John Cena Reveals Behind The Scenes Drama With Rock Match At WrestleMania 28

[Dale]

John Cena appeared on ESPN2's Highly Questionable this week. During the interview, Cena discussed being fired as a limo driver and breaking into the business. Cena also said that losing to The Rock in the main event of WrestleMania 28 was his biggest shame in wrestling. Cena was also asked about his biggest shame in the business.

"I spent a year telling everybody how important that match was to me and how proud I am of all of this," Cena said. "The Rock was gracious enough to come back to WWE for one time, and one time only at WrestleMania 28 in his hometown. And I didn't get the job done."


Cena was then asked why he felt actual shame since the ending of the match was pre-determined.


"There is a giant underlying story that you may or may not know to that, and I would have really liked to have been on top that night," Cena said.
Cena didn't provide many other details, but admitted that it was "a bit of a disappointment."


"That's one of those stories that years from now, Dwayne Johnson on a seat on a table and me on a seat on a table, we'll be smoking a cigar and we'll be drinking something out of a coffee cup and we'll tell that story then... It's an interesting story and one that you'll want to hear about, so hopefully one day you will."

Not sure what to make of this to be honest. Can't tell if it's Cena being naive and expecting to go over or whether it's just another jab at The Rock. I for one can't believe there was any other scenario planned other than Rock winning the first match because Cena going over him in his first Mania match back in his homestate nonetheless would have gone down horribly.

What makes the comment also a tad surprising is that he got the victory back in a WWE championship match and it's not a case of The Rock getting the victory and not returning the favour.

Would be interested to hear what it supposedly was in some form of DVD Rivalry, maybe like they did with Bret/Shawn because I honestly don't think we're done with Cena/Rock at WrestleMania and we'll get the trilogy in a couple of years time.

 

[PHX]

I watch that show so I saw this and was wondering what he was getting at. Only thing I can think of is that he was not so much let down that Rock won but that he found out Rock wasn't going to be around until months later after he beat him. Interesting situation whatever it is that is hopefully talked about down the line in a DVD.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

For the first part of his answer, I assumed he was still in character. I don't get the point in saying this kind of stuff. Makes him look a little bitter that he didn't get the win.

 

[SAIYANS]

Makes you wonder if he thought that would be Rocks one match back in singles action as opposed to a possible trilogy. With Rocks schedule its possible he may have been worried about being did like HBK was by Hulk, and that tie never coming

 

[Dale]

Makes you wonder if he thought that would be Rocks one match back in singles action as opposed to a possible trilogy. With Rocks schedule its possible he may have been worried about being did like HBK was by Hulk, and that tie never coming

Do you not think the 2 match feud would have been agreed in advance though? I personally just can't imagine them committing to Rock going over Cena in Miami without already knowing he would be back next year to return the favour.

Like I say, I always think the 2 matches were signed on for so that it would leave the option open for a trilogy should they ever want to go with that down the line.

 

[SAIYANS]

Do you not think the 2 match feud would have been agreed in advance though? I personally just can't imagine them committing to Rock going over Cena in Miami without already knowing he would be back next year to return the favour.

Like I say, I always think the 2 matches were signed on for so that it would leave the option open for a trilogy should they ever want to go with that down the line.

I would think it would be worked out between Vince and Rock. Vince said to his shareholders he and Rock worked out a verbal deal at first on one another's word. They may have had his word he would wrestle again, and that could've been good enough for Vince based off their past. But why would Cena trust his word? His whole diatribe was about Rock not meaning what he says even before they actually got Rock to return.

I think Rock is given a lot more wiggle room than Brock when it comes to dates and everything else as we saw when he just decided to return and become champ or work Survior Series. Brock seems to be inked to his commitments, Rock has more trust from the mcmahons.

i really don't know why Cena would be mad though short of him truly believing there would be no guaranteed return match

 

[Dale]

I would think it would be worked out between Vince and Rock. Vince said to his shareholders he and Rock worked out a verbal deal at first on one another's word. They may have had his word he would wrestle again, and that could've been good enough for Vince based off their past. But why would Cena trust his word? His whole diatribe was about Rock not meaning what he says even before they actually got Rock to return.

I think Rock is given a lot more wiggle room than Brock when it comes to dates and everything else as we saw when he just decided to return and become champ or work Survior Series. Brock seems to be inked to his commitments, Rock has more trust from the mcmahons.

i really don't know why Cena would be mad though short of him truly believing there would be no guaranteed return match

Because although it's still all linked together, I think Rock giving Vince his word and then Vince giving Cena his word the 2nd match happens then that should be enough. Lets not pretend that Cena is just an anybody though and that Vince would fuck him over to give Rock someone bigger than him.

Thinking about it again, I wonder if it could be related to the finish and Cena was pissed about how he was possibly made to look foolish attempting The Peoples Elbow thus he threw out this statement.

 

[SAIYANS]

Cena has to know those were a staple of Rock and Austin WM matches. The stealing of ones finisher seems petty but maybe

 

[Deezy]

Anything think that he meant that he was disappointed the match didn't live up to the hype, but didn't want to say that until his rivalry with Rock is finished for good?

LOL who brought up HBK/Hogan? That would've been a two parter if HBK was acting professional and didn't throw a hissyfit in the ring and make that first ever meeting between the two, look like sabotage. Then try bury the guy the next night, no wonder Hogan said "fuck this guy, I got my win".

 

[Keith]

Anything think that he meant that he was disappointed the match didn't live up to the hype, but didn't want to say that until his rivalry with Rock is finished for good?

LOL who brought up HBK/Hogan? That would've been a two parter if HBK was acting professional and didn't throw a hissyfit in the ring and make that first ever meeting between the two, look like sabotage. Then try bury the guy the next night, no wonder Hogan said "fuck this guy, I got my win".

Hogan never should have gone over IMO and Michaels worked one hell of a match that night.

I for one don't think there was a two match series between Rock and Cena planned in advanced other wise I doubt WWE would have promoted the once in a life time theme so much. I just think they gave the Rock the win as I didn't want to send the local let down.

 

[Deezy]

Hogan never should have gone over IMO and Michaels worked one hell of a match that night.

I for one don't think there was a two match series between Rock and Cena planned in advanced other wise I doubt WWE would have promoted the once in a life time theme so much. I just think they gave the Rock the win as I didn't want to send the local let down.

It was a 3 year build planned from the get-go. Rock's schedule was mapped out specifically for him to do Raw appeances and Mania 27, then again to wrestle at 28, and finally have that insane schedule over 29. And you taking a wrestling tagline and thinking it's suppose to mean something legit? HAHAHA you got worked.

Also, Hogan had every right to win first, bigger draw, more name value and did more for this industry than HBK, and Michaels was sabotaging that match by his overselling. Anyone fresh from wrestling school could tell you that.

 

[Keith]

]It was a 3 year build planned from the get-go.[/B] Rock's schedule was mapped out specifically for him to do Raw appeances and Mania 27, then again to wrestle at 28, and finally have that insane schedule over 29. And you taking a wrestling tagline and thinking it's suppose to mean something legit? HAHAHA you got worked.

Also, Hogan had every right to win first, bigger draw, more name value and did more for this industry than HBK, and Michaels was sabotaging that match by his overselling. Anyone fresh from wrestling school could tell you that.

And you know that how? Not saying it wasn't, but you seem to assume a lot. I didn't get worked, its not like I tuned into Mania just to see Cena-Rock, besides they screwed themselves as the next Mania buyrate dropped because fans were not as keen to see a rematch of what was supposed to be a one time deal.

Hogan wasn't a bigger draw than HBK in 2005 and Michaels was the full timer.

 

[Deezy]

And you know that how? Not saying it wasn't, but you seem to assume a lot. I didn't get worked, its not like I tuned into Mania just to see Cena-Rock, besides they screwed themselves as the next Mania buyrate dropped because fans were not as keen to see a rematch of what was supposed to be a one time deal.

Hogan wasn't a bigger draw than HBK in 2005 and Michaels was the full timer.

WM 27 was built on Rock/Cena having an altercation, the next night they booked the actual match a year later, and everybody knew a rematch was happening because of Rock winning. It doesn't take a Meltzer to speculate that shit.

Also, HBK being a fulltimer doesn't have shit to do with being a draw, HBK didn't do the ratings Hogan did when he made appearances that year and that whole Backlash PPV was built off Hogans "one more match". That Summerslam was built of Hogan nostalgia aswell. HBK wasn't maineventing any PPVs that year, and yet his Hogan match was on last at Summerslam.....notice a pattern?

 

[SAIYANS]

And you know that how? Not saying it wasn't, but you seem to assume a lot. I didn't get worked, its not like I tuned into Mania just to see Cena-Rock, besides they screwed themselves as the next Mania buyrate dropped because fans were not as keen to see a rematch of what was supposed to be a one time deal.

Hogan wasn't a bigger draw than HBK in 2005 and Michaels was the full timer.

Can't screw yourself if you set a revenue record bro, not in the real world anyhow

 

[AF.]

I think it's obvious they didn't get along initially because of the very reason that Rock wasn't there to stay. That's always been what Cena stands for, so naturally he would have had to suck it up and do what's right for business and lose to Rock when he felt he shouldn't have. Rock would have rubbed it in his face aswell.