Top WWE Star Names John Cena His Ultimate Role Model, Explains ‘Cena Rule’

Top WWE Star Names John Cena His Ultimate Role Model, Explains ‘Cena Rule’ WWE

Cody Rhodes has explained why he regards 16-time World Champion John Cena as his ultimate role model.

While Rhodes is currently popular in WWE, the American Nightmare was receiving a mixed reaction towards the end of his AEW tenure.

Speaking with Robbie Fox on My Mom’s Basement, Rhodes recalled learning lots when he had the opportunity to drive Cena around.

Praising Cena, Rhodes said:

“You mention John. John’s the ultimate role model as far as how he conducted himself, whether it was with the media, with the fans, the good fans, the more unruly fans, everything.

“He is the ultimate role model. Before he became a bus guy, I got to drive him around a little bit, and he was just talking. I was, in my mind, just writing everything down that he was saying.

“He was really invaluable as a person to be around. I’m so blown away by how he’s doing and what he’s doing. I think if you try to copy what he did… everyone’s gotta do it their own way.

“I think my style, I ever was to be somebody that was a locker room leader, would just be to lead by example,” 

“I know because, as my time in management and being an executive, as beneficial as that was to me and as educational as it was to me, sometimes it’s easier to lead by example, really, versus telling them this is gonna work, or being so adamant that they need to do this and need to do this.

“Everybody is different. There is no true formula for success in sports entertainment and pro wrestling. It’s really you just know it when you hear it, when they’re reacting, boos and cheers included in that.

“I think for me, I’ll probably do it my way if I ever end in that spot and I kind of am. But yeah, I’d like to do it my way. I loved how he did it. Dude was his in his jean shorts and his shirt all show.”

Discussing the ‘Cena rule’ which he teaches students at the Nightmare Factory wrestling school, Rhodes said:

“The best thing I get from him that I tell the kids at the factory all the time is, ‘Don’t cover your ears.’ Even if there’s a small little rumble, he would always do something to reward their participation as a crowd.

“He would really make them interactive without letting them know they were interacting. The roar would be a little louder each time.

“The Cena rule, as we call it at the Nightmare Factory, is if they’re doing something, you need to do something. Doesn’t mean you gotta take it home or rush it. But you need to reward their noise.

“I think that came from a sense in his time (that) he was coming on the heels of giants, Rock, Austin, and probably didn’t want to lose any bit of participation because we’re going out of these eras where everybody, Godfather walking through the curtain, no knock on the Godfather, but the place is coming unglued.

“Then they got less and less for just the industry as a whole. I think he made it clear that, whenever you get something, you reward. I think that’s a good strategy to have now because as healthy as the business is now, and it is as healthy as it’s ever been, you still want it to keep moving upwards.”

Rhodes is set to challenge for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship at WrestleMania 39, following last month’s Royal Rumble match victory.

The American Nightmare has now discussed his current relationship with Triple H, which you can read more about right here.

Transcription via Fightful

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1 year ago by Sanchez Taylor

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