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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Aug 19, 2023 22:00:47 GMT -5
Two of the biggest & best ever... easily two of the most stars we have ever seen in the business... who you going with?
It's another hard one but I'm picking Cena tbh, I love Reigns work nowadays but overall its gotta be Cena. I've loved a lot of Cenas work over the past 20 years and despite being very hated at many points in his career he still put out entertaining stuff.
I will say that Reigns current Bloodline run since 2020 has been one of the best things in wrestling history... too many great moments from it. I'd say Reigns was also one of the most hated guys at many points in his career but overall they both still delivered great stuff in the end.
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Post by rkmo: 9 Month Warning on Aug 20, 2023 1:01:31 GMT -5
LMHBO
Seeing as how OP neglected to set any parameters for this, I am able to grade on my own curve.
We've seen Reigns work as both heel and face. While it's arguable how face and heel Roman actually differ from one another at full steam, it's something. Cena hasn't gone full heel in decades and hasn't really pushed to despite "expressing the desire", and in fact frequently mocks the idea not so removed from the tired immature trolling found on online forums. What little we've seen, John doesn't come off anymore than a conceited jackass, which speaks more to a genuine personal flaw than a distinctive character trait.
In the ring, Reigns can deliver and take some moves and make it look good. Reigns also has the edge in locker room leadership. He does seem to have a desire to see others succeed. And while he is an agent in disparaging professional wrestling, I don't recall him going outta kayfabe to blast the locker room or the profession as a whole, unlike John Boy.
Unlikely as it is, Roman Reigns has given more reasons for me to back him. Plus, the incessant push Cena enjoyed that encouraged rejecting fan opinion directly led to this sad era, so no Cena = no Roman.
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Post by finnbalor1 on Aug 20, 2023 2:43:17 GMT -5
I was sick of seeing both and hated both at certain points in their careers but now since both are slowing up,ive grown to appreciate their work a lot more. I wouldnt consider myself a huge fan of either but i definitely would put both in my top 10 all time. If I would have to pick I guess I would go with Roman,just based on this Bloodline saga In the last few years.
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Aug 20, 2023 8:51:58 GMT -5
Both guys were stale at many points in their careers tbh and there were many other guys who deserved to share the spotlight with Cena/Reigns.
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Post by J-MANN: Tag Team Champion on Aug 20, 2023 9:55:19 GMT -5
Overall I’ll say Cena. But depending on how many years Roman continues to do this, my answer may change.
I think Roman is setup for a major baby face run once this bloodline story is official over and he takes some time off.
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Post by rkmo: 9 Month Warning on Aug 20, 2023 10:20:57 GMT -5
Overall I’ll say Cena. But depending on how many years Roman continues to do this, my answer may change. I think Roman is setup for a major baby face run once this bloodline story is official over and he takes some time off. Could've been there by now if they'd just run him heel 7 years ago 🤷
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Post by J-MANN: Tag Team Champion on Aug 20, 2023 10:21:53 GMT -5
Overall I’ll say Cena. But depending on how many years Roman continues to do this, my answer may change. I think Roman is setup for a major baby face run once this bloodline story is official over and he takes some time off. Could've been there by now if they'd just run him heel 7 years ago 🤷 Very true. Better late than never, I suppose.
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Aug 20, 2023 12:06:53 GMT -5
LMHBO Seeing as how OP neglected to set any parameters for this, I am able to grade on my own curve. We've seen Reigns work as both heel and face. While it's arguable how face and heel Roman actually differ from one another at full steam, it's something. Cena hasn't gone full heel in decades and hasn't really pushed to despite "expressing the desire", and in fact frequently mocks the idea not so removed from the tired immature trolling found on online forums. What little we've seen, John doesn't come off anymore than a conceited jackass, which speaks more to a genuine personal flaw than a distinctive character trait. In the ring, Reigns can deliver and take some moves and make it look good. Reigns also has the edge in locker room leadership. He does seem to have a desire to see others succeed. And while he is an agent in disparaging professional wrestling, I don't recall him going outta kayfabe to blast the locker room or the profession as a whole, unlike John Boy. Unlikely as it is, Roman Reigns has given more reasons for me to back him. Plus, the incessant push Cena enjoyed that encouraged rejecting fan opinion directly led to this sad era, so no Cena = no Roman. I didn’t want to make my post even longer but I was gonna break down a few things later in the thread anyways. I think it comes down to personal preference tbh, watching them both while they were on top was a chore at times due to em both being stale but looking back I really appreciate both guys work even more now. Cena is the bigger star but he’s been around longer and Reigns may overtake em eventually… all depends on their Hollywood success. I’d say Cena’s better on the mic and both guys are even in the ring… they were good baby faces but Cena’s run was stronger for me… Reigns is one of the best heels and it would have been epic for Cena to turn heel back then… Cena would have had a crazy run on top as a heel.
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Post by TKO Propagandist on Aug 20, 2023 13:40:54 GMT -5
John. Although it's interesting how both have had good & bad spells as top guys
John good: 2003-2008, 2014- John bad: 2002, 2009-2013
Roman good: 2012-2014, 2020- Roman bad: 2015-2019
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Post by CM Tusk on Aug 20, 2023 14:22:52 GMT -5
Big match John
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Post by Crossfit Jesus on Aug 20, 2023 17:50:28 GMT -5
Cena. It’s not close
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Post by BoJack Hogan on Aug 21, 2023 9:04:40 GMT -5
Roman really wasn’t any good until he connected with Heyman and the Bloodline began. None of his rise was organic, but 2020 - was the closest. Now he’s literally working with his family, and his story is driven by multiple people and very little actual in-ring wrestling. The work he’s been doing is good, but he’s not doing any of it on his own.
John. And it isn’t even close.
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Aug 21, 2023 10:45:26 GMT -5
Many may hate both guys but you can’t ever deny their star power in the business… they made WWE a lot of money, they are well known worldwide, over with causals & kids, women etc…. they get a huge amount of views on WWEs YouTube and when it’s all said & fine they’ll go down as two of the goats.
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drankadranka
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Oct 6, 2022 20:47:10 GMT -5
Posts: 456
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Post by drankadranka on Aug 21, 2023 10:49:06 GMT -5
☝️
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tigerlillysingh
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jan 11, 2023 13:55:01 GMT -5
Posts: 199
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Post by tigerlillysingh on Aug 21, 2023 13:35:11 GMT -5
Cena. At least with him there’s been some fine feuds over the period he was active. He has a lot more range than Roman but will not deny that there was a lot of wasted effort in this time too and he should have fought for more to do in that time 07-12/13 as a performer (more meaty storylines). Like how do you go from Punk in 2011 to John Laurinitas in 2012 feuds; dumb crap like that afflicted arguably his best years. Cena 03-06 was lightyears clear of anything Roman has done. There were undoubtedly unbearable wins for sure that did hurt the show at times but he had a much more positive effect on the show in his time than Roman. Some great moments.
Roman has accomplished very very little in terms of prestige that you can attribute to him. Everything before tribal chief was accomplished via the push which was egregiously damaging to not only him but everything around him. This title reign is a joke, it’s having the opposite effect of what they think it’s doing because it’s being dragged out and elongated beyond reason and nobody cares anymore - if anything he should be beating people clean on most occasions to demonstrate his dominance and make his fall actually something people care to see. He’s not even in the same orbit as Cena. Other than when he did have a great show in the Rumble match Batista won, nothing else he’s done sticks out for me as a highlight - boring performer. I don’t really see Roman being around once they take the belt off him so for me it’s been an exercise in destroying potential (all the talent that could have been in his place) & wasted years.
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kinnikuman
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 6, 2020 21:42:25 GMT -5
Posts: 4,674
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Post by kinnikuman on Aug 21, 2023 14:20:56 GMT -5
Neither.
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Post by AxelSmackdown on Aug 21, 2023 15:35:39 GMT -5
Reigns, because he doesn’t bury people and/or get them fired if he doesn’t like them
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Post by The American Daydream on Aug 21, 2023 16:33:12 GMT -5
Anything outside of the Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick I give to Reigns.
Overall still going with Reigns. Cena has gone over/buried too many people he should have done the job for. He waited til he had damn near nothing left in the tank to start giving back. Now all his losses are meaningless and they don't even get people like Theory over. A win over Cena today is as big as a win over Sheamus.
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Post by BØRNS on Aug 22, 2023 20:23:10 GMT -5
At least Cena cares about what he was doing and was much more organic with the fans. Cena 100%
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Post by Emerald Enthusiast on Aug 22, 2023 22:44:01 GMT -5
This isn't difficult. Reigns is a serious character who does believable moves. Cena was like a Noggin or Nickelodeon version of a rapper. Don't even get me started on the Five Knuckle Shuffle or the STF. I'm not suggesting that Cena shouldn't have had a place on the roster, but I'll never view him as the attraction that Reigns is.
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