5 WWE Superstars who failed to become the "next John Cena"

John Cena is slowly winding down his WWE career and his appearances are now getting fewer and further in-between. WWE has actually been trying to prepare for a post-John Cena era for years by trying to push Superstars who could one day actually take his place as the top guy.

WWE has finally found Superstars worthy of the role in the likes of Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns but there have been failed experiments over the years. There have been a number of young stars who WWE identified as someone who had to potential to be a top babyface but most of the time, they just didn't work out.

Let's take a look at some of these failed experiments. Some of the Superstars on this list have had spectacular careers in WWE but they just didn't fit the mould of the 'next John Cena'.

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#5. Mr. Kennedy/Anderson

WWE had big plans for Ken Anderson

By all accounts, WWE had huge plans for Mr. Kennedy as a top babyface but it all went wrong so fast. Vince McMahon himself was a big fan and according to rumours, Kennedy was supposed to be the one originally set to be revealed as Vince McMahon's illegitimate son but was suspended for a Wellness Policy violation at that critical stage and Hornswoggle was revealed to be Vince's son instead.

Kennedy was released from WWE in 2009 after Randy Orton accused Kennedy of being unsafe to work with. Kennedy later said that John Cena has also played a part in his release:

“And I think Cena had a hand in that too. Like, Cena helped out, and he said, ‘hey, we need to go to Vince.’ I didn’t get along with him too well.”

Kennedy looked set for a career as a top guy in WWE and a lot of fans called him the 'next John Cena'. Sadly, it all amounted to so little in the end.

#4. Ted DiBiase Jr

Ted DiBiase Jr

WWE had high hopes for Ted DiBisase Jr and to be fair, his career started with a bang as part of Legacy with Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. DiBiase Jr was someone people began to talk about as a future WWE Champion and as someone who could become one of the faces of WWE.

However, it all went wrong after Legacy broke up. Orton came out on top at WrestleMania and DiBiase's momentum fizzled out as WWE failed to do anything meaningful with him.

#3 The Miz

The Miz

The Miz has really come into his own as one of the most popular Superstars in WWE in the past few years. He's one of the best on the mic and is consistently entertaining. However, The Miz has always worked better as a babyface which is a far cry from the role that WWE had hope for him - as a clean-cut babyface more along the lines of PG era John Cena.

#2 Sheamus

Sheamus and Cesaro

Sheamus was once considered a top babyface prospect and even though he's had an amazing career in WWE, he didn't quite become the 'next John Cena' which WWE had hoped for.

Sheamus is still one of the most decorated Superstars of the modern era. He's a 4-time world champion, 5-time tag-team champion and a former Royal Rumble winner.

#1 Ryback

Ryback

Ryback was all set to break out as a huge babyface but something went really wrong somewhere along the line. Ryback was mowing down anyone who stood in his path after his debut and quickly gained a 38-match winning streak with comparisons to Goldberg obviously taking place. He was also being called as someone who could steer the company in the post-Cena era.

John Cena himself put Ryback over during his feud against CM Punk but this was the peak of Ryback's career in WWE. He seemed like more of an afterthought following this and his terrible heel turn did not help.