John Cena Wishes He Could “Do Over” His First WWE Character

Currently reigning as the Undisputed WWE Champion after a historic victory at WWE WrestleMania 41, John Cena’s path to a record-tying seventeenth world title was not without its initial missteps.

Cena, who defeated Cody Rhodes in April 2025, recently opened up about his early WWE days. His memorable WWE SmackDown debut on June 27, 2002, saw him confront Kurt Angle and embody “Ruthless Aggression!” Despite this impactful introduction, Cena struggled to gain traction with the persona.

“The time period I wish I had a do-over for was the ruthless aggression character. I did nothing with it,” Cena revealed at a Philadelphia Fan Expo panel.

He was on the verge of being released from WWE before his ‘Dr. of Thuganomics’ gimmick caught Stephanie McMahon’s and WWE fans’ attention.

If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Mike Kampke with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

Andrew Ravens
Andrew Ravens
Andrew Ravens is a reporter for WrestlingNews.co, where he covers the latest happenings in the world of professional wrestling. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his main focus is reporting on day-to-day wrestling news, with a special emphasis on covering WWE and AEW. Having covered the industry since 2013, Andrew has developed an extensive knowledge of pro wrestling. His work involves more than just standard news updates; he also serves as a beat writer, providing in-depth and ongoing coverage of wrestling companies and its storylines. His skill set includes providing detailed play-by-play coverage for major events, ensuring fans who can't watch live still get a feel for the action. He also handles transcription, accurately converting interviews and media scrums for readers. As a dedicated reporter, Andrew frequently attends major wrestling events to cover them live, including WWE's Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, as well as AEW Dynamite. You can get in touch with Andrew for news tips or correspondence by emailing him at ravenstarmedia21@gmail.com.

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