Arn Anderson has recalled Vince McMahon deciding to give John Cena a mega-push early in the top star’s career.
The 2002 class of the WWE developmental promotion OVW was a stacked one, featuring the likes of Brock Lesnar, Batista and Randy Orton.
While numerous competitors from this class became successful stars, John Cena arguably reached the highest heights of anyone in his cohort, becoming a 16 time world champion, and the face of WWE.
Speaking on his ARN podcast, Anderson, who worked as a backstage agent at the time, recalled Vince McMahon deciding that Cena would be ‘the guy’
Anderson explained that McMahon also considered giving Randy Orton or Batista the mega-push, before noting:
“When he decided on John he just said to me one day, ‘Okay Arn, I am giving Cena to you, teach him how to work, teach him the business,’ just like that.
“From that point on I guess he told whoever assigned the matches, ‘Give Cena to Arn,’ and I started working with him and worked with him the entire time that he was being groomed and what he became.
“Some guys already started to balk at it and I had to do some politicking with these guys and let them know it’s okay.
“Normally you wouldn’t get beat in that amount of time but hey, it’s going to be everybody guys so don’t be the guy that bucks up and loses their job ’cause everybody is going to put the guy over and in record time.”
Cena is currently rising star in Hollywood, working on multiple projects. He last wrestled at WrestleMania 39, losing to Austin Theory in their US Title match.
A recent clip of Cena shutting down a fan conversation has sparked debates about celebrity interactions, which you can read more about right here.
Transcription via Wrestling Inc.
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