WWE Website Looks At Reasons Why Fans Love & Hate John Cena

John Cena's fan base: kids up to 14, teenage girls, moms, single women, dads who watch WWE with their kids.

John Cena's critics: teenage boys, single men from 21 to 45, married women without kids who watch WWE because of their husbands, dads who don't watch WWE with their kids.

Here's what fascinates me. Go to any live event, especially a big PPV, and watch these two separate blocs of fans. When Cena fans are booing a universal heel (e.g. Alberto Del Rio, Kane, The Miz), they boo the character. When Cena critics are booing John Cena, they boo the person. Cena haters do it with such vitriol that it's palpable, even uncomfortable for an objective observer, at a live event.

I don't mind the Philadelphia-style booing. But here's what I don't understand. Cena haters seem to have a clouded view of the direction that WWE is taking the character. It seems obvious that WWE opted to integrate the "Rise Above Hate" mantra for dual purposes. It buoys their Corporate Social Responsibility. And it allows them to make the Cena haters become the heels, not John Cena. This way, the company's top babyface elevates tensions in the storyline while creating a somewhat uplifting message for the "real world." But even more, I'm baffled that any Cena haters actually think (or frankly hope) that Cena will lose to the Rock at WM 28. The Rock came back to do something big, and that meant passing the torch to Cena. They knew that it couldn't be forced, so it required a progression of realism — starting by acknowledging the original war of words (that Cena started off-camera). WWE is not teasing a heel turn for Cena, rather they're depicting the struggle of a "hero." If Cena were contrasted against a popular anti-hero (like Bret Hart's program with Steve Austin) and both characters were active, then it would be different. But what are Cena haters thinking when it comes to the Cena-Rock program? Vince wants to sell PPV buys, but he's not about to jeopardize sales of the only superstar that truly sells out arenas.

Two quick points. First, if you're tired of Cena, that's definitely justified. Just show a little class about it. Second, if you think that John Cena's character needs a reboot, that's hardly a new thought. Just don't be fooled by the self-fulfilling prophecy. Cena and Rock end their program at WM 28 by elevating both superstars, particularly the one who has to keep performing every week. Best wishes to everyone…

My final analysis on this is that aside from some real haters who're in desperate need of professional treatment, all the booing is just a bunch of sheep going along with what they think is cool. If he were truly so despised by everyone he wouldn't sell tickets. I mean I haven't been to a WWE show in years, but I can imagine tickets are expensive. You mean to tell me that in this economy you really have NOTHING better to do with your money than buy a ticket to tell a stranger how much you hate him? That makes no sense at all. All this energy you put into loving or hating him just shows that you do care, and have an investment in him. As long as Vince McMahon sees that Cena's never going away. I however don't care about being cool, or fitting in. I know what I like, and I appreciate Cena for what he is, and what he brings to the table.