John Cena's longevity is becoming
so overrated here. Yes, a big part of that is due to WWE's refusal to create new stars. There are no ifs, ands, and buts about that. Look at the WrestleMania 30 card. There are 14 superstars in the 5 actual matches on the main card (counting the Battle Royal or the Divas match as a match, I will not do but that is a different story). 9 of those guys competed at a WrestleMania 10 or more years ago. So, yes, the WWE's failure to even attempt to create another compelling stars is a huge reason why John Cena remains on top. Fans have been bored of Cena for a very long time, so it isn't like John Cena is some entertaining champion who has been on top for years while still being what the fans actually want. There is a reason the WWE continues to bring in the likes of Brock Lesnar and The Rock to attract viewers because what they have now just isn't capable. John Cena's drawing power nowadays is ridiculously overstated and exaggerated.
The fact of the matter is, wrestlers nowadays are just lasting longer than they used to. Wrestlers nowadays stay in one company longer than they did in the 90s and 80s because, why not? The WWE is the only company that matters in America and most guys do not want to travel to Japan (nor can a lot afford to). Back in the 80s and 90s, there were several promotions superstars spread to and honed their skills. You have one exception in Hulk Hogan; otherwise, nobody stayed on top that long because everything was always moving. Companies were always changing the wheel and how everything worked from within. Stone Cold Steve Austin, the guy everyone here considers a legend, was only on top in any company (WWE) from 1998-2001. Maybe you could throw in 1997, but that is still only roughly 3-4 years... and during that time span, he missed an entire year completely! Even without the injuries, by the time Austin retired, he was 39 years old and not as important piece of the product anymore (that was clear in 2002). Austin was on his way out soon regardless but I don't think anyone is going to say Cena is a better worker because he was capable of lasting longer. Austin didn't get to the WWE until he was 32 years old. Cena debuted at 25 and won his first WWE Championship at 28.
John Cena is still the top guy because the WWE hasn't made any kind of effort to push anyone else. People can point to CM Punk's year long title reign but he was never treated as being important. He took a backseat to Undertaker/HHH, Rock/Cena, hell even John Cena and John Laurinaitis took the main event on the same night CM Punk was defending his WWE Championship against Daniel Bryan! What happens when it looks like Ryback could become extremely popular, especially with the way fans were cheering for him? They turn him heel and job him to Cena. They have never once attempted to build anyone up to be Cena's equal unless it is The Rock, Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and The Undertaker, and only one of those guys (Triple H) actually routinely appears throughout the year. He also happens to be 44 years old and only wrestles, at most, 2-3 times in a year.
As far as Cena never working heel goes, he did, he did so very well. It's what got him over in the first place and forced the face turn.
John Cena has been the same exact character/alignment since 2005. Is that not true? And it is boring. He has been on top for nearly 10 years and NOTHING has changed about him at all. The biggest difference are his attire colors.
nd saying he's stale because he's worked the same gimmick since 05
Why would you say he is stale then?
And don't tell me he isn't because that would be 100% false - nobody can possibly believe that he isn't. And it isn't even necessarily the fact he has kept the same character (a lot of guys aren't truly changing their character as much as it is their approach and altering themselves whether it be their alignment, attire, etc. just as you mentioned with Randy Savage... he was always the Macho Man) as much as it is the character is as bland as Dean Malenko. John Cena is a "defy the odds character," despite the fact there are no odds for him. He has won the WWE Championship more than anyone in WWE history. He almost always wins. He no longer really relates to anyone in the audience because he is a corporate guy who is portrayed as having no flaws or traits or issues anyone could say, "hey, that is almost like me/my situation."
Hulk Hogan, someone John Cena cannot match in popularity, even began to get booed when he arrived in WCW.
Hulk Hogan got booed. Why? Because nobody wanted to see his, basically, superman gimmick anymore. If Hulk Hogan can get booed and become stale due to having such a bland character, lets not pretend like John Cena is immune from it because he isn't Hulk Hogan as far as popularity goes. He is almost certainly stale because his gimmick, character, portrayal, whatever, sucks and it hasn't changed a tiny bit since 2005.
And for whatever it is worth, yes, I believe Randy Savage would probably get stale too if he hadn't changed at all (alignment or anything) for nearly 10 years. And while people can say that is a fault on booking, it doesn't change how Cena is seen (to most people). I have never said Cena is a bad performer. I actually remember being one of the main people defending him on WWE-Club. But the fact is John Cena is boring and he has been for a long time. He isn't nearly as good in the ring as Savage, he doesn't have better charisma, he doesn't have better mic skills. There is nothing at all he does better than Savage. The main reason people have given for picking Cena is because he has lasted on top longer and that, to me, means nothing. Everyone is lasting longer than before. Randy Orton won his first World Title 10 years ago and is heading into WrestleMania as the World Champion and he is still only 34 years old. That is the same age when Steve Austin won his first WWE Championship! Guys are just lasting longer because they are starting earlier in the WWE due to no other places really mattering.
Not to mention, like I said at the start, I don't see how anyone can say the WWE's failure to create another big time star hasn't played a huge role in why Cena is still "on top." They haven't put in any effort. Once someone seems like they could turn into one, they just job them out. So unless we all want to pretend like John Cena is just more talented than any person to ever come into the WWE and something about him allows to stay on top longer (not true), then I am of the opinion there are plenty of surrounding factors that are playing a big part in his long-lasting stay at the top. And it has not been an entertaining ride in the least.