THIS Is The Greatest Thing WWE Never Did

The meta quality of the dynamic would have created the loudest, most anxious pro wrestling atmosphere ever, at least in a modern era in which earnestness barely exists. John Cena wins lol went the meme, and WWE had very much adopted a cruel sense of humour by 2013.

The prospect of John Cena ending a Streak unanimously felt should be gifted to the sort of new megastar rendered impossible under his shadow would have been heart-wrenching. And horrifyingly, horrifyingly plausible: WWE was intent on putting John Cena ever as the greatest of all-time, and even by 2013 it was sensed that WWE had lost the capacity and willingness to build the next generation of talent. The extent to which this man was protected was astonishing.

Cena would have been magnificent in the match, too, echoing his classic performance at One Night Stand 2006 by steering full-throttle into his perception as the panto villain. He was smug enough involuntarily; as a knowing heel, at least to a specific demographic, he'd have manipulated that audience into a fury.

Imagine the Hammerstein Ballroom multiplied by 40. That's the literal volume we're talking, by transposing that atmosphere into a WrestleMania-sized stadium. Spiritually, this multiplies by orders of magnitude: the notion of John Cena ending the Streak was the greatest ever betrayal of WWE fan sentiment, and they'd have done it, too.

At least, that's what it would have felt like.