago. He made the United States Championship relevant. He gave mid card performers a chance to prove themselves. He made Kevin Owens and Wyatt and Styles look like a million bucks. And when the dust settled, he left to work on his “projects,” forcing WWE to take chances on new talent.

Now he can help put The Miz over one more time and in doing so, fans get to see more of his relationship with Bella before she walks off into the wrestling sunset. Never will you read me saying it is only fitting someone’s career ends this way.

Someone pass the tissues, please.

If WWE is going to ask Cena to carry the banner again, could it at least wait until all other options are exhausted? There is plenty of potential on the blue team’s roster. Asking Cena to reclaim his place atop the mountain should only be reserved for emergency purposes right now. Let’s enjoy where Cena is and not where he might be. Playing a key role in the company’s future does not mean he has to take the ball and run with it. It means he has to know when to help and when to let things go at the right time.