5 WWE Superstars who had real-life heat with John Cena

John Cena is one of the biggest stars that WWE has ever created. The former world champion left WWE to pursue an acting career several years ago but has since remained loyal to the company where he first found fame.

Cena was pushed as the face of the company for more than a decade and in that time he obviously made several enemies backstage. There were many up-and-coming stars who blamed Cena for their failures and even for the fact that they were released by WWE.

While many current and former WWE Superstars have noted the positive impact that Cena has had on the business and their careers as a whole. The following list of stars have made it clear they are not fans of the former 16-time world champion and have publicly vented their issues.

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#5. Former WWE Superstar Kenny Dykstra

The story about the issues between John Cena and Kenny Dykstra has become one of the most well-known in WWE history.

Dykstra has also been outspoken regarding his opinion of Cena after it was revealed that the star called off his engagement to fellow star Mickie James after Cena's interference.

It turned into a scandal at the time, with Cena and James being part of a storyline until their real-life issues surfaced and Dykstra ended up losing his job over it.

The star has spoken out in several interviews about his issues with Cena, with the following quote coming from his Twitter account back in 2012.

“We were cool until last time I was there he hated me. Didn’t even want to talk or shake hands. Everyone else was cool though.”

Dykstra most recently returned to WWE in 2016 as part of a storyline with Dolph Ziggler and The Miz, but interestingly he later disappeared from TV when Cena made his return.

James has since gone on to marry Nick Aldis and the couple now have a child together, whilst Cena married fellow actress Shay Shariatzadeh in a private ceremony last year.

#4. Former WWE Superstar Tyker Reks

Tyler Reks left WWE back in 2012 and has since come out as a transwoman who is now known as Gabbi Tuft.

During her time in WWE, Tuft was another star who managed to cross John Cena when she famously used his finisher. This was something that Tuft was able to open up about as part of a Reddit Ask Me Anything Session.

"I used it at WWE Bragging Rights 2010 and John was literally across the ring from me when I hit Santino Marella with it and never said anything to me then."

Tuft went on to reveal that things got heated backstage.

[Cena said] 'What do you think you're doing? I thought I told you to get a new finisher.' I said, 'Yeah, I thought you were joking John. We hit it wrong last night. I'm really sorry.' ... I was humiliated, I was a full-grown man, why can't we talk about this like human beings? I went outside to cool down, and I was ready to quit, to walk out.

After the whole situation calmed down, she revealed that she went back into the arena to speak to the former WWE Champion and apologize, but this didn't go to plan either.

I came back in and John Cena was sitting there by the curtain and I figured that I'd cooled off and he'd cooled off so I'll try to apologize one more time. I said, 'John, I'm super sorry about this. I really thought it was just a miscommunication.' He looks over at me and says, 'What was there to be miscommunicated? I asked you to stop using that finisher, are you stupid?' He wouldn't even allow me to apologize. Finally I was just like, yeah, I'll find another finisher. He and I never really talked after that. That's the whole story of John Cena making me feel like a six year old boy."

Tuft and Cena didn't make up and the star instead went on to find a new finisher whilst working for WWE rather than cross paths with the former WWE Superstar once again.

#3. Former WWE Superstar Chris Masters

Chris Masters was known for his "Masterlock" throughout his short time in WWE, but after this was broken by Bobby Lashley, the star faded off into the background.

Masters was coming up through the ranks in WWE at the same time as John Cena, but despite working side by side in the company the two stars didn't hit it off.

As part of a shoot interview on Hannibal TV, Chris Masters revealed that the two men never clicked, didn't along backstage, and that Cena never had his back in the company.

"No he did not watch out for me, we just never really clicked for whatever reason, it was always odd, I don't know if it's me being west coast guy and him being northeast type dude, I don't know. He didn't really look out for me and I don't think he was ever particularly fond of me I don't know if he questioned my work eithic or what it was."

Masters was released from WWE back in 2007 and has since been able to continue to push forward in the business on the Independent Circuit in both America and Europe.

#2. Former WWE Superstar Mr. Kennedy

Mr. Kennedy hasn't wrestled for WWE for more than a decade after it was revealed that Randy Orton and John Cena spoke to management and were able to get him fired from the company.

It appears that Kennedy "being a heel" ruffled a few feathers backstage in the company, something that Jim Ross opened up about in a 2020 episode of Grilling JR.

“Yeah it did ruffle Cena’s feathers. Cena took it personally and thought, ‘OK, enough is enough.’”

Ross was referring to the way that Kennedy would encourage the WWE Universe to boo Cena and cheer for him when he was the main babyface at the time.

“To encourage the audience by your rhetoric to boo the appointed #1 babyface in the company is not wise. So he was just being a heel, being his excuse, is a weak ass excuse. That’s my take on that deal. You don’t do anything to chip away at the image or the standing of a John Cena in this case, or anyone else in that top babyface role. You just don’t do it. It’s counterproductive. It’s not being cute, it’s not being funny, it’s not just being a heel.”

Since leaving WWE, Kennedy has become Mr. Anderson and has gone on to have a successful career outside of the company.

#1. Former WWE Superstar Alex Riley

Alex Riley was once seen as an up-and-coming star in WWE until it appears that he had a disagreement with John Cena.

The altercation with the company's face seemed to cost Riley his push with it being revealed that a botched elimination from the 2011 Royal Rumble seemed to be the main catalyst for the issue between the two men.

Riley even opened up about their heat in an interview with Sportskeeda's Chris Featherstone earlier this year.

“I think it came down to, at the end, two men just not liking each other. As sad as that is, it had an impact on my career because he is who he is.”

Riley was used as both a commentator and announcer in WWE before his release from the company in 2016.

The former star has since remained around the business and most recently noted that he was open to a WWE return and was loyal to Vince McMahon so he wouldn't be tempted to head over to AEW.