Different strokes for different folks. I personally thoughtTaker/Kane was a bland feud outside of 1997/1998, HBK and Taker had classic matches but I don't remember their rivalry to be classic, and I barely remember the Hogan/Savage rivalry outside of their Wrestlemania match and a little bit of their WCW/nWo feud.
Those were definitely the shakiest of the ones I named, hence their placement at the end, but I still find them all to be much more memorable than Cena/Orton.
Show me a promo from that feud on par with Savage's promos on Hogan during their WM build.
What happened during Cena/Orton that was as hype as Kane setting Taker's casket on fire, Taker's return promo sitting up from a casket and challenging Kane, that suicide dive over the flames onto Kane & Vader, and the WM 20 build up and return?
HBK/Taker had 2-3 great matches over a long term period, have Cena/Orton even had one that could be described as "great"? They've had good matches, sure, but nothing GREAT that I've seen. The rivalry outside of that wasn't classic, had some good heel promos by Shawn in 97 that blew away anything I've seen from Orton or Cena on the mic though.
That's how you feel but Cena drew more money than Mysterio and Eddy combined and more than Shawn or Bret, and has had a longer run as #1 than anyone you listed
You think they're corny the same way as a kid I thought Harley race was jojo as fukk and Freddie blassie was just some old guy. Cena ain't for you but he isn't trash, at all.
I was speaking strictly on a quality basis, although that brings up a good point about top 5 career rivalry criteria and drawing money.
That being said, Cena is positioned as a top guy because of his look and work ethic, not because of the quality of his character and promos, or ring-work. Gimmick and promo-wise he's way below prime Rock/Austin/Flair/Dusty/Savage/Eddie/Kurt. He can have good matches with the right opponents, but he's no Shawn/Bret/Kurt/Eddie by any stretch of the imagination.
I'm open to being proven wrong if you can post some good promos or great matches from the Cena/Orton rivalry.
That was an incredibly boring, unmemorable and contrived rivalry.
