Cena's MITB win... is it just me...

[Ashman]

...look, I realise this is soooo last month, but it occured to me recently... is it just me or was Cena's MITB win absolutely wasted or what? Not just in terms of the briefcase might've been better used by a younger guy, but really the utter waste of an entire potentially gripping storyline. Cena was the first failed cash-in, but that VERY important fact was skipped over like it hardly even occurred. It achieved very little; anyone who wants to argue it was instrumental to the CM Punk heel turn is kidding themselves.

At the end of the day, the title of first MITB cash-in loser, after having had so many successful winners, had the potential to lay the foundations for a really interesting storyline for a talented guy in need of a direction (and there are, and have been for some time, plenty who need this). It seems to me like the WWE just spunked that storyline away... and I don't see how they can just do it the next time there's a failed cash-in, it'll no longer have the same impact. What are other people's thoughts?

[Djm]

1. They did the "first to cash in and lose" routine to get it out of the way so they can be more unpredictable with it. The impact is part of the problem. Also, Cena can handle it. He's practically a wrestling deity at this point.
2. The "help a young guy" talking point means nothing to WWE. It only means anything to people on forums like this.
3. And, yes. The CM Punk heel turn, as hackneyed and thrown-together as it is was started at that PPV. Because remember, unless Rock is around, it's CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA.

[The Main Event]

I'm just shocked they mentioned it only one time as far as I can recall.

Really they should kinda bank on that a little bit and use it more in promos against Cena by either Punk or Show, but I'm pretty sure Show is the only one to say anything about it.

[Jack Nichols]

I agree that the first MITB loss could have been used in a better way.

[bootrick]

1. They did the "first to cash in and lose" routine to get it out of the way so they can be more unpredictable with it. The impact is part of the problem. Also, Cena can handle it. He's practically a wrestling deity at this point.
2. The "help a young guy" talking point means nothing to WWE. It only means anything to people on forums like this.
3. And, yes. The CM Punk heel turn, as hackneyed and thrown-together as it is was started at that PPV. Because remember, unless Rock is around, it's CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA, CENA.

1. while I know it wont kill john, I think it has made him look like more of a goof, you have to admit they have done there best to tear him down this last year im not even a cena fan but they have made him look like a dunce.

2. I agree with that its a good point most miss on the forums

3. Yeah the punk heel turn has not gone well so far.

[Djm]

1. while I know it wont kill john, I think it has made him look like more of a goof, you have to admit they have done there best to tear him down this last year im not even a cena fan but they have made him look like a dunce.

2. I agree with that its a good point most miss on the forums

3. Yeah the punk heel turn has not gone well so far.

I think the idea of worrying about how John Cena is being booked is so beyond absurd that I won't even acknowledge the point. That's not on you, personally. Others have done it. But the idea that John Cena has been made to look bad for half a year (which he hasn't, by the way) juxtaposed against the last 8 years where he's been booked as if he is Hogan, Superman, Goku, and Chuck Norris times 10 is something I refuse to give any credence to. He'll be fine.

[Wrestling MVP]

It is almost weird that Cena won it last month and that's it.

Cena was the only possible choice for the MitB match as soon as he announced he was going to be in it and it set up a big main event for RAW 1000 and meant they could have someone actually lose when cashing in without it harming them and Cena was that guy.

The SmackDown Ladder Match was the one designed to elevate someone in the future, that someone being Dolph Ziggler.

[Emperor]

Now that I think about it, it's amazing how the WWE has downplayed this. They constantly talk about how everyone who's cashed in has won the belt. Cena is the first to cash in and not win the belt. Quoth the WWE: Oh, that's cool, let's forget about it all and move on with our lives.

I can't help but feel if it was any other wrestler but Cena, Cole would be mentioning it twice a segment to this day.

[Jihad]

I agree with the OP. Having Cena win it, cash it in & being the first man to not win the title was rushed. They could have dragged it out for at least a month. Instead, they rushed it, didn't really allow him to lose & swept it under the rug. Talk about a waste of a briefcase...

[Emperor]

It made perfect sense for Cena to cash it in right away. He knew he would make it an official match, and he wanted the shot ASAP, so he made it for the following week.

[Darkmania]

Is it too early in this thread to start the debate on if the MITB concept should be gone, and that it's uniqueness has been lost?

[Emperor]

It wouldn't be much of a debate; I think most people think the MITB concept sucks.

[Ashman]

I'm not against it, it was just way more effective when it was a once a year deal (and at Mania, which hyped the winner from the off and was always a great spot-fest with guys wanting to go one better on the grandest stage).

When they're handing out two per year it's fallen into being just another gimmick that the WWE doesn't use enough with regards to storyline which I think is really boring.

[Slushy]

No, its about time somebody cashed in and didn't win the title. If the Royal Rumble winner can fail so can Mr. Money In The Bank.