John Cena has addressed the reaction to WWE’s newly announced John Cena Classic following its reveal during WWE Backlash, making it clear that he understands the concept may not appeal to everyone right away.
The longtime WWE star shared a lengthy message on social media on Sunday discussing the motivation behind the project and why he believes it is worth pursuing despite the uncertainty surrounding it. Cena emphasized that authenticity has always been central to the advice he gives others, especially within WWE.
“When asked to give advice, especially with WWE, I often reply ‘be authentic’, ‘do not fear failure’, ‘know your why,’” Cena wrote. “The John Cena Classic may not be perfect by any means yet it’s authentically me (I am not perfect either) and reflects my values and beliefs.”
Cena also admitted there is always a chance the idea could fail, but he made it clear that fear of failure is not something preventing him from moving forward with the project.
“I’m aware that there is the risk it might be a total failure and I’m not afraid of that and believe it’s still worth stepping ‘in the arena,’” he continued.
The WWE veteran went on to explain that his priorities have shifted as his in-ring career winds down. Rather than focusing on himself, Cena said his current goal is to help create opportunities for younger performers to showcase themselves, particularly talent connected to WWE’s developmental system.
John Cena Classic Focuses on New WWE Talent
According to Cena, the John Cena Classic is designed to become a platform that gives talent a chance to stand out while also offering fans something different from the traditional WWE presentation.
“My ‘why’ in WWE is to consistently be as useful as possible for as long as possible, with my in ring career at an end, my ‘why’ is to use whatever energy or relevance I have left in hopes to create a launchpad of opportunity for all talent to show their skills while simultaneously creating a unique experience for our dedicated fan base,” Cena wrote.
He added, “At the very least..we all learn something. At the very best..we all create something. I’m ready for wherever the road takes us. Thank you WWE for this opportunity. More details to come as we figure all this out!”
The announcement of the John Cena Classic quickly became one of the biggest talking points coming out of WWE Backlash, with fans already debating what the event could look like and how it may fit into WWE programming moving forward.
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