5 times John Cena gave career-changing advice to WWE Superstars

Over the past few years, WWE legend John Cena has given career-changing advice to several superstars.

The Leader of the Cenation is one of the greatest superstars in WWE history. He joined the company in 2001 and has been with them for more than two decades now, during which he won 16 world titles among several other championships.

Being one of the most experienced wrestlers in Vince McMahon's company, he has given career-changing advice to younger, less experienced superstars, helping them reach their full potential. Over the past few years, some of these wrestlers have revealed what Cena has told them behind the scenes.

Here are five times John Cena has given career-changing advice to WWE Superstars.

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#5. John Cena's advice to former WWE Women's Champion Candice Michelle

Candice Michelle was one of the most popular female superstars of her generation. She joined WWE in 2004 and made her in-ring debut the following year.

In an interview with WrestlingInc last year, the former Women's Champion disclosed that John Cena once gave her a piece of advice that helped her move forward in her career.

"I've always been very loyal to WWE. I’ve never taken anything personal. I remember talking to John Cena and he told me, 'when you are starting to get noticed, get the fans to get behind you or hate you, you’ve done your job.' (...) When you get to that level, or creep in there, and then its taken away from you…it’s really hard. But I remember him [Cena] saying, 'it’s a machine, it'll go on with or without you,'" she said.

Michelle had a successful five-year run in Vince McMahon's company. She won the Women's Championship in June 2007 and held it for over 100 days before losing it to Beth Phoenix at No Mercy later that same year. Two years later, the company released her from her contract.

In July 2019, the former WWE Women's Champion appeared on the Raw Reunion episode, during which she pinned Kelly Kelly in a backstage segment to capture the WWE 24/7 Championship. However, she lost the title a few seconds later to Alundra Blayze.

#4. John Cena's advice to former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair has been very successful since debuting on the main roster nearly two years ago. She won the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble match and defeated Sasha Banks in the main event of WrestleMania 37 to capture the SmackDown Women's Championship.

Although The EST of WWE held the title for over 130 days, she lost it to Becky Lynch in only 26 seconds at SummerSlam last August. Since then, the 32-year-old has been trying to get back to the top.

In a recent interview with SunSport, Belair revealed the piece of advice John Cena had given her, which she says she now uses as fuel.

"His advice for me was about perspective and coming out on top. So he said, 'Just keep your perspective where it can actually propel you.' And he said 'this is your opportunity to showcase who you are without a title and get the fans behind you.' I use it as fuel now cause I know how it feels to go to WrestleMania and main event. I know how it feels to be champion. But I also know how it feels to have it taken from me," she said.

Belair recently won the Women's Elimination Chamber match at the premium live event of the same name to earn a shot at the RAW Women's Championship. She will now go head-to-head against titleholder Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38.

#3. John Cena's advice to former WWE Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella

Santino Marella joined WWE in 2005. He spent more than a decade in Vince McMahon's company, during which he won the Intercontinental Championship, the United States Title, and the Tag Team Championship.

During his time in WWE, Marella was one of the funniest guys on the roster. His finishing move, The Cobra, is arguably the most hilarious in the company's history. In an interview with Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw, The Milan Miracle revealed that John Cena was the one who advised him to keep The Cobra after he performed it at a live event.

"I did it at a live event. I told John Cena, I said 'hey watch this, I'm going to try something.' And I did the Cobra and the audience laughed, like, the first time. I stood there, made this face, did the whole thing, hit him with it, rolled him. I came back and he goes 'I would keep that if I were you, that was funny as hell,'" he said.

After Cena's advice, Marella continued using the move at live events until WWE Chairman Vince McMahon asked him to use it on RAW. The Cobra then became very popular among the WWE Universe.

"I did the Cobra. Three weeks, it took three weeks of doing it on television before I would gesture for it. And I remember almost being blown away like in shock. I would see in the corner, like in my peripheral vision, the audience jumping out of their seats, like, screaming. For the Cobra? Are you guys okay? You guys are settling. There's not really much to it, you know?" Marella added.

The former United States Champion left WWE in May 2016. He is currently active on the independent circuit.

#2. John Cena's advice to former United States Champion Cesaro

After competing for several years on the independent circuit, Cesaro joined WWE in 2011. Over the past decade, The Swiss Superman has won several titles, including the United States Championship. He is currently one of the most talented and versatile superstars on the roster.

In an interview with Sportskeeda, the former United States Champion spoke about John Cena's advice that made him a better in-ring performer.

"I'm very honored. I don't take it lightly, as some people might just be like, 'Ah yeah, I'm awesome and everybody likes me!' Something that John Cena always said: you're only as good as your last match. And I believe that. Every match I try to do as good as possible with whatever I'm given because technically you never know when your last match is. I'd hate to be like, 'I don’t feel like it tonight,' and then something terrible happens. I feel like to the fans, no matter where you come to see a show, if you're part of an eight-man or if you're in a singles match, it doesn't matter. You just put on the best show so they'll remember it, and I don't take that pressure lightly," he said.

The former WWE Champion and Cesaro shared the ring many times, as tag team partners and opponents, between 2012 and 2018. However, the 41-year-old has never defeated The Leader of the Cenation in a singles match.

Cesaro is currently an active competitor on SmackDown. The Swiss Superman recently went head-to-head against Happy Corbin. Nevertheless, he lost the bout.

#1. John Cena's advice to WWE RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch is one of the most popular superstars on the WWE roster. She is also the highest-paid female superstar today. However, the situation was not the same a few years ago.

During her recent appearance on Stone Cold Steve Austin's Broken Skull Sessions, the Irish wrestler revealed that she struggled to find an identity for herself a few years ago. However, a piece of advice from John Cena then changed her life and career.

"I used to always ask John Cena for advice. And when I asked him, he said, 'I don’t know who you are,' He was like, 'Who are you?' And I said, 'Well, yeah I'm Becky.' Like, but they know who I am, obviously I really would never say this to him, but they know who I am, they are always chanting my name. But, he was right. I didn’t know who I was. I really did not know, apart from being Becky. The Irish Lasskicker. What the hell was The Irish Lasskicker, because I would always get my lass kicked. So I didn't know, and I didn't really have an identity, I was searching for that, and I was the little scrappy underdog from Ireland, but it genuinley was not something that could be immediately establishable," she said.

After ditching the Lass Kicker persona and becoming The Man and Big Time Becks, Lynch's career was elevated to another level. She is now one of the faces of The Worldwide Leader in Sports Entertainment.

The 35-year-old currently holds the RAW Women's Championship. She recently defended her title against Lita at the Elimination Chamber premium live event.

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Will John Cena make a cameo appearance at this year's WrestleMania? Will he ever wrestle another match for WWE again? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.