John Cena passing the Torch

[John McHenry]

After the apparent endorsement from John Cena to Ryback on Monday's RAW, WWE has a new article up wondering if Cena passed the torch to the newcomer. They wrote:

"Ryback, who has been nothing short of a force of nature since his arrival in April, now carries the weight of the WWE Universe on his broad shoulders. Handed to him by Cena — a 10-time WWE Champion — Ryback also carries with him the hopes and dreams of an entire locker room. Whether it’s because Cena isn’t yet healthy enough to do battle, or perhaps because the Cenation leader sees something special in the rising Superstar, the burden is now on Ryback to answer the call.

Few have been afforded the opportunity to challenge for WWE Championship gold; fewer still have claimed it. Standing now at the precipice of greatness, when Hell in a Cell descends on Ryback and Punk come Oct. 28, will Ryback live up to the enormous expectations thrust upon him by Cena and carry that torch to a title reign?"

Thought we could discuss how much of a joke this article is. "Passing the torch" used to be done in a huge epic match, but lets face it the torch never actually gets passed because short of death wrestlers never really retire.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

I don't think he's passing the torch. But honestly, I like how they went about it. I don't see Ryback winning the match though. But I don't know how he'll lose.

 

[Killz]

No, that wasn't a passing of the torch.

What Cena did was:

a) bury himself as a force that can actually beat Punk.
b) bury the title by concluding, as we're led to believe, that even though he COULD fight for the gold he's been chasing he'd rather take a backseat.
c) bury Ryback, along with McMahon and other personalities, by suggesting he's insane and doesn't even care for the title.
c - i) bury the match by making it not about the title.

 

[Crippler]

I can't take this seriously seeing how this came from WWE.com. And as prime said torches never get passes anymore.

[video=youtube;BccPeYxzfUw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BccPeYxzfUw[/video]

:hm:

 

[Dale]

I remember watching the contract signing at the time and felt it came off weird. I can't be bothered to watch the parts back again but didn't have the segment with Vince where he basically said he's felt better, but he's also felt worse and that when do they ever listen to doctors advice and then in the contract signing he said something along the lines Ryback not caring about the WWE title because he's an kicker and then started chanting his catchphrase.

Who knows what they'll end up doing but they should have probably just gone with Cena saying what he did to Vince in the backstage promo but then switch up his stuff in the contract signing. Have Cena want the match and talk a usual good game but have Vince still go with Ryback. To me, that would be a bigger rub for Ryback because Vince has actually picked him over his poster boy rather than Cena basically saying to him, you have it.

 

[PHX]

This is laughable for many reasons but this is just reminding me of when they were using Cena to endorse Ryder on T.V which at the time I thought was good but looking back it really wasn't and just came off as them trying to make Cena apart of what whatever was heating up and getting buzz. Punk has already been doing an awesome job helping getting the man over so was really pointless for Cena to pander for Ryback.

 

[Undertaker]

I think that the article creator is misunderstanding what 'passing the torch' actually is. It isn't done during a single match, a promo or a silly contract signing and it certainly isn't done anymore by mic work such as John Cena's. The last person to really sell themselves (via mic work) as passing the torch was Steve Austin when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. That bit with Cena was actually amazing. Passing the torch is generally done after feuding together over a lengthy period of time thus the older wrestler gaining a new found respect for the newer wrestler and a handshake in the ring. This is usually what happens.

 

[Chris]

This being on WWE.com gives it very little credibility since it's basically just there to have an article.

 

[Mick Donalds]

SuperCena will never job out to Ryback anyways. Passing the Torch is usually a retirement match or a big time, Wrestlemania title change at the end of one wrestler's career.

 

[Tapout]

Wow, people were quick to jump this article. Shows how cynical you all are.

I do see this as a passing of the torch, I mean, the BIGGEST STAR, took a backseat to you, that's something. And then even fully endorsed you and got the crowd to chant your catchphrase.

But that doesn't mean shit, does it? Because it didn't happen in a match? Come one, get out of the past people. Times have changed.

 

[Chris]

Not so much because it didn't happen in a match, but more so because it's kinda' obvious it isn't passing the torch when Cena will be around and most likely a top star, probably even feuding with Ryback at some point for the next few years.

 

[Tapout]

It's easy to see that Cena is on the down hill side. He peaked already. I expect a lot more younger stars to get more chances while Cena takes more time off. If they rest him more often they may get another 5-7 years. But at his rate of working right now, Cena will be done a lot quicker, or at least be sidelined for a considerable amount of time.

 

[John McHenry]

And you think Ryback someone Cenas own age is the future someone that should have a torch passed to him? He's most likely going to start retirement around the same time.

 

[Tapout]

But Ryback has not been worked as long, and as constant as Cena. He's 3-4 years younger too, if I'm correct. Cena has been worked too hard because there was no one to pick up the extra slack.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

Samoan dropping 2 guys is serious business.

Honestly, I don't think it was a passing of the torch, I think Cena's waiting for the right person, or person's to come along.