Why Cena SHOULDN’T win EC

Same reason him not winning the Rumble was the right call: It fulfills his “why” too easily, or rather, too conveniently. Plus, him winning at ‘Mania would be a bad look since he’ll be gone by the end of the year. Winning the Chamber almost necessitates him losing at ‘Mania. BUT he should absolutely win #17 and here’s how I think it should go down:

Cena loses the Chamber, and is driven even more obsessed with winning the title, building off the terse, fed-up, almost un-Cena-like energy he had at the Rumble presser. His ‘Mania program is him getting his first win in years by beating whoever cost him the Chamber.

Not all is lost of course, so he goes on… and WINS Money in the Bank. We all await John’s announcement that he’s cashing in for a title match against the Champion at the next big PLE. But it never comes. Everyone’s confused as to why he’s waiting. Is he going to cash in opportunistically instead? Of course not. John would never do that… until he does, and beats a beaten down, worn out Cody, who has just won it back from Punk.

But it’s not a full-on turn. John’s happy to have won the title but is ashamed of how he did it. Regardless, the pull of staying champion seems too much. No one boos him for cashing in, they’re just happy he won it.

He and Cody face each other at SummerSlam (or Survivor Series), and given the opportunity to take advantage of Cody yet again in order to retain, John ultimately decides it’s not worth it and loses the belt back to Cody, clean as a whistle. John Cena stays true to who he is, and rides off into the sunset a redeemed legend.