There’s been no shortage of press tours during the build up to this weekend’s WrestleMania 41, and the current crop ofWWESuperstars has been making news.Roman Reigns appeared to publicly supportPresident Donald Trumpin his interview with Vanity Fair, and CM Punk had some choice words for Elon Muskin his interview with “The Ringer Wrestling Show”.
Another performer making the rounds isJohn Cena, heading into his last WrestleMania this Sunday in the main event against Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Inhis interview with The New York Times,Cena made some head-turning comments aboutVince McMahonand brought a renewed focus to his relationship with him.
Cena’s Surprising Commentary On Vince McMahon
“I Don’t Care Who Hears It: I Love Vince”
In his interview with The New York Times, John Cena gavean additional comment on his relationshipwith Vince McMahon, the former executive chairman of TKO and former president of WWE.
I don’t care who hears it: I love Vince. I’m not downplaying anything that needs to be decided or allegations of any kind, but when I love somebody, I love them wholeheartedly. I know people are going to be angry about that, but they can’t put their value on my relationship with somebody I love.
Cena, who debuted in WWE in 2002 and became one of the biggest Superstars in WWE history, credits McMahon for his career and his livelihood.These comments echo similar statementshe made on “The Howard Stern Show” in February 2024 that echo this, as well as calling McMahon a “father figure.”
I don’t think it’s complicated to talk about. It’s complicated to listen to. That’s why I don’t necessarily put a lot of time and equity into it. There’s still a long way to go. I can say this, I’m a big advocate of love and friendship and honesty, and communication, in the same breath, I’m also a big advocate of accountability. If someone’s behavior lies so far outside of your value system that the balance shifts of, ‘I can’t operate in a world where this works.’ That’s the end result of being accountable. Right now, I’m gonna love the person I love, be their friend. ‘I love you, you have a hill to climb.’ There is the saying of, ‘You don’t know who your friends are until s*** hits the fan or your back is against the wall.’ That doesn’t make any of what’s going on any easier to swallow. Just telling someone you love them, it’s a hill to climb, and we’ll see what happens.' That’s that. It sounds so cliche, but it has to be one day at a time. I’ve openly said, I love the guy, I have a great relationship with the guy, and that’s that. It’s largely my construct of operating with honesty and communication. Those are strong leads to handling any problem or achievement. The whole thing is super unfortunate and it sucks. It deals with an individual I love and an entity I love. I want everyone to have the experience that I have.Not only do I tell a friend that I love them, but I switch to the entity and say, ‘How can I help?’
McMahon, who made WWE a global phenomenon after acquiring the organization from his father in 1982, stepped down from TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, in January 2024 aftergraphic allegations were made in a lawsuitby Janel Grantin an explosive report fromThe Wall Street Journal. McMahon and his co-defendant, former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, deny all allegations in the lawsuit, and the suit is currently still pending a decision on whether it will move to arbitration.
Our Take On John Cena’s Comments On Vince McMahon
Complicated, Difficult, and Uncomfortable
John Cena’s new comments on Vince McMahon should come as no surprise to wrestling fans, ashe has been adamant and vocal about his support of himsince he left the company amid the allegations. Cena presents a complicated narrative that tries to both acknowledge the allegations and acknowledge the person who helped create his career, another discussion of the duality of an individual.
Vince McMahon, the most successful wrestling promoter of all time, is a controversial and complicated figure who left a trail of destruction in his path as long and as wide as the stories of performers who saw him as a father figure and helped create their lives.Cena continues to publicly support McMahonamid the serious allegations against him, good, bad, or indifferent, and in spite of any loss of his public goodwill or his public persona.
