I've been thinking about this for a long time now, and I figure now is the perfect time to address it. Approximately one year ago, the mega-pushes of both John Cena and Batista began. After Randy Orton's failed face turn, the fans slowly began backing Batista. After being set in a nice feud, slowly built to give everyone a nice pay off at WrestleMania, Batista's career jumped into full speed, and he hasn't looked back since. Prior to that, he was only semi over, and the fans really didn't connect with him because he was quiet, had no personality and was the least pushed of the members of Evolution. He was there to do one thing, and that was look intimidating. Nobody gave a shit. From 2003 until late 2004, that was his role. To be the silent enforcer.

In the same period of time, John Cena was majorly hyped as the future of the WWE (alongside Randy Orton of course) and in early 2003, his career began to take shape. He was an awesome heel and his in ring skills made more sense. He actually worked hard to entertain. The fans eventually grew to like him, and he turned face. That's when the overpush began. He rose to the WWE Title, because it's what the fans wanted.

At the very same time, only two men were being looked at as the future (three if you count Randy Orton) and it was Batista and John Cena. They both captured the two top titles in WWE at WrestleMania 21, and for the remainder of the next three months, both men continued the feuds they were involved in leading into WrestleMania. Batista busy with Triple H and Cena detained with JBL. Each feud remained entertaining, and the matches weren't too bad, and each feud was ended on a good note. Cena defeated JBL in an awesome I Quit match at Judgment Day and Batista defeated Triple H at Vengeance in a Hell in the Cell match.

Following those feuds, they swapped shows, to keep fresh. Cena was set to feud with Christian, but they moved Christian to SmackDown. Instead, Cena entered a feud with Jericho, and as soon as that ended, he entered a feud with Kurt Angle. It was around this time that the fans turned against Cena. At SummerSlam, the fans were completely behind Jericho and the boos began to rear their ugly heads. Since feuding with Kurt Angle, Cena's fanbase has been exposed completely. Females. Young ones at that, but they're females. Key examples, would be during a recent match with Shelton Benjamin, the crowd was split.

"LETS GO CENA!" - Women.

"LETS GO SHELTON" - Men.

And it was obvious, you can hear the bass in the voice of all the males in the audience in comparison to the voice of the females. The wrestling profession sends out to the 18 to 35 male demographic. 15 year old girls aren't really the main target, especially with all the T and A.

Meanwhile, Batista has remained popular. Even after a lackluster feud with JBL in the summer, he remained popular for the following reasons:

- He wasn't overpushed. His main weaknesses are his mic skills, even though they've massively improved this year. He was given to us in just the right amount. One or two backstage segments, and a match. He was made to have weaknesses, even though he's a monster. John Cena hasn't been made to look weak at all this year.

- Connection with the fans. John Cena can rap, big deal. It doesn't mean that everyone wants to know or hear about it. In 2003, it worked. He was heel, and it made more sense. Thug rapper who just doesn't give a fuck. In 2006, the fans are tired of it. They don't buy into it. Someone who preached thug and street credibility is NOT credible when his music video shows him hanging in the suburbs with his family. Batista has remained popular because he's cool, laid back, doesn't give a damn and just wants to beat the fuck out of those who are in his way.

Both men are still World Champion, and probably will be until or possibly past WrestleMania, but is it the right choice? In one year, Cena has failed in keeping the crowd wondering what's next. Now you ask, well it's because you're a member of the IWC, and it's your duty to hate anything that's not TNA or RoH. That's not true. I am supportive of WWE, because I desperately want their product to improve their product. You say, well if you were a mark, you'd love John Cena. Not true.

I am not a big fan of rap music. I like it, but it's not something that'd keep my interest all the time. It doesn't hold my interest. I was once a fan of John Cena. He was new, fresh, innovating and entertaining. Now he's boring, stale and repetitive and it shows.

As for Batista, he's been in the same boat as Cena for a year. Champion and one of the men to help carry the company. You can debate his success, but he's been more succesful than Cena. Maybe not in merchandise sells, but as far as doing his job and remaining in the babyface alignment, he's done far better than John Cena.

At WrestleMania, it's safe to assume that Cena and Batista will walk into the event as Champions of their respective brand, but on the grandest stage of 'em all, the question is, who will have ended their year on a major success?

My vote goes to Dave Batista.

Very well written comparison and detailed explanationof the success and failures of Batista and Cena, and I can't agree more. While I'm not longer much on Batista's band wagon, I don't mind him as champ, and don't detest seeing him every week. Right now, Cena is getting X-pac heat from me. I just want him to go the fuck away from TV for about 5 years.

Definately Batista, I just haven't grown tired of him as I have with Cena. The stuff you said about Cena was true. Most of his fans are girls, he's too invincible and his act is so stale as a face.

The sad thing is, that if Smackdown's roster wasn't so fucking depleated by injuries and whatnot................Batista would have had a better run. Imagine if Eddie wouldn't have died or if they would have been able to push Rey as a super face to face Batista. That alone would make his run MUCH better than Cena's considering the only match I was REALLY into since Cena got the title was him vs. JBL from Judgement Day. I mean, Cena's stuff vs. Angle was alright................but we had to stomach it for PPV after PPV when it was pretty much irrelevant.

I think it would help if they quit trying to turn Cena into the Rock.

Honestly, I think WWE could learn from TNA when it comes to heels getting cheered. Joe is over huge with the Impact Zone crowd, but it's because he's a heel. They haven't turned him just because he gets a good pop. They somehow realize that people like heels too. Take a flippin' hint, Vince