The number one heat magnet since 2000 is a Superstar who lives by an admirable credo, does a great deal of work for various charities including Make A Wish and is the epitome of a role model for today's youth. He is an admirable man who rarely has any negative reports emerge about political power moves and is everything a major corporation like World Wrestling Entertainment would want from a spokesman. Yet, his dominance over the last decade and the fact that he has essentially been the same character for that entire period has led to serious fan backlash and heat that even the most hated villains could not replicate. Fans in arenas all over the globe have greeted Cena's arrival with choruses of boos. In some cases, the reactions are more vulgar and curse-laden than others. Dueling "lets go Cena" and "Cena sucks" chants provide the soundtrack for any of the former WWE champion's matches. His playful response to negative reactions has earned him even more disdain from teenagers and adults looking for more edgier characters with promos that do not ultimately descend into potty humor and good guy smiles. No matter how excellent a worker Cena proves himself to be, no matter how many Match of the Year candidates he partakes in and no matter how many varieties of workers those matches come against, he will never be respected or accepted by the entire crowd. A heat magnet that is unlike any that has ever come before him, Cena's polarizing personality and character attributes continue to make him the most-talked about performer in all of professional wrestling. As long as that is the case, he will remain at the top of the industry. Because, as Eric Bischoff repeatedly reminds us, controversy creates cash.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
