As John Cena prepares for a high-stakes encounter with AJ Styles, it’s worth remembering there was a time when his main event potential was doubted by WWE’s most influential backstage figures. A new interview has revealed the early resistance to Cena’s rise.
According to WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter, speaking on WrestleBinge, Vince McMahon’s decision to elevate Cena was initially met with disbelief. Slaughter described a production meeting where the plan was first announced to a room of veterans.
Slaughter recalled the immediate reaction from himself, Pat Patterson, Gerald Brisco, and Bruce Prichard:
“It’s such a thrill to see John still doing what he’s doing. When Vince came to us at the production meeting and said, ‘My new hero’s gonna be John Cena,’ we all looked at each other, Pat and I, Brisco, and Bruce Prichard, all of us looked at each other, ‘John Cena? He can’t even lace up his tennis shoes. How are we gonna make him the hero?’”
That skepticism contrasts sharply with Cena’s legendary status today, as he embarks on a retirement tour and calls out fellow icons. His challenge to AJ Styles was made official yesterday by Triple H for WWE Crown Jewel. The match, their fifth singles encounter, is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, in Perth, Western Australia.
With their head-to-head record tied at 2–2, this bout will serve as the definitive tiebreaker—an emphatic reminder of how Cena proved his early critics wrong.