God help us for putting Cena at the top of the list, but... let's face it: If winning the WWE Title is considered the greatest achievement anyone can reach in this business, then really, no one else could be on top. John Cena began his run in World Wrestling Entertainment as essentially a nobody: Just a blank slate preaching Vince McMahon's mantra of "Ruthless Aggression" in a post-Attitude Era world. He brought his hobby of freestyle rapping to work one day in the strangest possible way, dressing up as Vanilla Ice for a Smackdown Halloween party. Somehow, it stuck. The 80's/90's-ness of the schtick was stripped away to leave a white boy rapper from West Newbury who busted rhymes and faces, thanks in part to the chain he wore around his neck. And it was popular enough to carry The Doctor of Thuganomics to not only the United States title (three times), but to the WWE Championship itself. As it stands now, he's on the cusp of breaking Ric Flair's record for most world title reigns (as far as WWE is concerned, anyway). It could be argued that Cena was at his very best and most interesting when he was doing his rapping gimmick, and when people talk about a heel turn for Cena, this period of is career is often what comes up in the process. While not necessarily the only way people would like to see him turn, it is certainly a way they'd like to see him do so. Cena's gimmick today is by and large a watered-down version of what he had then, effectively omitting the rap angle except in rare instances (see his feud with The Rock). Nonetheless, he's still involved with music, having performed some of his own theme songs (including the current "My Time Is Now"), teaming up with Wiz Khalifa for two songs on the WWE 2K15 soundtrack, and even selecting the songs for the game's companion album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUo1R3hCYzk Like him, love him, or hate him, one thing is perfectly clear: If you're a wrestler who ends up with a musically-charged gimmick, John Cena is the standard of success for you and all others to aspire to... no matter how much it might hurt to say it.
Former Nintendo Power writer, current Nintendo Force writer. Wrote the book on Mega Man (The Robot Master Field Guide). Was once fired by Vince McMahon. Dabbles in video games, comic books, toys, and fast food curiosities. Once had a new species of exotic bird named after him. It died.
You can find more of his writings, musings, and other such things on his websites at Nyteworks.net.
