John Cena shared a story about a backstage interaction with a fellow WWE performer during his appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. The conversation highlighted the long-term impact of brief negative interactions in a high-pressure environment. Cena did not name the individual but described the scenario in detail.
“A WWE performer had the courage to bring me aside and say, Hey, a long time ago we met, and the meeting wasn’t good, and I offered an olive branch, and essentially you told me to kick rocks,” Cena recounted.
The co-worker explained to Cena that for years, that single negative interaction had defined their perception of Cena’s character. However, after working with Cena extensively during his recent run, the performer’s opinion changed.
“Then I got to know you and got to work with you for extended periods of time and saw that your character, the foundation of your character, and how you operate in your day to day, was not that moment,” Cena recalled the performer saying.
Cena’s Reaction
Cena expressed gratitude for the confrontation, viewing it as a valuable reminder of his responsibility as a leader in the locker room.
“I thanked him so much for having the courage to share that. And what a what a reminder of like, man, if that’s all you have, that’s your perception of me,” Cena said.
He used the story to emphasize the importance of maintaining kindness even when under stress. “Just try to lean into kindness. And you can’t be perfect, but, but try,” Cena advised.
Handling Criticism
The anecdote arose during a discussion about how Cena handles criticism. He noted that he is open to feedback about his behavior, distinguishing between critiques of his character versus critiques of his fictional storylines.
“I don’t mind hearing… ‘I got to spend a day with John and he was a dick,'” Cena admitted. “I don’t have perfect days all the time. Some of the days my patience is short… So you might catch me on a bad one or an imperfect moment”.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Chris Van Vliet with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
