It's easy to look at John Cena and LeBron James and say they're nothing alike. Cena is maybe 6'1", somewhere just under 250 pounds, a white guy from West Newbury, Massachusetts who went into professional wrestling. James is about the same weight, give or take, packed onto a huge 6’7”-ish frame, and he’s a black guy from Akron, Ohio who went into basketball. On a daily basis, John Cena goes into predetermined battle with opponents ranging from seven foot, quarter ton giants to the shortest of men with the biggest of hearts. LeBron James goes into legitimate battle with a similar cast of Davids and Goliaths, albeit for about two-thirds of the time Cena does every year. Cena is pushing 40 years old but still managing to put on some of the best matches of his career, and James is 31 with likely a few years left to dominate before his performance drops off.

While there aren't many similarities in their basic profiles, you start to uncover more of them the deeper you dig. You start to see how they came up as students of the game with a dream to make it, how they broke into the spotlight, carried their franchise, and faced endless criticism, all while trying to live up to the legacies of larger than life bonafide Superstars.

John Cena was a wrestling fan very early on in his life, as evidenced by the numerous WWE videos showcasing, among other things, his homemade championship belts. Coming from athletic genes, his grandfather being baseball's Ulysses Lupien, he tried his hand at other sports before getting into wrestling, becoming an All-American center on Springfield College's football team.

LeBron James was introduced to basketball very early on by the athlete in his life, football coach Frank Walker. He also tried his hand at football, playing wide receiver and garnering success.

John got his start in wrestling soon after graduating from college, joining the WWE's version of the D-League, Ohio Valley Wrestling, after a quick stint with Ultimate Pro Wrestling. He developed his skills there much as one would in high school, having learned the basics prior but needing fine-tuning. In the case of pro wrestling, this entails creating a character and a unique set of moves used to entertain the crowd (and ostensibly, win the match). He developed into a star with the help of genetics, hard work, and good coaching.

LeBron got his start in basketball soon after his stint in AAU, attending St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. He developed his skills there, having learned the basics prior but needing fine-tuning. In the case of basketball, this entails creating a niche within or between positions and a unique set of moves used to win games (and incidentally, entertain the crowd). He developed into a star with the help of genetics, hard work, and good coaching.

One more difference between the two is that when Cena first burst onto the scene, no one saw him as the star he would end up becoming. His character was that of a streetwise rapper, not exactly the man you expect to lead a multimillion dollar company. He had a low ceiling that he constantly pushed up on until it was as high as it could go, pulling his floor up with him.

On the other hand, James was crowned king before he was even out of high school. Strong, determined, and skilled, he was a future star, that much was plain to see. He was given the loftiest of expectations and had to live up to them.

As John Cena developed his character and moveset, he evolved from “the Prototype” to “the Doctor of Thuganomics” to the military-inspired, value-holding man he is now, preaching the doctrine of Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect. His opponents started out as mid-card characters like Billy Kidman and Carlito, fighting for the United States Championship, and then he found himself fighting for the WWE Championship against the likes of Kurt Angle, JBL, and Chris Jericho.

As LeBron James continued his development, he evolved from a prince to a king. His Cavaliers put up a 35-47 record in his first season and missed the playoffs before he could finally lead them there in the 2005-6 season. The very next year, the Cavaliers made the Finals only to be swept by the Spurs. While he did not win the big one then, he had already made his mark.

After a title win, WWE Superstars can end up sliding down the card until they’re back to where they started, fighting mid-level opponents for essentially a bronze medal. Cena, however, managed to stay in the main event from 2005 until 2015, with a small lapse from 2010-1 and occasional breaks for injury (rarely more than a few weeks or months, and always returning far ahead of schedule).

After a championship win, NBA teams can end up sliding down the rankings until they’re middle of the road, fighting for a playoff position. James, however, managed to continuously improve his game and his Cavaliers, keeping them a strong threat from 2006 until 2010, when he made the Decision to move to the Miami Heat.

This is where James’ path differs from Cena’s, in that Cena is a company man through and through by all accounts. He never strayed from the WWE, never tested the waters of free agency, and no one ever heard so much as a rumor of a jump to TNA or NJPW. This difference is easily explained, because John Cena’s relationship with the WWE was mutually beneficial whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers needed LeBron James, while LeBron James did not need Cleveland. The WWE is the most popular and richest wrestling company in the world; it is a great platform for any wrestler skilled with talking, wrestling, or both. Almost every wrestler in the world would do anything for a chance at even a low-level position with the WWE. The Cleveland Cavaliers were not the WWE, especially not in 2010. They are not the most popular team, they don’t have the best owner, they don’t have the best coach, they don’t have the best players. Other teams had and have more to offer than Cleveland in some or all of those areas. LeBron James chose to leave his home to go to the Miami Heat, a team with a better owner, a better coach, and better players. You could compare this to Hulk Hogan’s rise in a sense; Hulk was one of the building blocks of the WWE and then jumped ship to WCW for greater success with an owner more willing to shell out money, a very different creative situation, and arguably a hotter roster.

LeBron, along with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and the rest of the Miami Heat, went to four straight NBA Finals, winning two back to back. While only averaging around 18 points in a losing series against the Dallas Mavericks, he improved his game alongside the legendary Hakeem Olajuwon and dominated the 2012 playoffs. He went from dropping 40 points along with 18 rebounds and 9 assists against the Pacers to scoring 45 on the Celtics to hitting a game winner in Game 4 against the Thunder in the Finals, followed by a triple double to cap off the series. Averaging almost 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, LeBron tremendously improved on last year's performance and was rewarded for his tenacity with a championship ring. In the next year, his teammates struggled to match their output from the last year, so LeBron had to go back to his "Cleveland days" and take over as the lone star. In a rematch against the Spurs from his very first Finals appearance, he achieved two triple doubles and scored 37 points in the deciding Game 7 to win his second championship. His next Finals didn't go as well, and while he improved on his averages in the series, the Spurs got their win back and won it all. Despite his misleading 2-2 record in the finals, it's important to note that making the Finals even once is a huge accomplishment. Most players never climb that high up the mountain. To plant your flag in the top of the mountain is even more rare and the fact that LeBron and his Heat were able to do it twice and get that high four times in a row is nothing short of spectacular. He jumped ship to do it, but he gave the game his all and proved that he is one of the best to ever do it.

LeBron's continued success with the Heat is reminiscent of John's success in the mid-2000s through to the 2010s. He racked up fifteen heavyweight championship reigns as well as five United States Championship reigns, four tag team championships with four different partners, two Royal Rumble victories, one Money in the Bank briefcase, and ten Slammy Awards (including two for Match of the Year). Outside of kayfabe (the idea that pro wrestling is a legitimate fight with winners and losers uncertain) accomplishments, he's garnered accolades from the notoriously smarky Wrestling Observer Newsletter including but not limited to Best Box Office Draw, Feud of the Year, Match of the Year (also a five-star match), Wrestler of the Year, and Most Charismatic of the Decade. John didn't jump ship to do it, but he gave the game his all and proved that he is one of the best to ever do it.

After finally accomplishing his dream of winning the NBA championship not only once, but twice, the kid from Akron made his way back home to Cleveland. Offseason moves added Kevin Love to the roster, and along with Kyrie Irving, Cleveland had their own version of the Big 3. In his fifth consecutive finals, a streak unmatched since the 1960s, the Cavaliers fell to the Golden State Warriors after a six game series. LeBron performed so well that many thought he was deserving of the Finals MVP award, which has only been won by a member of the losing team once (Lakers legend Jerry West was the very first Finals MVP back in 1969, after losing Game 7 to the Celtics). The next season, 2015-6, LeBron led the Cavs to a 57-25 record and the top of the Eastern Conference. The Warriors in the West posted a 73-9 record that has never been matched in NBA history, the next best being the Chicago Bulls' 72-10 season in 1995-6. As both teams made their way to the Finals, the stage was set for another epic rematch. The heavily-favored Warriors made quick work of the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trailblazers, dispatching both teams in 4-1 series, but the Oklahoma City Thunder put up a serious fight, bringing the series to 7 games by winning Games 1, 3, and 4. A three-game streak of wins brought Golden State above OKC and into the Finals. The Cavs made even quicker work of their opponents, taking out the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks in four games each before needing six to take down the Toronto Raptors. We all know how the Finals began this year, with the Warriors winning the first two games handily and everyone counting on Cleveland coming up short yet again against GSW in the finals. This time though, instead of laying down and dying, LeBron and his Cavs took Game 3 by thirty points. They lost once more to Golden State, but that would be their last loss. Much like the Warriors did in the previous round, they took over three straight games to win the series. They won in Golden State by 15, they won in Cleveland by 14, and then they won again in Golden State (by 4 points, the closest game of the series by far) to defeat the reigning champions and cement their legacy. Championships and stats are the numbers that stand the test of time in the NBA, and watching LeBron's performance this year shows you why LeBron's one of the greatest and a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer.

During and after his championship reigns, the kid from West Newbury improved his game and put on a career's worth of big matches. From Kurt Angle, JBL, and the Rock to CM Punk, Shawn Michaels, and Seth Rollins, Cena came out night after night and, win or loss, against any opponent, entertained the thousands in attendance and millions watching around the world while telling a story through both his words and his actions. There's not as much detail to go into with Cena's career as there is with James', as LeBron's accomplishments were earned through legitimate competition and not scripted events, as opposed to John's going the other way around. Championships and main event appearances may be the numbers that stand the test of time in the WWE, but watching almost any of his big matches shows you why John's one of the greatest and a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer.

Most recently, John faced AJ Styles on June 19 at Money in the Bank. The WWE stalwart came up short against a challenge from the man who jumped from the house he built to greener pastures. Fans questioned whether Cena was up to the challenge, considering his opponent had less mileage and a more diverse offense, not to mention AJ's supporting cast that could take John out in his stead.

Most recently, LeBron and his Cavs defeated Steph Curry and his Warriors in the NBA Finals. The roles were reversed here, with the Golden State stalwart coming up short against a challenge from the man who jumped from the house he built to greener pastures (and then back to his house). Fans questioned whether the Cavs were up to the challenge, considering their opponents had less mileage and a more diverse offense, not to mention Curry's supporting cast that could take LeBron out in his stead.

Interestingly, their paths have crossed a few times before. Cena challenged James to a match in 2015, while doing press for Trainwreck, which they were both in.

This last part didn’t really fit anywhere else but the end, so I left it here. John Cena entered the WWE just after the end of the Attitude Era, a period where the larger than life characters of the past met the reality TV-inspired “real” characters of the ‘90s. Gone were the men from junkyards, gone were the men with birds and snakes, almost entirely supplanted by characters who just played up aspects of their real personas. Stone Cold Steve Austin wasn’t anything supernatural or superhuman, he just drank beer and hated his boss. The Rock wasn’t an unrealistic character, he just had the gift of gab. Wrestling was trending toward realism, and John Cena was one of the many caught up in the trend. Much in the same way that Stone Cold and the Rock were not as unbelievable as those that came before them, people like Rey Mysterio, Batista, Kurt Angle, and Chris Benoit were even less out there. Characters on the whole were believable people. While this helped the WWE keep some vestige of kayfabe, it also meant that it was that much harder to get over (become popular) with an audience. It’s easy to root for a Hulk, or a Macho Man. A Canadian Crippler has to work to win over the audience. John Cena was one of the few that managed to shine through the Ruthless Aggression era and become a true crossover superstar the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Rock. John had to step his game up to be able to stand out as much as the greats of the past did. It wasn't enough to put on great promos night in and night out, everyone did that. You have to do great promo work and put on four- or five-star matches and do more charity work than anyone before you or after you. You need a multifaceted approach to becoming legendary, and John found his.

LeBron entered the NBA just after the end of Michael Jordan's career, a period where there was really only one great one. Where almost no one before and surely no one after could possibly be the GOAT. Great players came and left, but none bar Kobe could lay claim to being the greatest and not be laughed out of a room. LeBron had to step his game up to be able to stand out as much as the greats of the past did. It isn't enough to average 27 points, Jordan averaged 30. You have to average 27 points and 7 rebounds and 7 assists. You need a multifaceted approach to becoming legendary, and LeBron found his.

tl;dr: In short, LeBron James and John Cena developed a smart and versatile game in order to rise up from the middle of the pack to achieve fame, fortune, and championship success through hard work and dedication, as well as managing to utilize their unique combinations of skill and charisma to make stars out of themselves in an era overshadowed by greats of the recent past.

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