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Cena WAS planned to turn heel in 2011

Normally I would post this somewhere in the BoD comments (HUSS!), but I figured it might warrant it's own post. Here's something for everyone who wants Cana to ever turn heel: Chris Hero just dropped on Rosenberg & The Masked Man's 'Cheap Heat' podcast that they actually had a plan to turn him heel after Wrestlemania in 2011, after the 1st Rock match was announced (and probably specifically for that reason). Cena spent $5,000 of his own money on new gear before being told they changed their minds & he said they decided he would "officially never turn heel."

Now whether that still stands after his merch numbers start to fall (if they ever do), who knows. But for all the theorists, there was at least an official plan at some point in the fairly recent past.

I would be somewhat dubious towards the veracity of that information.  But it's certainly been discussed before, no doubt.  


Comments

  1. meh, I thought Summerslam 2010 and joining the Nexus was the better time to do it.

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  2. Pretty sure they were thinking about it as a just in case type scenario if fan reaction was apathetic to a face/face encounter but I doubt they were going to pull the trigger then decided back out at the last minute as described.

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  3. Jeez Shelton, at least try to hide your identity when writing to Scott.

    "Vince, I just spent $5000 on this heel shit I'll never use? I feel the only right thing to do is give me another .1% on merch" - me were I Cena.

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  4. John Cena would be the perfect authority champion with all the bells and whistles (suit, tie etc.).

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  5. Black jorts and wristbands cost $5,000?

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  6. I wonder what the Evil Cena look was going to be.

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  7. No, clearly the better idea was for Cena to pin two guys after being DDTed on concrete.

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  8. Nothing against him, but why Chris Hero of all people would be privy to this kind of inside knowledge ?

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  9. Those Mitchell & Ness jerseys ain't cheap.

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  10. This is the second person to come out and talk about the aborted 2011 heel turn, so I tend to believe it.

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  11. He was at the catering table at the same time Dunn was?

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  12. hahahahaha

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  13. Theberzerker, #1 HUSS CHOMPIONMarch 12, 2015 at 10:32 AM

    Excellent point, Ernie Ladd.

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  14. Theberzerker, #1 HUSS CHOMPIONMarch 12, 2015 at 10:32 AM

    According to Hero, it was full on tights and Ric Flair style robes.

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  15. Theberzerker, #1 HUSS CHOMPIONMarch 12, 2015 at 10:35 AM

    For anyone challenging the veracity, Hero's info comes from the fact that after Cena spent the money, he gave what he had made to development (i.e. NXT) to use, including both gear that was already made, and appointments to HAVE gear made that they could dole out to whoever. Or something to that effect.

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  16. Theberzerker, #1 HUSS CHOMPIONMarch 12, 2015 at 10:35 AM

    See above.

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  17. Any idea what it looked like?

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  18. seems like it would have been cheaper to just grow the evil goatee

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  19. well he gave it to tyler breeze...soooo

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  20. No offense, but if two different people tell you something, you'll believe it? Wow.

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  21. Just look at Bull Dempsey

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  22. Two independent sources confirming the same story, two people who would know.

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  23. Theberzerker, #1 HUSS CHOMPIONMarch 12, 2015 at 10:46 AM

    I figure it was mostly for real first-timers, just basic trunks and pads and shit. They only have like 2 tights makers on standby so I'm sure there's always a queue...what with Ryback needing 800 color variations all the time.

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  24. Eh, I'm still not buying it myself. I'm not saying it's not true, but I'm not exactly sold on the matter either.

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  25. A rapper who is a friend of Cena's. Can't remember his name. He was helping Cena with the heel character. He used to write promos with Cena back in the day when he was rapping to the ring.

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  26. But I wouldn't change ANYTHING about his promos/persona. Just ooze it in even thicker, where it's obvious this guy's oblivious to how annoying and hypocritical he is.

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  27. "Pics or it didn't happen."

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  28. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 12, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Now I'm curious to see what the evil alternate universe outfit was gonna look like. I mean black jorts and t-shirts can't cost that much, can they?


    Well maybe if you're Kanye West.


    And who is Cana?

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  29. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 12, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    I picture Michael Knights evil twin Garth.

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  30. That's fucking amazing.

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  31. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 12, 2015 at 11:28 AM

    Bumpy Knuckles?

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  32. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 12, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    Kanye West type character (with Nikki and Kim K) would have been phenomenal.

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  33. Would've turned him heel in 2011, but as a response to Punk capturing the fans during the summer. A "I do everything for your kids and you want to follow this piece of garbage?" mindset justifying going with Vince during Punk's rebellion.

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  34. Spoiler alert, it was a bunch of fake ice packs.

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  35. That would have turned him back babyface entirely too quickly.

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  36. This is what I've always said about Cena. The best way to turn him heel is keep him almost exactly the same. Just turn it up a bit.

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  37. The Cena Heel Turn is still the biggest trump card they can play and at 37 he's still got what it takes it to pull it off before returning to facedom for the final years of his career.
    They could have easily pulled at off any of the below times:
    2007 vs HBK (although I can see the reasons why not here)
    2010 by joing the Nexus - Orton was way over and could have easily been positioned there along with Edge.
    Either of his two Main Events against Rock
    Any time during the summer of Punk
    Any time in the recent Authority vs Daniel Bryan saga
    Or my personal favourite....
    Turning Heel at any Mania to break The Undertaker's streak
    Intead they'll probably end up wasting it on Roman Reigns.

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  38. I don't buy it for a minute, and why the fuck would chris fucking the fuck hero have any info like that?

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  39. Seriously? That's the best you can come up with?

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  40. Did he outgrow the old ones?

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  41. Hint to punk and Bryan knobbers - Vince will use you on top exactly as long as you're making money for him and don't do stupid shit. See: cena, John and undertaker, the.

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  42. I don't think anything was actually made, rather the $5k was more of a non-returnable deposit kind of deal which Cena then used as store credit to give to the NXT guys to get what they wanted.

    The story itself was about how good Cena is with the development guys rather than a story about him turning heel.

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  43. Slapping a kid wouldn't hurt either.

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  44. Kane's Lucha gimmick.

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  45. And we're sure that Hero didn't repeat the story from random rapper dude...?

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  46. Hint to MrA : you suck donkey balls

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  47. "Kane non-union mexican equivalent" FTFY

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  48. Yup. Esoteric.

    http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/0306/590101/john-cena-wanted-to-turn-heel-five-years-ago/

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  49. Oh, man. That's gold, Jerry. GOLD.

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  50. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 12, 2015 at 1:14 PM

    A couple people have said Montreal was a work too.

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  51. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 12, 2015 at 1:15 PM

    Would have been interesting. Having a bunch of minions for Cena's opposition to fight through.

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  52. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 12, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    I think it had to be against Taker's Streak or maybe against the Rock. I don't know what that "heel turn" moment even looks like right now. Does he just grab a mic one day and shit all over the crowd? Kick puppies? AA a crippled kid?

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  53. THE MEGATROLLS EXPLODE!

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  54. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 12, 2015 at 1:23 PM

    Retcon only, but I think it would have been awesome at Wrestlemania 27. Cena challenging the Streak when it was at its highest level (a year removed from retiring HBK). Cena throws everything at Taker, but can't beat him. He gets desperate and resorts to an Austin-like weapon barrage, then passes him out with the STFU. Taker's hand drops thrice, the crowd is speechless, and Cena celebrates. WM host The Rock steps to him and Cena destroys Rock too. Next night, Rock says he's coming out of retirement and will face Cena next year at WM28. Cena "injures" him to write Rock off TV for a bit. Do a dominant run in 2011, with a series against Punk, Sheamus, Orton, et al. Cena vs. Rock at WM28, in Miami, with Cena a heel and Rock the face. Win or lose, Cena comes out the night after Mania and cuts a promo on Florida....only for Brock to show up and destroy him.

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  55. Well, that changes everything. A guy whose name you don't even know. I hope you're never selected for jury duty....

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  56. Who is the face?

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  57. If he ever does he needs to be teamed up with nikki just to make sure no one cheers him.

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  58. Right, because me not remembering his name is clearly what is important here.

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  59. That would be a pairing maybe even more insufferable than HHH/Steph. I really hope the Bellas leave when their contracts end.

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  60. Who the hell are you?

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  61. Raising Roman Reigns' hand at Wrestlemania.

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  62. Turn him into Tom Brady.

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  63. No, it just shows how vague and unfounded it is. Some guy who maybe used to work with Cena said something. And then right after that Chris Hero repeats what he said. And...?

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  64. Worst_in_the_WorldMarch 12, 2015 at 2:12 PM

    It'll be hilarious if they FINALLY turn Cena heel this year to set up a feud with him vs Reigns, and the entire crowd cheers unanimously for heel Cena.

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  65. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 12, 2015 at 2:15 PM

    Like I said, they should be the wrestling version if Kanye/Kim K.

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  66. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 12, 2015 at 2:16 PM

    After he hugged Trish Stratus he did.

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  67. There isn't anything vague about it.

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  68. Well you couldn't even remember his name. But a guy who nobody has ever fucking heard of says that back when he used to write Cena's raps(which is already dubious), Cena was supposed to turn heel but didn't. Oh yeah and the Chris fucking Hero repeats what this other dude said like a parrot. So, that's not two independent credible source. It's one guy we don't really know about, and another guy repeating what he said to get personal exposure.

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  69. I actually have no doubt that whenever Cena turns heel, he WILL be unanimously cheered before long.

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  70. Missed that somehow. But yeah. Good call.

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  71. "Well you couldn't even remember his name."

    His name is Esoteric.

    "But a guy who nobody has ever fucking heard of says"

    You've never heard of him. But continue.

    "that back when he used to write Cena's raps(which is already dubious), Cena was supposed to turn heel but didn't."

    This is not dubious. Cena and Esoteric worked together in the past. This is public knowledge.

    "Oh yeah and the Chris fucking Hero repeats what this other dude said like a parrot."

    Chris Hero didn't parrot Esoteric's story. One was about Cena working on a heel character and another was about Cena buying heel ring gear.

    "It's one guy we don't really know about, and another guy repeating what he said to get personal exposure."



    Maybe read the actual story or listen to the podcast before commentating in the future? Thanks, I'm glad we had this talk.

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  72. I'm not always a troll. I just get annoyed easily.

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  73. The guy moves bowling towels. No reason to turn him.

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  74. I think it doesn't matter. I never would have seen him as a heel for years but 6 to 12 months would be enough IMO. Just enough time to elevate a new top face which beats Cena for the title and then he can be face again.

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  75. He could help Reigns to win the title and then Heyman gives Cena a chair and he and Reigns can destroy Brock Lesnar and all three of them are celebrating the newest Heyman guys - or so. ;)

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  76. I'm telling you, the stars are all aligned for a Cena heel turn Wrestlemania weekend. Here's my suggestion on how it should go down:

    1. Cena pulls a Kanye during the Connor HoF induction ("he was a good fan, but my Make-a-Wish kid is still alive and fighting and supporting WWE").

    2. Rusev pokes Cena in the chest, at which point Cena immediately falls down, takes the pin, and the two of them go laughing all the way to the back, wrapped in the Russian flag.

    3. Cena enters the battle royal with a newly shaved skinhead look, yelling "White Power" over and over while beating the hell out of Titus O'Neil, Darren Young, and New Day.



    4. Wins the battle royal, breaks the trophy and rubs Andre all over his crotch.



    You're welcome.

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  77. Upvote for Andre fellating Cena.

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  78. Jesse Baker had a new username.

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  79. John Cena with a goatee?

    Our exactly like Darren Young,

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  80. 1)You couldn't remember his name(assuming you ever knew it). it was only after someone else said his name that you have started using it. So either you hadn't heard of him either, or you aren't even sure what you're talking about.


    2)So public that you didn't even know his name....


    3)And he gave the gear to NXT did he? Who used it? And check out the timeline of Cena's supposed heel turn with when hero actually worked for WWE. So, at best, he got the information second hand.


    4)I read the link where Esoteric said what he said, and I'm not convinced it's true. And I don't listen to podcasts.


    But really you've now got two guys telling stories. One who wasn't even there at the time, and another who's so well-known and public that you couldn't even think of his name. Sorry, but my bullshit detector has gone off.

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  81. lmao. "I don't listen to podcasts so I'm going to come into a post about a podcast and act all huffy and demand answers!"

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  82. Yeah, well how could Hero know that first hand either way? He wasn't there at the time. End of story. And you had to have other guys to cover your bs "some guy whose name I don't know who used to work with Cena said something about a Cena heel turn" :-)

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  83. I agree. If they turned Cena heel and let him say whatever he wants on the mic, I guarantee that he would start getting cheered again. I'm wondering if the WWE actually wants Cena to start getting REALLY over again because they worry he might get too big. Because it's not rocket science. In today's business, people love heels. Hulk Hogan got huge again after the NWO heel turn. Steve Austin was a total bad ass heel that got turned into a baby face by sheer human willpower. Same thing with The Rock. If Cena, Rock and Batista all came together and started a group that says "we are all bigger than than the WWE and you should bow at our feet or we're going to kill you" it would be like printing money. They all have extreme talent on the mic and they could be the next NWO. It's so easy but they just don't get it

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