#5 – John Bradshaw Layfield
John Cena's monumental success and future Hall of Fame status is owed, in no small part, to a Texas brawler turned New York City business tycoon named John Bradshaw Layfield. From 2004 to 2005 JBL was the ultimate villain. He put bull horns on a stretch limousine, bragged about his fine suits, and proclaimed himself a "wrestling god" – Layfield even had his own Cabinet comprised of equally annoying personalities to back him up at all times. He took advantage of Smackdown's large Hispanic demographic to police the border between the United States and Mexico, and brutally assaulted the beloved Eddie Guerrero to become the most hated man of his era.
Had it not been for JBL it is likely Cena still would have become a mega star, but his rise to the top would not have come with such ease, and such rabid support from the WWE Universe. It's hard to imagine now, with all the dueling "let's go Cena – Cena sucks" chants and cities like Chicago and New Jersey calling for his head, but once upon a time John was seen as something of a messiah for the Smackdown brand. His first world title win, his first WrestleMania main event, the spinner belt, his status as a big time star – all products of his first major feud with John Bradshaw Layfield.
