For the last 14 years, John Cena has been the face of the WWE. Now referred to on WWE SmackDown Live as the “Face that Runs the Place,” Cena has been on top longer than any other star in WWE history, including the runs by names like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock. However, John Cena appeared on Talking Smack on Tuesday night and said he wants someone to step up to take his spot in the WWE.
John Cena mentioned how he, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and more showed up in 2002, and then Cena said that he feels this New Era that started after the WWE Draft is a better pool of talent than the one that existed in 2002. Of course, this is John Cena, so he had a caveat to this statement.
“People have moments, moments that last in the annals of WWE history. But if you look at what I’ve done, I just show up all the time and deliver. I am waiting for someone after 14 years to show up all the time and deliver. You can ask many other WWE Superstars who know exactly how hard that is. I am just waiting for someone not to do it once, just to do it consistently better.”
A few years back, it could be argued that CM Punk was that man. He was consistently having great matches, great promos, and was more over than John Cena was for a time. However, as John pointed out in the interview, no one has consistently done it over a long period of time, pointing out Daniel Bryan as well as someone who was on top but then fell, albeit to injury.
John Cena flattens AJ Styles before #SummerSlam on last night’s #SmackDownLIVE . Our recap https://t.co/aKOTQoNqkI pic.twitter.com/XuyE4YKHhc
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) August 17, 2016
When pushed about who the best wrestlers he has faced in the New Era that could possibly stand to replace him as the face of the WWE, John Cena had a few names that he pointed out.
First was Seth Rollins, someone that Cena has always been vocally impressed with. Second was Cesaro, someone who John said does fantastic things all the time. Bryan pointed out that Vince McMahon said Cesaro didn’t have “it” and asked what it was. Cena pointed out that McMahon said the same thing about Bryan because he didn’t eat steak and that Vince hated Cena in the start.
Right after #SDLive , @JohnCena joins #TalkingSmack , only on @WWENetwork ! pic.twitter.com/ScHXxmY8ea
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) August 16, 2016
That is when John Cena gave a hint at what someone like Cesaro has to do if he wants to reach the top. John said that McMahon hated him when he came in because he wasn’t delivering, so Cena turned his hat around, wore a steel chain, and connected with the fans. That won them over.
John Cena also pointed out that when Daniel Bryan joined forces with Kane, fans started to see a new side of him, and he was able to start showing how talented he was. Cena said it is all about taking the opportunities given to a superstar and using them to connect with the fans in some way.
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The question about John Cena’s eventual replacement as the face of the WWE was in reference to his upcoming match with AJ Styles at SummerSlam . Rolling Stone reported that the focus of Styles in this feud has been Cena burying young talent . This comment was in reference to that and has John Cena claiming that he wants someone to prove they are good enough to replace him at the top of the WWE mountain.
[Image via WWE ]