John Cena has undergone a handful of gimmick changes throughout his career, but it was the 'Doctor of Thuganomics' character that ultimately saw him rise from mid-card talent to WWE Champion - and the face of the wrestling industry.

Cena had plenty of segments where he performed freestyle trap, wore backwards hats and metal chains. His old theme song had the catchy 'Basic Thuganomics' lyrics, and the gimmick was extremely popular with the WWE Universe.

But it's been over a decade since the 16-time World Champion went by the 'Doctor of Thuganomics' character. At a recent MegaCon event, Cena talked about the old gimmick and how it still means a lot to him (via Ringside News).

"The rating of our television show changed and I didn’t want to lose my job. But I will say this Thuganomics was started before you were born and I still have my degree and I love that lime in my career. But I also know where we are.

I know the company that I work for and it’s truly an honor seeing a young man like you wearing things that are close to me that I believe in. I liked it then but I really, really like it now."

Cena's character was popular during the WWE's Ruthless Aggression era, but they've transitioned towards a more family-friendly audience over the years. Cena now plays the cartoony comic hero character, using inspirational phrases and interacting with the younger audience more. It works in the PG Era, of course, but there's no denying how much the Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick is missed by many fans.

There was a 2012 episode in Monday Night Raw that saw Cena bring back the gimmick for day, which sparked the crowd.

Unfortunately for WWE fans, it's unlikely the Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick will ever return, despite its massive popularity. WWE has tried to put the "PG" in "PG Era," and they've refused to bring back a handful of popular gimmicks and factions from the Ruthless Aggression Era.

At least we know it still means a lot to Cena. That counts for something.

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