Ahead of his final SummerSlam appearance, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena took on a mentorship role, addressing the athletes and independent wrestlers participating in the company’s tryouts this weekend.
In footage that surfaced online, Cena, who currently portrays a villainous champion on television, offered a starkly different persona as he gave advice to the group of WWE hopefuls. Among those taking part in the tryouts is independent wrestler LJ Cleary, the real-life fiancé of Lyra Valkyria.
Cena outlined a clear path for the aspiring talent to find a foothold in the competitive environment of WWE.
“You can be reliable, you can be coachable, and you can be interested. If you do those three things, you better your existence here,” Cena stated. “You might not be in the WrestleMania poster, but you sure as hell have bettered your odds of being part of the event.”
He contrasted this with a direct warning about the consequences of a poor attitude.
“But, if you are uninterested, uncoachable and unreliable, this is the first and last time we talk,” he said, before offering a final piece of encouragement. “I want to wish you the best in the rest of your tryout. Your journey doesn’t have to end here. The great thing about our business is there’s many ways to get to the top.”
The appearance provides a notable contrast to Cena’s on-screen character, who is set to headline Night 2 of SummerSlam against Cody Rhodes in a Street Fight. That match is a rematch from WrestleMania 41, where Cena controversially won his 17th world title using underhanded tactics.
With his in-ring career officially concluding at the end of 2025, this weekend’s guidance serves as a moment where the veteran, with only 17 appearances left, shared his wisdom with the next generation hoping to follow in his footsteps.
Undisputed WWE Champion @JohnCena gives advice to a group of WWE hopefuls at the #SummerSlam weekend tryouts. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/I2aJ6lszHt
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2025