“The Champ… is here.”
Join Ian and special guest Stew from The Stew World Order Podcast as we sit down at the Ringside Roundtable to take a deep-dive look at one of the most polarizing, celebrated, and influential wrestlers in WWE history — John Cena.
Across nearly two decades, Cena went from Ruthless Aggression rookie to the face of an entire era, and this special episode breaks down every chapter of his career with honesty, insight, and maybe a few “You Can’t See Me” jokes.
This week we discuss the following while debating...
“The Champ… is here.”
Join Ian and special guest Stew from The Stew World Order Podcast as we sit down at the Ringside Roundtable to take a deep-dive look at one of the most polarizing, celebrated, and influential wrestlers in WWE history — John Cena.
Across nearly two decades, Cena went from Ruthless Aggression rookie to the face of an entire era, and this special episode breaks down every chapter of his career with honesty, insight, and maybe a few “You Can’t See Me” jokes.
This week we discuss the following while debating we can be seen or not:
Our Cena origin stories — Ruthless Aggression debuts, the Undertaker handshake, the F-U era, the rapper gimmick, and the pivot to PG’s Hustle, Loyalty, Respect. Which version of Cena did we meet first?
What made Cena appealing — why kids adored him, whether his “Never Give Up” mantra was authentic, and if he was secretly underrated in-ring all along.
Where the hate came from — the roots of the Cena Sucks movement, the difference between hating the booking and hating Cena himself, and whether fans resented how “corporate” he felt.
Was the backlash justified? — did fan criticism have merit, or did Cena silence doubters with consistently strong, big-match performances later in his career?
Cena’s in-ring legacy — how good he actually was bell-to-bell, the key matches that define his style, and whether “Super Cena” booking helped or hindered him.
The Cena character — iconic or limiting? Should he have turned heel? And how effective was his mic work beyond the occasional goofy promo?
Did Cena make stars… or bury them? — who benefitted most from working with him (Owens, Styles, Umaga) and who fans believe he held back.
Was Cena good for wrestling overall? — did he grow the audience or preside over decline? Was his mainstream presence a net positive? And did WWE rely on him too heavily?
Cena’s cultural footprint — is he WWE’s last true megastar? How Make-A-Wish shaped his legacy, and whether Hollywood changed how fans view him today.
Cena vs. modern WWE — how he’d fare if he debuted now, how his style fits today’s product, and whether Roman Reigns is truly Cena 2.0.
The endgame — did Cena step away at the right time? Should Gunther be his final opponent? Is Saturday Night’s Main Event the right farewell? Does he need one last WrestleMania moment?
Defining rivalries — the feuds that shaped his career, whether he elevated or overshadowed opponents, and our Top 5 Cena Rivalries each.
Cena’s legacy — where he ranks all-time, how defining he was for the PG Era, and how his longevity compares to Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock, and Roman Reigns.
And finally, the verdict — was John Cena good or bad for wrestling? Has history softened the criticism? And what is his true legacy when everything is weighed together?
Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE
