We’re live on the WWE Network with Chris Jericho and WWE United States Champion John Cena, who has a shiner from his match with Stardust. Jericho brings up the “five moves of doom” jab and say Cena broke out some new moves in his match on RAW. They joke that they’re not sure if they can call his springboard backwards stunner a “Stunner.” Jericho asks about Cena being US Champion and not being in the main event. Cena says he never got wrapped up in being in the main event so it doesn’t bother him. He talks about being able to help guys like Dean Ambrose and Cody Rhodes with the United States Title by letting them get some time and putting their “business card” out there.
Jericho jokes and asks what would Cena have done if he issued the open challenge and Funaki came out. Cena talks about riding in his early WWE days with guys like Funaki, Tajiri and The Bashams. Jericho asks about his relationship with Vince McMahon in 2015. Cena says their vision is the same, sometimes they’re different creatively. Cena says he loves the company. People say they love the pro wrestling business but he loves the company. Cena says he’s bee lucky enough to surround himself with people like Vince his whole life and he’s taken a liking to how Vince does things. Cena says his legitimate goal is taking WWE to places they haven’t been like China and India. He wants to leave WWE 100 times better than it was when he walked in.
Cena admits he does still get yelled at sometimes but everyone does. Cena says that just shows the passion that Vince still has. Cena praises Vince for still being on top of things 31 WrestleManias later. Cena re-tells the story about the first time he met Vince and Vince wanted his hair cut. Jericho brings up Cena being able to do backwards promos and they both try to do it. Cena says that showed back then that he wasn’t afraid to take a chance fo success. Cena says WWE has so many talents but he thinks some are afraid to take a chance. Cena says he “loved, loved” Vince’s brass ring comment from a few months back. Cena says he was a fan of the Attitude Era just as much as the rest of us and WWE has new rules now but you still have to take a chance. Cena talks about looking up to William Regal years ago and becoming a fan of the European style that guys like Regal and Finlay worked. Cena had a dark match one time and said it stunk the place up. He came backstage and asked Regal for feedback and Regal told him to get a real pair of boots so he would at least look like a wrestler.
They talk Cena being in OVW with Brock Lesnar, Batista and Randy Orton. Cena says walking into a training session at that OVW class was like walking into a crazy Matrix scene. Cena praises all three of them and brings up Shelton Benjamin, Sylvester Terkay, Ron Waterman, Rico and others. They talk more about Cena’s early days and then his dad, who was at WrestleMania 31. Jericho asks if Cena ever took any performance enhancing drugs and he says no. Cena says he was fortunate to be around good people in his bodybuilding career. Cena says all his competitions were drug tested. Cena says people always think athletes who are ripped like he was are on steroids but that’s indicates that’s just how it’s going to be. Cena say he got that big in high school and has been big ever since. They talk about being on the road together and Jericho says Cena is the only guy that could drink him under the table. Cena says they had a lot of good times. Jericho says the Mt. Rushmore of WWE in the modern era has been Steve Austin, The Rock, Hulk Hogan and Cena. Cena doesn’t know who would be the faces now. Cena says when fans scream they want something new but get something that’s company-packaged new then it’s no good. He uses Roman Reigns as an example. Cena says Reigns is an absolute star and puts him over. Cena says it’s going to be weird from here on out when talking about fans wanting something new but rejecting it. Jericho says it seems like everything has changed. Cena says don’t let the mood change fool you, there will be a face of the company coming up, then someone after that and so on. Cena says the next front man will be the guy with enough balls to take the right chances.
They talk about how you need to stand out and have an identity to make it. Cena says once you have that, fans will hate you or love you. Cena says he watches NXT when he can. He says the most interesting thing about NXT is the steam that the brand is building, talking about the talents being put in front of live events and more. Cena says he loves it when it’s sink or swim with the audience and when they let you have it. He loves the emotion of it. Cena admits there was real heat with The Rock when he first came in to work with him. Cena says he wanted it to be Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James but Rock had a different vision. He talks about working with Rock and never caring about what Rock said about him, Cena just was always worried about having a chance to jab back. Cena says Rock was pissed when Cena called him out for having a promo written on his arm. Cena dodges a question on if Rock was actually pissed in Cena’s face backstage. Cena says it was always kept professional between the two and that’s the one thing he respected the most. Cena says he took a jar of moonshine into Rock’s locker room in Miami and told him not to take anything he said personal. Cena says he didn’t want to make Rock foolish by calling him out, Cena was just trying to step up.
Jericho asks Cena how he dealt with the “Cena sucks” chants every night. Cena says he just let the product speak for itself. Cena says he became genuine and developed from the hip-hop character to who he really is. Jericho asks Cena why he think fans chant “Cena sucks.” Cena thinks they want something different, something more.
Jericho brings up people always asking if Cena will turn heel. Cena says it was briefly discussed during the feud with The Rock. He indicated he was excited and even recorded a new theme and had new gear. Cena says if it happened, he would have thought it was great to show that different side but it’s so rewarding to be aspirational, to be inspirational. Cena says you might want him to be a bad guy but the 8 year old in the front row lights up at who he is now. Cena jokes that he’s the biggest heel in the company with how much he gets booed. Cena says if he did turn heel, they could come up with an explanation for the kids. Cena would be open to turning heel but he hopes WWE would have someone ready to be there for the kids.
Cena talks about traveling with Michael Cole and Mark Carrano.
Jericho asks what his favorite match is and he says the next one. Cena feels his first match with The Rock fit the year long build. Cena says that match was better than he expected. Jericho asks about his relationship with Rock ow. Cena says Rock is awesome and always has these gems of advice to help him. Jericho asks about Cena’s future. Cena says he takes it one day at a time but when he’s a step slower and can’t do it… they embrace and Jericho plugs his upcoming interview with Vickie Guerrero on PodcastOne.
