WWE Handing John Cena the Intercontinental Title is a Head-Scratcher
Well, it finally happened. In a move that shocked approximately no one with a pulse, WWE decided to give John Cena his “feel-good” moment. On what feels like the millionth stop on his farewell tour, Cena captured the one title that had eluded him his entire career: the Intercontinental Championship. The crowd in his hometown of Boston went wild, confetti probably fell from the ceiling, and everyone got to sing “My Time is Now” one more time. Yay.
Don’t get me wrong, seeing Cena finally become a Grand Slam Champion is a nice little footnote for the history books. It’s the kind of thing WWE loves—a neat, tidy bow on a legendary career. But let’s be real for a second. While the moment was sweet, the decision to put the belt on a guy who’s about to ride off into the Hollywood sunset is, to put it mildly, a bit of a creative fumble. It feels less like a strategic move and more like a sentimental gift basket.
Was This a Slap in the Face to the Full-Time Roster?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Dominik Mysterio. The guy has been on a roll, transforming from Rey Mysterio‘s kid into one of the most genuinely despised heels on the RAW roster. “Dirty Dom” was a fighting champion, defending the Intercontinental title and making it relevant again. He was building something. Then, along comes part-timer Cena, and poof, all that momentum gets squashed in one “impromptu” match.
Handing Cena the win feels like a step backward. It sends a message to the locker room that no matter how hard you work all year, a returning legend can just waltz in and take your spot for a quick pop. It buried RAW‘s biggest heel for the sake of a nostalgia trip. While Cena getting his Grand Slam is a great story for him, what about the story WWE is telling for its current, full-time talent? It seems that story is: “Thanks for holding down the fort, now step aside.”
Why a Predictable Title Reign is a Bad Thing
Here’s the other major issue: we all know how this ends. Cena’s final match is already scheduled for the Saturday Night’s Main Event in December. There’s even a tournament underway, “The Last Time is Now,” to decide who gets the honor of being his last opponent. So, what’s the point of this title reign? It’s not a question of if he’ll lose the belt, but when and to whom.
This completely removes any suspense or intrigue. The Intercontinental Championship, which Dominik had elevated, is now just a prop in Cena’s retirement party. It’s a temporary accessory he’ll wear for a few weeks before dropping it on his way out. This predictability makes the title feel meaningless. It’s not about defending a championship; it’s about passing a torch that’s barely even been lit. It’s a creative decision that serves a short-term sentimental goal at the expense of long-term storytelling.
How Cena’s Limited Schedule Hurts the Title’s Prestige
Let’s be practical. John Cena has a day job, and it’s not being a full-time WWE Superstar. He’s got movies to film and press tours to attend. His schedule is packed, which means the Intercontinental Champion won’t be on RAW every week. The title that was just getting its groove back with a fighting champion is now destined to be MIA for chunks of time.
An absent champion kills a title’s momentum. The belt needs to be seen, defended, and fought over to mean something. When the champion is off shooting his next blockbuster, the entire division grinds to a halt. It’s a disservice to the other superstars vying for a shot and to the fans who want to see the championship be the focal point of a compelling storyline. Instead, it will be a shiny placeholder until Cena’s farewell match.
So, while it was a heartwarming night in Boston for the Cenation, the decision feels shortsighted. It was a choice that prioritized a fleeting moment of nostalgia over building the future. But hey, at least Cena got his Grand Slam. I guess that’s what really matters, right?
