Matt O’Brien writes and maintains the Wrestleview poll every two weeks
The wrestling world is only weeks away from one of the biggest matches that will ever happen: John Cena vs. The Rock. With Rock away pursuing his acting career, Cena is the focal point in WWE programming to build this match. In order to hype the match successfully, Cena himself must be built going into WrestleMania. To get there WWE has launched a multi –week feud between Cena and Kane. It started with a chokeslam and will end this Sunday at Elimination Chamber in an Ambulance Match. There is a range of feelings on how Cena-Kane has played out thus far. To get an idea of how the majority of Wrestleview readers felt on the subject, the latest poll asked them how they would rate the current John Cena-Kane feud. The results are as follows:
How would you rate the current John Cena-Kane feud?
Over the top 10.67% (257 votes)
Compelling 29.86% (719 votes)
Average 35.34% (851 votes)
Poor 24.13% (581 votes)
Total votes cast: 2,408
Of all the choices, more readers rated the program as average than anything else. Regardless of what these guys do, it’s really just an okay feud to get Cena through until The Rock appears. Coming in not too far behind were those who feel the program is compelling.
The feud started with a twist when Kane, having been absent from WWE television for months, made his return presumably to take out the man who put him on the sidelines: Mark Henry. Instead Kane turned to Cena and planted him to the mat with a chokeslam. Since then these two have been at each other’s throats. Kane is pulling strings trying to manipulate Cena to embrace the hate. Cena tries to stay strong as he walks a line, nearly teetering into the fire at times, but never falling. Zach Ryder and Eve have been brought into the mix, and it has given both characters more complexity than they ever had. Eve had a bit of crush on Ryder at first, but soon fell for Cena as her knight in shining armor. Ryder, feeling betrayed, once again fell victim to Kane’s attack. While Kane watches this all unfold, Eve, Cena and Ryder all have different roads they can take. Eve has chosen the quarterback over the guy on the bench. Ryder, heartbroken as he is, may turn on Cena. However, Cena is in a position where he can go either way. He may choose to rise above and say thanks but no thanks to Eve, to protect Ryder and mend fences, and finally, vanquish Kane with his ability and will, not his hate. There is also a chance he can blow off Ryder and claim the former U.S. Champion is nothing without him, and if Cena wants to take his girl, so be it. Finally, Cena may pull out all the stops and destroy Kane with an anger that has been building for years.
Many fans also rated the feud as poor. There has been so much going on and so many difference paths to get Cena to Rock that the road taken feels like the wrong one. Some fans just don’t care about Cena’s inner torment and just want to see wrestling matches. Kane is a fine opponent, but why go this route with it?
Finally, a little over ten percent of readers feel the program is over the top. Kane has always been involved in cheesy angles. Just look at the birth of his character. He was supposedly burned as a child. When you come in with that kind of an entrance, over the top is expected. Where he once was a Leatherface-type character, he now is a puppeteer with an evil agenda. As over the top as wrestling can be, some fans feel this is just too much.
Thanks to all those who participated in the voting. Be sure to vote in the current poll asking how much longer The Undertaker will compete at WrestleMania!