There are few wrestlers who drew more ire of fans for their goodness than Hulk Hogan and John Cena. While Dwayne The Rock Johnson quickly turned heel upon the infamous Die Rocky Die chants that quickly followed after his debut, Hogan and Cena played the long-term game. So when Hogan jumped ship to WCW in June 94, it was shocking but refreshing the longtime American hero turned on his fans and formed the NWO. Everything from Hogans look to his name changed. Yet despite years of teasing angles, there seems to be no future indication of a Cena heel-turnbecause it already happened. Unlike Hogan, Cena is the face of a now publicly traded company. Thus, he cant turn traditionally heel, as who would sell as much merchandise or fill his philanthropic spot? While we all love Daniel Bryan, hell have to pass concussion tests first. Therefore Cena discovered a way to subtly evolve his character, while adhering to never give up in his matches, on his young fans, or the secret to his success. Cenas complexity is based on inverting expectation. We want him to turn heel so bad, we boo and chant Cena Sucks. We root for Cena to turn, likely because he is in a premiere position to enact change and upset the status quomuch like Steve Austin, The Rock, or CM Punk had beforehand. We also, as fans, love raising heroes up to tear them down and watch their fall. Its our cathartic release. But the more Cena doesnt acquiesce, the more he smiles and flaunts his unbreakable goodness. Cena purposefully doesnt change his predictable moveset (not counting that abysmal springboard Stunner), and often gloats in his promos that we cant make him embrace the hate, as Kane tried to in their 2012 feud. Cenas brilliance comes from his longevity and refusal to break his character, building heat like no other face before him by condescending our attempt to destroy his good name. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didnt exist, and Cena has found a tactful, subversive way to pull the wool (or one of his headbands) over our eyes.
