What’s the story?
John Cena did an interview with Crave Online on Wednesday, March 29, and discussed his character, his position as a polarising figure and the fact that the fans will define his legacy when his career comes to an end.
In case you didn’t know...
Cena has been with the WWE since 2001 when he was trained under the old WWE developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. Once he debuted on the main roster, it took three years for Cena to rise to the top of the company and kick off a long and illustrious career.
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He’s a 16-time WWE Champion, holds the record for the most amount of WWE Championships held, and has been the face of the company for more than 10 years.
The heart of the matter
Cena talked about the pressure that arises from being the top guy and how he used the crowd reactions to push his mantra.
“I’ve kind of been like the guy who initially dealt with it. I use Roman Reigns as a great example, he’s going to have to deal with this sort of environment but I love it because I’ve used it as a way to send a great message.
I don’t go out with a big base drum and beat on it and say, ‘Never Give Up’ over and over again. It’s just how I am as a human being and you try to lead by example. Don’t be afraid to be who you are.”
Also read: WWE News: John Cena almost turned heel in 2012
Cena ended the interview by discussing how the fans of the WWE will be the ones who shape his legacy.
“That’s going to be up to those who write that stuff. It’s going to be up to folks like you, man. Every day I just try to do the best I can.
I try to have the best understanding of how lucky I am and try to use all of my platforms to try and do the best I can and try to help as many people as I can.”
What’s next?
Cena is rumoured to be taking time off after WrestleMania 33, so his match this Sunday may be one of his last for the next couple of months. Tune into WrestleMania 33 to see Cena in one of his last matches for a while if this rumour is true.
Author’s take
Cena’s legacy is definitely one that can be best described with the following phrase; mixed reactions.
When Cena solidified his place as a top star after he won the WWE Championship, there were fans who didn’t accept him. It was relatively minor for the first few years, but by the time 2010 came around, the crowds started to turn on him a bit more.
In the last few years, it has cooled off, but for the longest time, Cena was one of the most hated Superstars on the roster despite being a babyface.
However, regardless of all the hate he garnered, he is still one of the biggest stars in WWE history and has helped elevate the careers of men like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens and AJ Styles.
He may not have been a likeable character on the show or the most interesting, but when he needed to deliver, he delivered big time. Hopefully, fans remember Cena for more of the good he’s done in his career rather than some of the things that ultimately weren’t up to him.
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