I decided to take a chance, and watched the premiere of "American Grit", Fox's new reality show. It's one thing to be in the cast of a reality show that comes across as more soap opera than anything else spooned out by his employers at WWE, but for John Cena, he had a different kind of issue to deal with, and that's the poor track record of WWE superstars and reality TV.
Chris Jericho placed dead last on Fox's "Celebrity Duets" 10 years ago, then finished in the top 10 on "Dancing With The Stars" just a couple of years ago, not quite as high as Stacy Keibler (3rd place in the winter-spring of '06), but a better showing than on "Duets". The two "game shows" he emceed lasted one season each, and who knows if he'll be asked to helm "Tough Enough" again if/when WWE and/or USA want to bring it back again.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had two reality shows for TNT, and each lasted one season. Stone Cold Steve Austin seems immune to the stigma, as "Redneck Island" and "Broken Skull Challenge" have been winners for CMT. Trish Stratus' run on "Armed & Famous" was cut short when CBS gave up on the show fairly quickly.
The same fate befell Cena before he was called up in 2002. The preceding summer, he'd been cast as Tim, the lead hunter on UPN's "Manhunt", which was such a bomb that Vince McMahon disavowed any involvement. You'd think that considering "Total Divas" is still going strong about 3 years in, that "American Grit" would pick up some of its audience.
It didn't.
The fast nationals came out earlier today, and "Grit" finished 4th in its time slot. Not good.
So what's the problem?
Cena fatigue. Nearly 14 years into his stint in WWE after being called up in June 2002, viewers have grown tired of the former champ, which would explain the decline I've read of in "Total Divas"' recent ratings. He's got a future as a narrator or announcer after his in-ring career is over, but he might consider waiting a bit before taking his next outside-the-ring venture.
Like about five years.
Nothing against the guy, whose work ethic is non-pareil, but the shift in fan interest is moving away from the vanilla heroes like Cena. Been there, seen that. Vince McMahon's obsession with finding the successor to Cena has seen fans turn their backs on Roman Reigns as well, but that's another story for another time.
I wanted to use this space to talk up independent wrestler Cam Zagami, who hails from Triple H's home state of New Hampshire, and who is a contestant on "Grit". Zagami has wrestled for a local indy in my area, so that piqued my interest. It may be the only reason I'd stick with "Grit", though I suspect it will be one season and done.
I reviewed "Grit" for one of my other blogs, and gave it a grade of B. It's a mix of "Survivor", "Tough Enough" (which Zagami tried out for last year), and "Broken Skull", among other things, but there's just too much Cena. Host/narrator/announcer/head cheerleader/executive producer. Too many hats, and too much screen time. No wonder folks turned away.
Maybe Cena should've sat down with Austin for some advice before launching "Grit".
