All Rise...

Judge Paul Pritchard is in desperate need of an attitude adjustment.

The Charge

"The Champ is here!"

The Case

John Felix Anthony Cena, known simply as John Cena to fans of the WWE Universe, is arguably the most divisive face in the history of professional wrestling. Barring a relatively brief stint as the heelish Doctor of Thuganomics, Cena has largely been cast as the modern-day Hulk Hogan, preaching the virtues of hustle, loyalty, and respect. His message to "rise above hate" and "never give up" has seen him become the hero for millions of children around the world, and his clean-cut ways mark him as good a role model as possible for a wrestler.

And yet, from 2006 onwards, Cena has gotten more heat from fans than anyone in the industry. The booing that frequently greets his entrance can be deafening, and the placards stating, "If Cena Wins, We Riot!" succinctly sum up the level of hatred felt by fans towards a wrestler who has done nothing but do the right thing.

John Cena suffers for the WWE; more accurately: John Cena suffers for the current state of the WWE. Lacking the multitude of heroes and villains that marked the Ruthless Aggression Era (and formerly the Attitude Era) into which he first entered the WWE as a cocky rookie in a match with Kurt Angle, Cena has been left to carry the company alone in the absence of a Rock, or Stone Cold Steve Austin to step in and take the weight from his shoulders. As such, while only an idiot would ever say they hate Cena the man, Cena the character has become a cliché; an invincible superman (or SuperCena, as he is often called), who overcomes any opponent with his patented five moves of doom.

This latest collection from the WWE perfectly sums up John Cena's current conundrum, as each match follows a similar formula with Cena repeatedly taking a beating, only to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat time and time again.

• John Cena vs. Chris Jericho
This match, from the 2008 Armageddon PPV, is for the World Heavyweight Championship, and sees Jericho cast as the heel. There are few better technical wrestlers than Chris Jericho, and he brings a charisma to the wrestling ring that few today can match. This bout really picks up in the final third, as the two men unleash a barrage of signature moves, including a beautifully executed "Code Breaker" by Jericho. Cena gets the win, obviously—it's his DVD after all—but puts in a solid effort here to retain his title.

• John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels
Survivor Series 2009 is the setting for this triple threat match for the WWE Championship. Right from the off, this match delivers, thanks to a little "Sweet Chin Music" from Michaels. Despite Michaels and Triple H entering the ring together as part of the DX stable, this match really is an example of everyman for himself, as underhand tactics are employed repeatedly, leading to a bout that sees the momentum swing from one wrestler to another. Set against two more accomplished wrestlers, Cena brings a steely determination, not to mention a freakish strength that his fans so love.

• John Cena vs. Randy Orton
A Superstar of the Year match, from the December 11, 2009, episode of Raw, this bout casts the two biggest stars from the current era against each other. This match is in real need of an injection of pace, and frequently suffers as both one or both men lie prostrate on the mat. Orton controls the majority of the match, with Cena coming to life just in time to claim the victory.

• John Cena vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz
The final match in this set is from Extreme Rules 2011, and is a triple threat match for the WWE Championship. Cena finds himself battling for the title against the exciting parkour-influenced style of John Morrison and the brash, self-proclaimed "Awesome One," The Miz. Not a classic matchup by any estimation, this is still entertaining stuff, with a little outside interference, some big bumps, and a high-risk finale.

Taken from the HD broadcasts, this DVD delivers the usual slick looks you'd expect from a WWE release. As always the 5.1 soundtrack is crystal clear. No extras are included on this release.

Taking into account that this release is aimed at the younger Cena fan, who may not have enough pocket money saved for one of the big three-disc sets, the disappointing lack of content, particularly the lack of any exclusive content, is offset somewhat by the low price of this set.

The Verdict

Not guilty.

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