The WWE may boast about NXT and its young talent, but when John Cena leaves, it all goes to hell.

Even the most hardcore Cena haters have to admit, 2015 has belonged to the "Cenation" leader. The 15-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion is a candidate for Superstar of the Year due to the amazing in-ring work he's had throughout 2015, but now the WWE is floundering without its shining star.

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Cena had an entertaining feud with Rusev, managed to make the United States Championship actually feel important through open challenges and five-star caliber matches, engaged in a Feud of the Year candidate with internet darling Kevin Owens, recaptured the United States Championship and had an amazing rivalry with Seth Rollins. It's been quite the year for the face of the franchise.

But now, Cena is off filming the reality show "American Grit" and his absence is felt throughout the WWE Universe, whether his haters like to admit it or not. Sure, the WWE roster has some great talent in the likes of Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus and others, but Cena's departure from the company hovers over Monday Night RAW as a constant reminder of his absence.

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Cena missed all of November and it probably isn't a coincidence that the RAW ratings have plummeted and reached non-holiday record lows in his absence. Sure, the injuries to Seth Rollins, Cesaro and Randy Orton haven't helped and neither have the hiatuses of The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar, but without Cena, the company is lost.

Take the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament. The brackets lacked so much star power that Kalisto of all people was three wins away from winning the richest prize in the game. Yes, Kalisto, the guy who tags with Sin Cara.

If Cena was in the tournament, it would have at least added some legitimacy to the proceedings. The WWE is trying to build up talent through NXT, but thus far, it hasn't quite translated into the next big star on the main roster. And right now, no one is taking the ball and running with it.

The former United State Champion's absence initially seemed like a golden opportunity for someone new to step up and take control of the WWE. Now, however, his leave of absence has become such a problem that Vince McMahon and the WWE executives should dread the day their face of the franchise hangs up his wrestling boots for good.

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