By Richard Gray on September 3, 2012
JOHN CENA HAS BEEN FIRED!
Or at least that’s the rumor that has been buzzing around the internet and tabloids for the past few days. One year ago EBWF superstar John Cena seemed to be everywhere at once. Between his work with the EBWF, movies, media events, opening a small production company with his cousin, and his many different charities including his most notable award winning efforts with the Make A Wish Foundation people were left wondering what brand of coffee he drank and where they could get some. Now, just a few months later John Cena appears to have done a dramatic 180, having disappeared from the public eye and EBWF programming completely in the past month. No projects featuring Cena seem to be in the works and even in his off-screen activities the CeNation Commander-In-Chief seems to have gone MIA.
The last the public saw of Cena he was being thrown through several tables to conclude a hellacious Street Fight match during the EBWF Pay Per View Sacrifice by heavy hitter CM Punk. This has left many to believe Cena has been out of commission because he is still healing from the injuries he incurred that night suggesting perhaps his wounds were more serious than initially considered. Many had expected the former headliner to appear on the Summerslam card, or at least make an appearance, as the Pay Per View is considered one of the “big four” of the year. Summerslam however has now come and gone and still no John Cena.
Previously known as one of the EBWF’s more social stars with his frequent fan interactions via meet and greets, candid personal blogs, the social media site twitter, and charity work it has been months since Cena has posted a blog, the number of tweets he has put out could be counted on one hand and were very uncharacteristic to say the least, and even when Cena was appearing on camera there were few if any appearances scheduled by the EBWF featuring the former World Champion. The many charities that were once supported by Cena, primarily those supporting American troops and children, claim to have not worked with the star in months. A representative of the “Wounded Warrior Project” – an organization devoted to helping provide aid for injured service members – was quoted as saying, “It was as if he just dropped off the face of the earth without any notice. He’d already signed on to assist in several charity events. Fortunately the EBWF sent several other members of their roster in his place when we were unable to reach John [Cena] and to this day his large monthly donations are still arriving which have been very helpful.” When asked how these donations are received it was confirmed that they arrive via automatic bank withdrawals. When we attempted to reach another charity Cena was largely involved in, the Make A Wish Foundation, the President and CEO of Make A Wish Foundation – America released the following statement to us:
“The Make A Wish Foundation continues to be blessed by the hard work and support of the EBWF, its members, and even its fans. With their efforts and dedication we have been able to touch the lives of more children than we could have even dreamed. John Cena has personally granted over 300 wishes for over 300 different children and that is more than any other celebrity ever has. John [Cena] has more than proven himself to be an individual who genuinely cares about our cause and these children so we here at the Make A Wish Foundation believe that whatever reason he has for needing to take some time away is a legitimate one. We continue to receive requests for him almost every day and hope he will return to our organization to continue granting the wishes of children that still see him as their hero.”
Spurring on more speculation amid the rumors that Cena’s employment with the EBWF has been terminated Cena was recently called a “fucking insane person” on twitter by EBWF head,Wes Ikeda, a man that had in the past stood by his employee, even when Cena was arrested last year for multiple charges that were later dropped without prejudice, suggesting some form of falling out between the two. So it was no surprise when the former friend and possibly former employee was absent from Wes Ikeda’s huge birthday bash, a party where even Cena’s youngest brother, Boston police detective Daniel, was reportedly seen talking with members of the Ikeda family.
In ring antics ranging from humorous raps, mock strip teases, dancing, and finding new ways to humiliate and poke fun at his opponents have long since ended and many have been left wondering if Cena’s disappearance is perhaps in some way related to the last storyline EBWF had for the new “bad guy” image Cena had taken on prior to his disappearance. Stronger language, increasingly violent and crazed behavior, a complete disregard for fans, and a return to his old "Doctor of Thugonomics" persona was the last version of John Cena fans saw in the months prior to his sudden departure. The EBWF even went so far as to create a shockingly realistic mock attack on fans at one of the final Warfare events Cena participated in so some fans are claiming Cena's lack of camera time is simply another strategic move by the EBWF creative team to leave the public guessing as to what will come next for the former triple champion.
Merchandise sales worldwide have shown very little, if any, decline despite Cena’s absence or heel turn suggesting the former star still has good marketability but internet rumors of “script confusion” and “communication issues” may have actually held some truth. If Cena has in fact been terminated many question whether Wes Ikeda would release him from his contractual obligations to the company such as the “no compete” clause, potentially meaning it could be months to years before Cena would be allowed to sign with another company depending on how much time remained in his contract. Sources tell us at this time John Cena has right at two years still remaining in his EBWF contract. Ikeda would also still own the rights to Cena’s name and image during that time span.
At time of publication Cena and Ikeda were both unable to be reached for comment.
