The famous feud between John Cena and The Rock was not only a clash in the WWE ring but also had personal colors, affecting both stars in and out of the wrestling industry. Below is a detailed journey of this complicated relationship.
1. The Beginning of the Conflict
In 2008, in an interview with Hey Sun magazine, John Cena gave a sharp opinion about The Rock, who had moved from wrestling to the film industry. Cena criticized his senior as a “sellout” for leaving WWE to pursue Hollywood. In a harsh tone, Cena said that The Rock only took advantage of the fame from WWE to develop his acting career without really loving wrestling as he claimed.
Cena shared: “He claimed to love WWE, but left it when he had a little fame. If he really loves wrestling, he should come here and just say ‘hi’ and leave.” Cena’s comments added fuel to the fire of tension between two generations of WWE superstars.
2. The Historic Rivalry at WrestleMania
The conflict between John Cena and The Rock reached its peak at WrestleMania 28 in April 2012. Tens of thousands of fans witnessed the climax of the match between the two superstars, with The Rock winning. This result left Cena, who was eager to prove himself to The Rock, disappointed. The following year, at WrestleMania 29, Cena had a chance to get revenge when he defeated The Rock and won his 11th WWE Championship. That moment not only marked Cena’s self-transcendence, but also somewhat eased the animosity between them.
3. From Enemy to Reconciliation
After the WrestleMania match, Cena and The Rock showed respect to each other. In the stands, the two hugged, ending one of the biggest feuds in WWE history. However, the match caused The Rock to suffer a serious abdominal injury, leaving him with lifelong consequences. Sharing with the press, The Rock said: “I only have 5 and a half packs left because I had to have abdominal surgery 3 times after this accident.” These confessions created greater empathy and respect between the two.
4. Cena and The Rock: From Enemy to Friend
After the past controversies, Cena publicly expressed regret for his attitude. Cena shared, “At that time, I was very selfish and did not understand The Rock’s thinking.” He realized that The Rock paved the way for many other wrestling stars to enter Hollywood, helping the next generations, including Cena, have the opportunity to develop.
In 2022, Cena said he sought The Rock’s advice when deciding to switch from wrestling to acting. The Rock advised Cena to always be honest and consistent with himself, which helped him gain more confidence in his new journey. Their friendship gradually became closer, to the point that The Rock chose Cena to play the lead role in the action film “The Janson Directive” which he produced.
5. The Legacy of Two Legends
Although now having their own successes in Hollywood, both Cena and The Rock have never stopped expressing their love for WWE. Cena once said that he always wanted to fight The Rock again and longed to see his senior return to the ring. For Cena, The Rock is a testament to his relentless efforts and passion.
The lives and careers of John Cena and The Rock are living proof of overcoming hatred, so that the two eventually became close friends, supporting each other in work and life.
