THOUGHTS | JOHN CENA'S CROSS RHODES REACTION

WWE

I just watched the last SmackDown before WrestleMania 41, and while I’m into the idea of Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena, I’m not exactly giddy about how they’re building it.

More importantly, I’m not a fan of Cena selling the Cross Rhodes, as if it’s a move that can knock someone unconscious for a full minute.

I get how the move could feel devastating, especially if Cody hits it three times in a row, kind of like Eddie Guerrero’s Three Amigos suplex or Chris Benoit’s trio of German suplexes. The rolling cutter, much like those suplexes, has traditionally been a transition move. To Cody’s credit, though, he makes the third Cross Rhodes look like a DDT, which I’ve always loved as a finisher. (And much like the Canadian Destroyer, the DDT has been overused to the point where it feels like just another signature move.)

There’s a reason most wrestlers dropped the DDT as a finisher: it lost its impact over time.

For what it’s worth, the first time I saw the Cross Rhodes used as a finisher was by Reno in WCW’s Natural Born Thrillers. After that, guys like Test, Carlito, and Damian Priest also used it before moving on to better-looking finishers. Veer even had a brief monster run on Raw using a theatrical version of it.

But maybe my biggest issue is how Cena oversells the move. Twice now, he’s been laid out by it — not just planted, but prone, completely stiff. If you watch most of Cody’s matches, his opponents usually land with their arms and legs splayed out like an X. Cena, though, sells it like he’s been legitimately knocked cold, almost like Ricky Hatton after getting KO’d by Manny Pacquiao.

And then there’s Cena’s physical state. Hollywood clearly forced him to tone down his look. His once-bulging physique isn’t bulging anymore. He’s got wrinkles, his tan’s faded, and he’s even got a bald spot. This is supposed to be his farewell tour — not just because he’s moving on from wrestling, but because he’s 47 years old.

Instead of dropping like an “X” after taking the Cross Rhodes, Cena just drops like a small letter "x." In some ways, it's almost an “I” — straight and stiff. It’s the complete opposite of how The Rock used to sell Stone Cold’s Stunner, flopping around with gusto.

So, whether Cena wins the title or loses it, how are we supposed to take the match seriously when he sells a move — that needed three straight hits to beat guys like Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins — like it’s an instant kill shot after just one?