John Cena's 2003 Is Showed How WWE Should Book New Superstars
Liam Parker 
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John Cena may have had a rough start finding his big break on Smackdown during the early years of the Ruthless Aggression Era, but to his credit, adopting the "Doctor of Thuganomic" persona launched him into stardom. Although he made his debut on Smackdown against Kurt Angle, John Cena didn't have much of an eventful year in 2002. It wasn't until 2003 that his career took off, fully embracing his new heelish persona, with his stock skyrocketing into new heights. Because of John Cena's rise to the top in 2003, he's a prime example of how WWE's creative booking should new superstars that just made their debut.
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It Was A Creative Direction For John Cena
There are certain instances when a wrestler joins WWE's main roster, they don't get booked as the strongest, and eventually, their character becomes forgotten by booking and even the fans too. It may sound difficult for some fans to believe this, but there was a time that an up-and-coming superstar like John Cena got close to getting released by WWE. Although he made an impressive debut against Kurt Angle and even picked up a PPV win over Chris Jericho not long after, it's clear he had no direction regarding his character.
John Cena's character in mid to late-2002 was as generic as it gets. And even though he made an overwhelmingly successful turn-around in his career, many superstars don't have that same opportunity John Cena did. His turn-around meant a lot to his wrestling career because he could've easily gotten lost in the shuffle in a roster that featured the likes of Brock Lesnar, Undertaker, and Edge.
As it later got discovered that John Cena could freestyle, he later adopted a rapping gimmick as a massive character change in late 2002. John Cena didn't get booked to be the most credible superstar right away, but his newly found creative direction led him to gold.
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John Cena's Legendary "Doctor of Thuganomics" persona
One of the best aspects of John Cena's "Doctor of Thuganomics" gimmick is his natural ability to portray a supposed "wannabe" rapper. One must not forget that with his acting ability, John Cena had the right look and attitude that got him over with the fans. John Cena's character as a sharped-tongue lyrical freestyle wrestler helped him stand out from the rest of the roster as he came off as a hip figure in the wrestling world.
Someone with movie star looks and a bad-boy attitude, there's no surprise that fans got behind him. If one were to watch John Cena's early days when he first turned babyface as the "Doctor of Thuganomics," the live crowd would erupt as he used to be almost universally cheered. One of the best examples of this would be the night when he turned babyface on a November 2003 episode of Smackdown, where John Cena was massively over in his hometown.
One should keep in mind that John Cena was still somewhat new around 2003, as being taken seriously along with the other main event-level superstars on Smackdown was an effective way for fans to get invested in an up-and-coming superstar. The fact that John Cena was almost released when he first started his career in WWE and eventually rose to become the face of the company is spectacular.
His quick rise to the main event showcases John Cena's massive charisma, as 2003 was the main turning point for fans to witness how entertaining he can be. And despite John Cena not getting recognized much for his in-ring talent, his charisma helped him thrive in the business of sports entertainment.
John Cena's Credibility In 2003 Was Enormous
One of the most notable differences between 2002 and 2003 for John Cena is his booking regarding his ability to win. After WrestleMania 19, John Cena received his big break by being the first challenger to Brock Lesnar's second WWE Championship reign as he faced him at Backlash 2003. Although he lost, he showed he could compete with Brock Lesnar and those in his league.
It's also worth noting in 2003, John Cena not only wrestled The Undertaker on PPV but also picked up two victories over him that same year. He wrestled matches against Kurt Angle, who he also wrestled on PPV that year, and faced Eddie Guerrero in the infamous Parking Lot Brawl on a September 11, 2003, episode of Smackdown.
The fact that John Cena became a prominent performer on the Smackdown brand in 2003 and was having PPV matches with superstars like The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Kurt Angle presented himself as being on par with those superstars. One of the ways to successfully book a new superstar is by showcasing them as if they're on par with established superstars. They don't necessarily have to win all their match, but it's something that many new wrestlers with potential can benefit from with that type of booking.
