John Cena’s Scathing Promo Shakes Up WWE’s Austin Theory Before WrestleMania 39 Showdown
In a night time that electrified the WWE universe, John Cena unleashed an extreme promo on Austin Theory main as much as their WrestleMania 39 bout, and the response from Theory might marvel fans. The legendary WWE celebrity, regarded for his powerful air of secrecy and difficult-hitting promos, introduced a scathing message that echoed throughout the WWE panorama, focused on Theory’s authenticity and challenging his readiness to be the face of the industry.
Cena, along with his unprecedented ability at connecting with the gang, didn’t simply critique Theory’s wrestling fashion; he called into question his very persona. “You’re a phony, and nobody’s buying it,” Cena told Theory on the March 6, 2023, episode of Monday Night Raw, one of the few appearances Cena made earlier than WrestleMania 39. Many viewers felt Cena’s promo became ruthless, pushing obstacles that even the WWE’s tough atmosphere rarely sees.
However, Cena defended his approach, revealing in a May 2023 interview that every line was carefully orchestrated with Theory’s involvement. Cena explained, “Austin is great to work with. We wrote that together. He was in every step of the process.” He shared that he approaches his promos with care and respect for his opponents, saying, “This is not a process I just do with Austin Theory.” Cena emphasized that his intent was to make Theory feel the weight of the industry’s expectations and understand the stakes.
Reflecting on the promo, Cena elaborated, “If you do not have something to care about, you do not have something.” His challenge was to help Theory break through, crafting an intensity that both they and the audience could believe in. Cena stated, “Fans can see through the BS if you don’t believe in your character. It’s what I said to Austin Theory. ‘You are young, you are athletic, you will work for this company, you will do interviews. I don’t believe what you do when you’re out there.’” This direct confrontation was more than a character-building exercise; it was Cena’s way of pushing Theory to embody his role fully, ensuring the audience’s connection with the story was genuine and impactful.
Cena shared that he spoke to Theory privately before taking their exchange to the ring, discussing the importance of bringing depth to their rivalry. “The reason I came back to Boston is because you can’t do this yourself yet. You cannot carry a WrestleMania promo yourself yet,” Cena recalled telling Theory. For Cena, this match wasn’t just another performance—it was an opportunity to help Theory gain credibility in an industry that demands both physical and emotional resilience. “In that match, if I get hurt, I hold up production, which puts 300 people out of work. Let’s do this right,” Cena added, illustrating the high stakes and shared responsibility among WWE performers.
As for Theory, the young wrestler took Cena’s critique in stride, demonstrating his adaptability and willingness to learn. Speaking to Chris Van Vliet in an interview, Theory opened up about his initial confusion and respect for Cena’s approach. “I remember showing up, and they were like, Cena is coming back, and you’re going to do a backstage with him… I had a promo, and then he was like, ‘Okay, that’s good. But like, what would you say to me?’” Theory admitted that it took him some time to fully grasp what Cena was driving at, acknowledging the depth of the lesson.
Theory pondered on the in-ring promo in Boston, announcing, “I think for me… I think it’s the character. I think he just wants to see me, and it’s hard for me to just say exactly what he means.” For Theory, the interaction wasn’t as a whole lot approximately harm emotions as it was about rising to the extent of a WWE icon and showing that he should stand in that ring with one in every of wrestling’s best performers.
When WrestleMania 39 arrived, Theory rose to the event and triumphed over Cena, making his mark in a in shape that could very well define his destiny profession. While Cena has on account that hinted that his very last WrestleMania look will come at WrestleMania 41, the effect of his phrases on Theory—and possibly the entire WWE roster—will probably reverberate for years to come.
