Cena cuts a promo on The Rock
Unless John Cena is trying to work some kind of angle, then his recent criticism of The Rock is way off base.
In a story in The Sun (U.K.) yesterday, Cena called out The Rock for turning his back on the wrestling business.
“What I kind of get peeved about — and this is my Achilles’ heel — is that I've wanted to do this my whole life. At one point Rock loved wrestling and wanted to do this all his life. So explain to me why he can't come back.
“Simply put it's because he wants to be an actor and there's nothing wrong with that. He's very good and very successful. Associating with sports entertainment doesn't do much for his acting career — I get it.
“Just don't [expletive] me around and tell me that you love this. That's the only thing that gets me really [ticked] off. Our fan base have so much admiration for him, he's got to respect that. He doesn't give anything back.”
First off, The Rock doesn’t have to explain himself to Cena. But that’s not the point. Like a lot of wrestling fans, I miss seeing The Rock in WWE, but I have never felt that he was dissing the industry or the fans.
On the surface, Cena’s comments seem to smack of jealousy, but I really don’t think that’s the case. I just think that Cena’s passion for the business is clouding his judgment. I certainly admire him for that passion, and if he truly is living his dream, I’m happy for him. But I find it hard to believe that Cena wouldn’t choose a movie career over wrestling if he were presented with the lucrative opportunities The Rock has had, even if he has repeatedly said otherwise.
When I interviewed Cena in 2006 prior to the release of his movie debut in The Marine, Cena said: “I really don't ever intend to leave wrestling. Sports entertainment has provided me with a great life and is something that I really do have a lot of passion for. I'm going to go full-steam ahead with sports entertainment and full-steam ahead with Hollywood.”
Of course, The Rock said the same thing at first. But his movie career took off to the point in which he had to choose between wrestling and acting. And, really, that choice was a no-brainer. Do you think that Hulk Hogan would have ever returned full-time to the ring if Mr. Nanny or Suburban Commando had become box office hits?
I believe The Rock when he says he loves wrestling. After all, he did grow up with the business and he was WWE’s first third-generation star. Wrestling, however, wasn’t his dream — playing pro football was. When that didn’t work out, he turned to wrestling and became one of the biggest stars in the history of the industry.
During The Rock’s time in WWE, I never got the impression that he didn’t love what he was doing. His work ethic and positive attitude were beyond reproach.
The Rock has always been very gracious, as well, at least whenever I have interacted with him. The first time I interviewed him was when he was just starting to get over in WWE, and I also talked with him when he was on top of the wrestling business and then after he had become a successful actor. He never changed, and after he became a movie star, he spoke well of wrestling and said he was very proud of what he had accomplished in WWE.
Just because The Rock has moved on doesn’t mean he has sold out or that he is thumbing his nose at wrestling fans. If Cena really can’t see that, then I’m as disappointed in him as he is in The Rock.
Comments
The era of ""The Rock" ,"Stone Cold" etc. was about the last time I ever really had any interest in WWE (save for my childhood). Cena's comments smack of jealousy , unless as you say Kevin there may be an "angle'. Dwayne Johnson owes no one anything . When he wrestled for wwe he was always on target. Cena's comments to me just reflect the arrogant disrespect of todays breed.
Posted by: jack in hebron | February 27, 2008 8:04 PM
Thanks for the great read. Yes you are RIGHT!! I hope this little stunt is not s start of getting The Rock at Wrestlemania24.
Posted by: Scooter | February 27, 2008 8:06 PM
Listening to the audio interview that can be downloaded on The Sun's website to get Cena's comments in their entireity, he was way less harsh than the print comments imply.
Cena basically said he didn't understand why Rock refuses to do almost anything with WWE, specifically mentioning Rock not wanting any involvement in the RAW 15th Anniversary show. He was not questioning Rock for pursing an acting career or for not wanting a full-time return but rather why Rock is no longer willing to make cameo appearances every once in a while like he once did.
I recall when Rock was plugging his movies on WWE TV, he would always talk about how he couldn't wait to to see the fans again, and now he's hasn't made one arena apppearance since 2004. It would not hurt Rock at all to do this, but he just doesn't seem to want anything to do wrestling anymore besides his upcoming HoF appearance.
Cena did not seem angry at all listening to the interview, but rather just wondering why Rock seems to be trying completely distance himself from wrestling when he was willing to work with WWE a lot just four years ago.
Posted by: chris | February 27, 2008 8:16 PM
Having not heard the audio version of Cena's interview , I can give him the benefit of the doubt as far as his harshness toward the "Rock". Be that as it may , everyone moves on , turns the page et.el . It may look as if he's abandoned his roots , times change ,people move on .
Posted by: jack in hebron | February 27, 2008 8:48 PM
i would kind of expect a journalist to gather all of the facts before making a rash judgement, because if Kevin had bothered to have listened to the interview he would understand that cena is not questioning rocks intergrity and not call him a sell out infact he says the rock is a great human being and a genuine nice guy and he's pleased that he is doing something he enjoys with hollywood, the only thing cena said basically was could someone explain to him how hard can it be to make say an appearance once every 6 months like SCSA to let the fans know you still appreciate them, because without the fans the rock would be nothing, just some punk who refers to himslef in the third person, if you love your fans that much just show some respect to them dont just ignore them.
Quite frankly Kevin says he is dissapointed in cena, well im disappointed in Kevin in not seeing the comments for what they are, 2 months old and a hypothetcial question persoanl truthful response, yopu may not agree with them but that does not make them wrong so no need to belittle cenas personal views.
Posted by: Nick | February 27, 2008 9:15 PM
John Cena dissing The Rock is akin to Dave Trembley criticizing Earl Weaver.
Posted by: John | February 27, 2008 10:47 PM
What does Cena think the Rock should be "giving back" to wrestling? He's coming to the HOF induction ceremony, which he didn't have to do. Does he think the Rock should be turning down film roles so he can wrestle a part-time schedule? Why would the Rock risk a serious injury in the ring that could affect his ability to take on starring film roles? I like Cena, but these comments aren't just jealous, they are dumb.
Posted by: glen | February 27, 2008 11:08 PM
"What does Cena think the Rock should be "giving back" to wrestling? He's coming to the HOF induction ceremony, which he didn't have to do. Does he think the Rock should be turning down film roles so he can wrestle a part-time schedule? Why would the Rock risk a serious injury in the ring that could affect his ability to take on starring film roles? I like Cena, but these comments aren't just jealous, they are dumb."
In the audio interview, Cena didn't mention Rock wrestling at all. He was talking about things like the RAW 15th Anniversary, where Rock would just just have show up for a cameo like Austin, Foley, Lita, and Trish did. Rock wouldn't even tape a promo for that show.
That is what Cena was talking about.
Posted by: chris | February 28, 2008 1:01 AM
Cena has a passion for the business and that's understandable but the thing about the Rock is he has done pretty much everything there is to do as a wrestler. So for him to come in for a taped segment wouldn't fulfill the people that want him to wrestle and if he wrestled it would be him predictably going over, just like Hogan. Because if he lost to any of these untalented hacks, it would be a serious step down.
Posted by: mr. bronson | February 28, 2008 2:34 AM
Cena should pick his battles better.
The Rock is one of the greatest performers in the history of the sport and was partly responsible for putting WWE back in the mainstream. Cena can get over as champion and can barely cut a coherent promo. Kinda of like Miguel Tejada picking on Cal Ripken.
I wouldn't be suprised if McMahon put some of those words in Cena's mouth.
Posted by: mclean | February 28, 2008 9:19 AM
I know this wont happen, but what if this was just a set up? The Rock runs in at Mania nd screws Cena leading to a program leading up to Backlash. As I said, it wont happen, but it still would have been awesome.....
Posted by: Frank R | February 29, 2008 3:05 PM
The Rock is supposed to play the Tooth Fairy in his next movie? When Hogan dressed in a Tu Tu for one of his, it spelled the downfall of his movie career.
Posted by: wrzesien | March 1, 2008 2:21 PM