John Cena Is the Right Guy to Elevate WWE Champion Bobby Lashley to a New Level

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The recent rumor and innuendo surrounding the return of John Cena to WWE as the company returns to fan-filled arenas on July 16, sparked by Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com, has prompted fans to imagine what a dream match between the 16-time world champ and current Universal champion Roman Reigns may look like.

While there is no denying the magnitude of that match and what it would mean for a SummerSlam pay-per-view that will rank among the most significant in recent memory just because of the return of an audience to the stands, the future Hall of Famer can be better utilized to help elevate a different champion and enhance and entire brand at the same time.

Making WWE Raw Great Again

Monotony and repetition have bred indifference on the Raw brand, a sentence that sounds incredibly weird to type. The red brand is the flagship of WWE, it most historically significant and storied television property. It has been home to the most unforgettable moments in the company’s long and illustrious history and was, at least in previous years, destination programming for fans.

Even if you didn’t watch anything else pro wrestling-related, you tuned in to see what was happening on Raw.

That is not the case any longer. Despite tremendous efforts from Drew McIntyre as the new face of the brand, and an immensely talented supporting cast, the show is a shell of its former self. If needs a spark in the worst way and there is no better way to get fans to sit up and take notice of Raw than by bringing Cena back to the fold on Monday nights.

Instantly, what has felt very much like a missable show will carry some significance. 

Once one of the most polarizing stars in WWE, there was never any denying the fact that Cena brought emotion and energy to whichever show he appeared on. He was the undeniable biggest star on the program and almost certainly would be again.

His interactions with Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, Braun Strowman, AJ Styles, The New Day, and even Riddle would do a great deal to boost the relevancy of a brand very quickly being left in the dust by SmackDown, which is in the midst of its hottest streak in decades.

It is one interaction in particular that will not only elevate Raw but elevate the man at the top of it, leaving the show in better shape than it was prior to the return of Cena to the fold. 

Making The All Mighty

Bobby Lashley is the current WWE champion and why he has held up his end of the deal. He is turning in some of the best performances of his entire career and has most definitely rediscovered his confidence as a performer after a rocky few years back with the company.

Imagine what working with Cena would do for his credibility, though. Picture what it would mean to Lashley as world champion to work with a pop culture phenomenon and Hollywood star. Now, think about what it would mean for The All Mighty to beat him.

Lashley has gained momentum by beating McIntyre and Strowman in consecutive pay-per-view title defenses but it would be an entirely different boost to his legitimacy if he could knock off Cena. Considering Raw needs someone besides McIntyre and Orton with some cred amongst longtime fans, that feels very much like the best option for the brand at this point.

And there is precedence for the match to happen.

In 2007, Cena defended the very same title against Lashley at the Great American Bash. The loss at that event paved the way for Lashley’s exit from the company for 11 years and could very easily serve as the last demon the current champion has to exorcise from his closet.

We have seen over on SmackDown what happens when there is a credible heel champion. Roman Reigns has been extraordinary and is helping to elevate talent around him as a result. WWE needs to get Lashley to that level and working with Cena, and beating him to continue his reign as champion, is the best way to make that happen.

Not only does the performer need him, as does the brand he reigns over.

SmackDown is already rich creatively and talent-wise. Raw desperately needs the spark Cena provides and could see a renaissance with both his and fans’ returns to arenas this summer.