As for the Cena question, Matysik first considered not putting Cena in at all; but reconsidered and did so. Selling power alone is not enough to get you to top of his list - and you have to take into account whether Cena would be so effective in, for example, the pre-televised, shoot era. Things like that. I think his place is fair.
The hardest thing about ranking is when people try to rank by comparing different eras which is absurd. To say Cena wouldn't be effective in the pre-televised, shoot era is absolutely BS simply because Cena didn't grow up nor wrestle in that era. Would he beat a Lou Thesz, Strangler Lewis, Gotch or Hackenschmidt in a straight up shoot? No, but if that's the case, neither would guys like Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, or Steve Austin who all have absolutely no background in shooting. Also, if we do the same to a Lou Thesz, Strangler Lewis, Hackenschmidt or Gotch and put them on TV today, I'd be willing to go as far as to say they might not be nothing more than mid-carders at best.
Larry was a St. Louis/Sam Muchnick product and the bias due to Sam Muchnik is strong and I say that as a friend of Sam's nephew, Irv who I have had continued correspondence with for the past 10 years. Irv Muchnick and I actually corresponded alot over the past two years and numerous times over the phone since the Snuka/Argentino case finally picked up some steam.
Sam Muchnick, for those who don't know, was a long time strong hold of the NWA and was its President on and off for a total of around 25 years hence the strong dislike for the WWWF/WWF/WWE and Vince McMahon. Anyone who was with the NWA was glad to see Vince Sr get back aboard the NWA umbrella circa 1964-1965 only to see it fall back apart. And then once Vince Jr took over, that was the nail in the coffin for the NWA and alot of the old timers absolutely hated Vince Jr for it, and maybe rightfully so but that has caused alot of the old timers, and anyone who had close ties to the old timers (NWA guys), have a great disgust for Vince Jr and, to a lesser degree, Vince Sr. Also, Larry bought Sam Muchnick out later as well taking over the St. Louis territory.
Having not read the book, I'm willing to bet this book came out after the WWE's 50 Greatest List and I'm willing to bet anything that Matysik went after the WWE and their list, or compared his list to theirs. That's the problem is guys don't try to build these lists objectively and without biases, they build their lists with biases in mind. Having read Larry's two other books, I have a fairly good understanding of they type of writer he is and he's a great historian with great knowledge but again, the good old days seem to be better.
One last thing, I have Thesz in my top 5 all time (NA wrestlers), I don't have Strangler Lewis in my top 5 but definitely in my top 25, maybe top 20, and I don't think anyone in their right mind would have Strangler Lewis #3 and I'm a Wisconsin guy. To those that don't know, here's another history lesson:
Lou Thesz is very deserving of a #1, I have no qualms with anyone who puts Thesz at number one for American wrestling GOATs. These lists are are fairly subjective and legit arguments could be made for a guy like Thesz, Sammartino, Hogan and maybe even possibly Flair and even Austin but that would mean those 5 guys are likely to take the top 5 spots which leads me to...
Ed "Strangler" Lewis. The man was a legit stud, stretcher and hooker extraordinaire. He knew how to shoot and hooking was his expertise so he was one those guys who knew his stuff, and in his day, he needed it. This is back in the 20s-40s when wrestling was a work but shoots were very common especially when one felt disrespected either by their oppenent or the promoter they were working for, or the territory they were visiting. So you can't take any of that away from him and as I stated, I'd have him top 25. Anyhow, outside of his actual shooting and hooking ability, Strangler Lewis was born and raised in a small town in WI and spent most of his time wrestling in Midwest and when Sam Munchnick decided to start his own little promotion after the turn of World War 2, he reached out to Strangler Lewis to help him draw his crowds since Lewis was a big name at the time, especially in the Midwest.
That, to me, is why I believe Larry has Strangler Lewis in at #3; his ties to Sam Munchnick and the St. Louis territory. And of course, Lou Thesz is Strangler Lewis's protege and the first big star of St. Louis.
Much like the WWE, it's hard to take Larry's list too serious simply because he put "his guys" at the top of the ballot. Thesz is as deserving as anyone but there's no way Strangler Lewis is ahead of a bunch of other guys. Even if we go strictly on ability to shoot/grapple, which is apparently weighed heavily on Larry's list, that means Lesnar's #1.
Overall, it's not a bad list at all, and no matter who made the list, it's going to be subjective but at least try to remove biases is all I'm saying. Bret Hart is my favorite wrestler of all time but there's no way in hell I could legitimately put him simply because of my own personal bias.