Considering how much Austin Theory reminds many of a young John Cena, the young United States Champion and future WWE Hall of Famer always seemed like a logical pairing for a WrestleMania program.
It took a while to come together thanks to Cena’s hectic movie schedule, but it was made official on the March 6 episode of Raw in a much-discussed segment that saw the two men in the ring together for the first time.
The natural assumption is that given his 20 years of experience and legendary status in WWE, Cena hand picks which storylines he wants to be a part of at this point in his career. Surely, the thinking goes, Cena asked specifically to work with Theory.
But in an interview with the AP this week to promote the launch of WWE 2K23, Cena dismissed that notion, suggesting that even now, he does what he’s told and simply gives his all to make his part of any story the best it can be.
“I don’t say, I want to do this,” Cena told the AP. “I want to work with that person. I don’t ever do that. I’ve never done that. I just try and do what I’m told to do and do it to the best of my abilities. Instead of dictating my terms, I often just try to make the performance the best it can be. What I don’t do and what I’ve never done is curate the direction of the narrative.”
One thing that Cena can control is what he says when he has the microphone and the attention of the audience. The degree to which he destroyed Theory during the March 6 segment caught some observers off-guard, with Cena questioning his heart and desire while claiming that WWE fans don’t care about him.
Theory will undoubtedly get a chance to get back at Cena before WrestleMania 39 arrives, and the consensus is that he’ll likely be booked to win the match in Los Angeles. But that was still a ferocious promo from a WWE legend, and one that Cena told the AP he meant.
“I don’t pick opponents, but I love to tell stories,” Cena said. “I didn’t pick Austin Theory but I certainly spoke from the heart (on RAW).”