Highlights
- John Cena revealed truths about his very real feud with Dwayne Johnson.
- John Cena and Dwayne Johnson’s feud escalated due to comments made about Johnson’s Hollywood career.
- Despite their past feud, Cena acknowledges Johnson’s influence on his career and sees him as a mentor and friend.
There’s been more than a few success stories that have come out of the WWE. According to Sista, the WWE generates over $1 billion per year, so it’s exactly surprising that it would create household names. What is shocking is that some of these entertainment wrestlers have gone on to become A-list actors. Perhaps none more so than Dwayne Johnson, formerly ‘The Rock’.
While some of Dwayne Johnson’s movies have gone on to make over $100 million at the box office and contributed to his $800 million net worth, many of his WWE colleagues doubted him. future Peacmaker star John Cena was almost certainly among them. Cena’s comments were what fueled his notorious feud with Johnson, and they’re something he regrets. During a February 2024 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Cena revealed the truth about his ‘ignorant’ feud with Johnson and how the two have become friends. This article will explore both of those topics.
Inside John Cena And Dwayne Johnson’s WWE Feud
During their February 21st, 2024 interview, John Cena admitted to Howard Stern that he is willing to do almost anything in Hollywood. This was in stark contrast to comments Cena had made about Dwayne Johnson (formerly ‘The Rock’) when he integrated acting into his WWE career.
- Dwayne Johnson joined The WWE in 1996
- Dwayne Johnson left The WWE in 2004
- Dwayne Johnson returned to The WWE in 2011
“The big controversy was, because you were critical of The Rock leaving the WWE, and becoming an actor, at the time you were a young guy, and you were like ‘what kind of bulls**** is this,” Howard Stern said to John Cena during their interview. “And part of it also is shtick is too because you’re part of the WWE.”
“And trying to get him back,” John Cena responded. “But it was the wrong way to do it.”
“So, it became a real feud between you and The Rock.”
“Oh my God, yeah.”
Cena first commented on Johnson’s career choices. Specifically, he slammed Johnson for abandoning The WWE for a Hollywood career. Cena’s criticisms also included Johnson abandoning the WWE fans that made him famous.
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“To me, it was [like], ‘I’m going to jab this guy because I have nothing to lose. I have all the leverage. I am there every day. I love being there. And nothing is pulling me away,’” Cena said to Stern, explaining that he, at the time, had no ambition to become a Hollywood star.
“My angle came from the fact that he was openly saying, ‘I love the W.W.E.’ And I was like, ‘Man, if you love it, why aren’t you here?’ What a stupid thing [of me] to say.”
Cena went on to apologize for his comments.
“It was my ignorant perspective. And I’m so sorry. Because he had a lot to lose.”
The Suicide Quad actor went on to say that he now realizes how much Dwayne Johnson put on the line by venturing out of the WWE to start an acting career. Especially because the WWE was ingrained in his family.
- Dwayne Johnson’s mother Ata presented and promoted The WWE
- Dwayne Johnson’s father and grandfather were also tied to The WWE
Cena went on to say that he acknowledges that he is a hypocrite because he too went off to start a successful acting career in Hollywood. Apologizes were eventually given, but not before Cena and Johnson’s feud intensified.
How Dwayne Johnson Helped John Cena Get His Big Break In Hollywood For The Film Trainwreck
Dwayne Johnson and John Cena had a discussion behind the scenes prior to John’s big break in Hollywood.
Ahead of Wrestlemania 2012, John Cena continued to publicly jab Dwyane Johnson for abandoning The WWE. This eventually worked as Johnson made his return, however, it made their feud that much worse. Because now the two of them were in a cage together and there was a very real animosity. According to Cena, many of the fights in The WWE are choreographed and preplanned. Even some of the nasty things that are said in the ring are approved beforehand. But given the tension between him and Johnson, a lot of these rules flew out the window.
“We wouldn’t talk to each other. There was a lot of stepping over the line of boundaries in what’s permissible and trustworthy in the ring and what’s not. I violated his trust again by calling him out on some s*** that I didn’t necessarily ask for his approval. He did the same to me. So, we grew father and father apart. Until we actually had to perform here in Miami for Wrestlemania.”
Cena knew how his 2013 Wrestlemania fight with Dwayne Johnson would go about a year in advance. However, the end was up for debate right up until the fight. Cena acknowledged that a lot of weight rested on Johnson’s shoulders as he was the one making a big return.
Johnson was also clearly doing The WWE a solid as he simply didn’t need to return. After all, he was already a huge Hollywood success.
Ahead of the fight, Cena and Johnson briefly met to discuss the fight. Cena claimed that Johnson was both meticulous and professional. On top of this, Cena didn’t put up a fight when it was decided that Johnson would win the fight and have a moment of triumph. This was the moment that started to shift their relationship in a more positive direction.
Are John Cena And Dwyane Johnson Friends Today?
John Cena apologized to Dwayne Johnson’s mother soon after he lost the 2013 Wrestlemania fight. During his February 2024 interview with Howard Stern, Cena said that Johnson’s mom Ata accepted his apology as well as understood that what he was doing was just for business.
“And then I went to him — and I always traveled with a jug of pure Tennesse moonshine — and I went to him with a mason jar and said, ‘this is kind of a tradition we have on the road now and I just want to share this tradition with you.’”
Cena went on to claim that he didn’t put up any reluctance to any of the decisions Johnson made in their fight and that he actually enjoyed it. Because of this, Cena believes Johnson came to the understanding that he was just “ignorant” and was trying to do business.
This revelation caused Howard Stenr to ask John Cena if he and Dwyane Johnson actually became friends. To which Cena simply responded, “Yes.”
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Being A Nepo Baby ‘Saved’ Dwayne Johnson’s Relationship With His Wrestler Daughter
Dwayne Johnson’s relationship with his oldest daughter wasn’t the strongest, but definitely improved after she became a wrestler just like him.
The Peacemaker actor went on to claim that Johnson was “instrumental” to his career evolution.
“I text him all the time. He will send me voice messages and he will send me texts.”
Cena went on to say, “[Dwayne Johnson] truly is in a universe of his own … and now, having to try to tread in some of his wake, I see exactly how difficult some of that is—and I’m not even one hundredth of his level.”
Source: NewsFinale
