"Engaged in back-and-forth show of brute strength, John Cena battled Lord Tensai. In a stunning ending, Tensai sprayed Cena in the eyes with a stinging, green mist then delivered a massive powerbomb to preserve his undefeated streak. Cena is having a rough 2012 so far."
WWE: Brock's controversial words draw strong reactions from Superstars past and present
Brock Lesnar minces his opponents, but he doesn't mince words. Time and time again, he's shown he can be as ruthless with his verbal jabs as he is with his fists in the heat of competition.
Still, what Brock said during a WWE interview on Raw SuperShow came as a shock. The short-fused Superstar really let loose on some pressing topics, including his return to WWE and his true feelings about John Cena, his opponent at Extreme Rules When he was through, the entire WWE was left to absorb the impact of his controversial words – and that includes past and present Superstars who have been there to witness Brock's path of destruction both then and now.
In a series of exclusive interviews, WWE.com gauged the reactions to what Lesnar had to say on Raw, especially his bold claim that Cena would've never risen to stardom if Brock had remained in WWE. Or to put it in Brock's own words: "Cena's the guy that would be carrying my bags into the building." What did those who were around for both Brock's departure and Cena's ascension eight years ago think about Brock's comments?
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Booker T, one of the Superstars who performed at both WrestleMania XIX and WrestleMania XX along with Brock, didn't agree with Lesnar's statement at all. The former World Heavyweight Champion believes that the landscape of WWE wouldn't have been any different if Brock had stayed.
"There's only one chief around here, and we all know who that is. I don't think one Superstar in WWE determines what goes on," Booker said. "I remember a promoter telling me a long time ago ... Years later, I now understand exactly what he was saying. He said: 'One monkey don't stop no show.' And that pretty much sums it up right there."
The former champion cited the old saying (and title of Goodie Mob's rap album in 2004) about the absence of one not causing the show to stop. Booker's former tag team partner, Dustin Rhodes, shared that opinion in his comments to WWE.com, but admitted Brock was right about one thing: "He's not an entertainer. He's a double-tough, ass-kicking machine."
Even so, the longtime WWE veteran thinks Cena must be shown more respect as a competitor, because a "big, bad, tough man" like Brock could still fall prey to the Attitude Adjustment.
"Whether you like him or hate him, you respect John Cena. He works his ass off day in and day out more than anybody else in this locker room, on the roster, period," Rhodes passionately explained. "What Brock said about Cena, I find that a bit distasteful. I don't believe for a second that if Brock didn't leave eight years ago that Cena wouldn't be where he's at today. I think that's bull.
"John Cena was destined to be a star."
Not everyone was totally convinced Cena and Brock could've coexisted in WWE all these years, however. Superstar and NXT commentator William Regal said that while it may not make him a popular man, he's inclined to believe everything that comes out of Lesnar's mouth.
"There's no way that things would be the way they are if Brock had never left. I'm not saying that Cena wouldn't be the huge star that he is, but there's not room for two of them in the same universe," Regal said. "You can't have two people with that incredible ability, strength, desire, passion, and that Elvis quality – which is that magic quality that you only come across once in a million. And they've both got it. Usually, one fella has got to go, because when they collide, that's the way it plays out."
Now, nine years since they last collided at Backlash in 2003, Brock is back and he's painted a giant bull's-eye on Cena in his mission to "legitimize" WWE, as Lesnar put it in that revealing interview. To Regal, what makes Lesnar's return so disconcerting is that he's not motivated by anything else other than the unbreakable will to bring the pain – and dominate.
"He's not coming back for the money. He doesn't need to come back for the fame, because he couldn't care less about the fame. That makes him a scary man," Regal said. "There's only one reason he's here and that's to prove he's more dominant than anybody else. And that means you need to worry."
Clearly, the onus is on Cena at Extreme Rules to stop Brock in his tracks before he charges to the top, and the Cenation leader has vehemently promised to fight, fight, fight all the way. WWE commentator Matt Striker, who may not have been in WWE in 2003 but closely followed Cena's meteoric rise, thinks the real challenge for John will be to adapt to Brock's brutal nature, but he's confident the 10-Time WWE Champion will be up to the daunting task.
"I think it's safe to say Brock is the most legitimate, most dangerous ass-kicker WWE has ever seen, and the one person that now really needs to reinvent himself and relearn his craft is Cena," Striker said. "Brock is not here to use armdrags and dropkicks. Brock is here to punch you in the face and snap your bones. We need to see what Cena is made of, and I believe at Extreme Rules, the whole world will find out."
With no disqualifications and no count-outs preventing Brock and Cena from smashing each other to bits, Lesnar's biting words will pale in comparison to the punishment to come. And if you believe in fate and destiny like Striker does, this undoubtedly is a rematch nearly a decade in the making.
"I think Brock was supposed to leave. Cena was supposed to rise to the great heights he's reached. I just think that all of this is the planets aligning," Striker said. "This had to happen on April 29, 2012. It couldn't have happened a day before or a day after. It has to be Brock Lesnar versus John Cena, and it has to be done this way."
A United States Marine has challenged John Cena to a pushup contest for Charity.
In the video below, US Marine Corps Sgt. Enrique Trevino issues his challenge Cena. The challenge is being done as a fundraiser to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides assistance to soldiers wounded in combat.
Sgt. Trevino has set a goal for himself to complete 1 million pushups this year.
It ain’t easy wearing green these days for John Cena, who just can’t seem to catch a break since losing his Once in a Lifetime clash against The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII. Ever since that night, Cena’s life has been a cyclical nightmare of beatdowns at hands of Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar didn’t step into the ring on Raw SuperShow in London, but Cena’s night didn’t get any better when he fell victim to the green mist of Lord Tensai in an Extreme Rules Match orchestrated by EVP of Talent Relations and Raw and SmackDown GM John Laurinaitis. Not only did he lose that match, but the mysterious spray blinded the Cenation Leader and he had to be helped to the locker room area by WWE officials.
All this considered, then, is this John Cena’s worst month ever?
The Cenation Leader has been through tough times before – his mantra is “Never Give Up,” after all, and one doesn’t adopt that code without having faced some adversity in life – but he’s never looked quite as much the underdog as he has against Lesnar these past few weeks. And he’s never quite looked as helpless as he was after Tensai robbed him of his sight on Raw SuperShow.
So, how did we get here?
Cena’s current woes can probably be traced back to the moment during WrestleMania when, with The Rock all but beaten, he attempted to administer The People’s Elbow instead of covering The Great One for the three-count. It was an uncommonly hubristic move on Cena’s part, and it cost him the match he’d sworn for months he could not lose. The following night on Raw SuperShow, though clearly disappointed, Cena offered to swallow his pride and shake Rock’s hand. Instead, he got a surprise return by Brock Lesnar and an F-5. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The strange thing is, Cena hasn’t lost any of his old fire. He defiantly slapped Lesnar across the face the next week on Raw SuperShow, held his own in the brawl that cleaned out the locker room, and made quick work of Laurinaitis’ associate, David Otunga, the same evening. And yet, he still fell to another F-5 at the end of the night. (PHOTOS) To top it off, Cena and Lesnar will meet again next week, for their official contract signing. Given the history of how those sit-downs tend to unravel, there's a strong chance physicality will rear its head yet again for the Cenation Leader.
There’s no denying that Cena has a target on his back, and not just the typical one from the boobirds who want to see him falter. Laurinaitis is out to replace him with Lesnar, to “legitimize” WWE and erase Cena from the picture entirely. Cena knows as much, as he always has whenever the deck is stacked against him. But perhaps this time it’s different. Maybe this time, even for a Superstar like Cena, “rising above” is easier said than done.
Vickie Guerrero 44th Birthday is April 16th but She got a surprise during a Live Event.
John Cena sings Happy Birthday to Vickie Guerrero. Along side with Zack Ryder. Then CM Punk smashes a cake in her face when Cena gets done singing to her!
John Laurinaitis announced a mystery opponent for John Cena:
Concerned that his WrestleMania loss could have been the end of his era, John Cena emphatically declared that he will fight Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules and overcome any fear he has of him. To give everyone a taste of what is to come in what he calls the “People Power” era, Raw and Smackdown General Manager John Laurinaitis announced John Cena would face a mystery opponent in an Extreme Rules Match on Raw Supershow. The GM also revealed there will be an Extreme Rules contract signing between John Cena and Brock Lesnar during next Mondays special three-hour Raw SuperShow starting at 8/7 CT on USA Network.
Special three-hour Raw SuperShow announced
On next Monday’s three-hour Raw SuperShow special, John Cena and Brock Lesnar will step into the ring to sign the contract for their Extreme Rules match. What will transpire when these two warriors step in the ring together? Tune in at a special start time of 8/7 CT on USA Network.
Lord Tensai def. John Cena in an Extreme Rules Match
With anticipation about who John Cena would face in the Extreme Rules Match, John Laurinaitis revealed it would be one of WWE’s most destructive forces – Lord Tensai. Looking on from ringside, Laurinaitis and David Otunga watched Cena battle the dangerous 350-pounder.
As the two fought tooth-and-nail, Cena countered one of Tensai’s moves and tossed him over his back and onto the arena floor in an impressive show of strength. With Tensai feeling the effects of being slammed, Cena used the steel ring steeps to bash Tensai. Then, Mr. Sakamoto inserted himself into the action and attacked Cena. Following up, Otunga tossed Cena back into ring.
Engaged in back and forth show of brute strength, it looked like Tensai finally had Cena where he wanted when he dropped his crushing weight onto him … but Cena kept fighting. When Cena had the STF locked in on Tensai, Otunga charged to be met with Attitude Adjustment. Then in a stunning ending, Tensai sprayed Cena in the eyes with a stinging, green mist then delivered a massive powerbomb to preserve his undefeated streak.
With his eyes still burning, Cena was attended to by a WWE doctor after the match
"Despite a rough start, the Cenation Leader certainly rose above this week thanks to his toughness after a vicious attack by Brock Lesnar and his victory over David Otunga on Raw."
Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis proclaimed Brock Lesnar is the new "face of WWE." Not if John Cena has something to say about it!
Lesnar will enter the squared circle for his first WWE match in eight years when he goes to war with Cena at Extreme Rules.
Lesnar turned the WWE Universe upside down when he returned to WWE on the April 2 edition of Raw SuperShow and immediately targeted Cena with a devastating F-5. The Cenation leader didn't back down the following week on Raw and responded with an emphatic slap that triggered a near-uncontrollable brawl and left Cena with a busted lip. Little did Cena know he'd later be taking another ride in the whirlwind of the F-5, proving that Lesnar is not only intent on establishing himself as the most dominant WWE Superstar; he wants to dish out punishment every chance he gets, too.
Extreme Rules, one of the most ruthless WWE pay-per-views of the year, will provide the ultimate opportunity for these two to settle their differences in the most brutal of circumstances.
It will be the first WWE in-ring action for Brock since WrestleMania XX on March 14, 2004. In just two years with WWE, Brock tore through some of the biggest and baddest competitors like an oversized wrecking ball and racked up an impressive list of accomplishments, including three WWE Championships, a Royal Rumble victory, and being crowned King of the Ring.
Now, after achieving great success in the world of mixed martial arts, Brock has his wild eyes locked on the very man he tangled with nearly a decade ago. It was early in 2003 when Cena was a cocky, trash-talking performer looking to rise up the ranks of WWE by picking a fight with "The Next Big Thing." Armed with insult-laced raps that got under Brock's skin, Cena continued to antagonize Lesnar until a final showdown for his WWE Title at Backlash on April 27, 2003.
Even though the two rivals haven't squared off since, it's very clear that Brock still wants to inflict pain on the 10-Time WWE Champion after all these years. Well, there isn't a more suitable domain to unleash that hunger for pain than at Extreme Rules, which takes place live on pay-per-view April 29 from the Allstate Arena in Chicago.
Coming off a very close loss to The Rock at WrestleMania, Cena will surely be looking to make a powerful statement in what could be the most physically demanding battle of his career. And judging by Brock's recent unpredictable attacks, there's no telling what he's capable of doing on the one night of the year when the entire WWE throws out the rulebook.
Brock Lesnar brawled with John Cena; match set for Extreme Rules
Raw GM John Laurinaitis came out to introduce Brock Lesnar, proclaiming that he's the new face of WWE, and announced that Lesnar will face Cena at Extreme Rules on April 29.
Lesnar thanked Laurinaitis for having the wisdom to bring "legitimacy" back to WWE, but that statement didn't sit right with John Cena, who quickly charged out to the ring for a heated staredown with the very man who laid him out with a brutal F-5 the previous week on Raw.
The Cenation leader proceeded to slap Brock in the face, triggering a near-uncontrollable brawl. Pandemonium broke loose and the WWE locker room emptied as over a dozen Superstars and Officials tried to pull the two competitors off each other.
It took repeated efforts to stop Brock and Cena from pounding each other to bits as the Verizon Center erupted. Cena suffered a nasty bloodied lip as a result of the wild melee with Lesnar.
John Cena def. David Otunga; Brock Lesnar assaulted Cena afterwards
Cena didn't let a busted lip slow him down in the main event of Raw SuperShow. Still bleeding from the mouth following his brawl with Lesnar at the beginning of Raw, Cena withstood David Otunga's powerful punches and clotheslines, then mounted a big comeback while Otunga wasted too much time posing for the crowd.
The Cenation leader nailed Otunga with a Five-Knuckle Shuffle and an Attitude Adjustment before finishing him off with the STF.
As Cena had his hand raised in victory, though, Lesnar snuck up from behind and brought Cena down with a low blow, then sent him flying with another devastating F-5 for the second week in a row.
It's apparent that the self-proclaimed "War Machine" will stop at nothing to claim the top spot in his impactful return to WWE. And at this rate, these two rivals appear ready to tear each other to shreds before they even get to square off at Extreme Rules on April 29
2 Different Covers, 2 Amazing Posters—All In 1 Issue!
The April issue is here, and it’s too big to be contained under one cover! So this month, we’re giving you two, in addition to a pair of exclusive free posters of the undead Undertaker and the ultra-hot Kelly Kelly. That’s twice as awesome!
The Real National Pastime!
Find out why Major League Baseball will always strike out against WWE. Plus, it’s the triumphant return of fan favorite, Abe “Knuckleball” Schwartz.
The 101 Greatest T-Shirts In WWE!
They are the most iconic, most ironic and most inspiring images ever to be printed on the front (and back) of a set of short sleeves. Take a look at our awe-inspiring retrospective of WWE’s finest works of pop art!
WrestleMania Goes To The Movies!
What would The Show of Shows look like on the silver screen? WWE Magazine has transformed the finest moments on The Grandest Stage of Them All into their own movie posters.
Plus—in-depth and insightful interviews with:
• The Great White, Sheamus
• The Essence of Excellence, Alberto Del Rio
• The Showstopper, Shawn Michaels
• The Rated-R Superstar, Edge
Bonus:
Triple H shows you how to shoulder all the weight in the gym!
Daniel Bryan submits to all of your questions on Twitter!
CM Punk promotes the power of his patella!
What if John Cena and Randy Orton traded place during their rookie years?
And…Kelly Kelly is totally “Hotty Hotty” as our Diva of the Month!
We can't begin to determine why Lesnar came back and immediately targeted Cena. Trying to do that would be futile. As evidenced on Raw, Brock is unpredictably dangerous. His vicious attack could've been about making a statement to the entire WWE Universe, or perhaps he wanted to send a lasting message to the Cenation leader – just like he did nearly a decade ago.
As it turns out, these two have a rocky history dating back to 2003 – one that includes scathing insults, the birth of Cena's finishing maneuver, and a hard-fought clash for the WWE Championship. While the WWE Universe waits to learn more about Brock's intentions coming out of that shocking assault, it's the perfect time to trace where the bad blood first boiled over between Lesnar and Cena.
Feb. 6, 2003: Cena calls out Lesnar for the first time
Cena and Lesnar were on two very different roads in 2003. Lesnar was an established title contender in hot pursuit of the second WWE Championship of his young career. Cena, on the other hand, was a cocky, trash-talking Superstar on the rise who was trying to make a name for himself at all costs.
On the Feb. 6, 2003 edition of SmackDown, a rambunctious, rappin' Cena used one of his patented freestyles to unleash words of fury on "The Next Big Thing." Taking shots at Brock's intelligence, appearance, and even the F-5, Cena challenged Lesnar to a match on the following week's SmackDown. It was a bold move for the former "Doctor of Thuganomics," but it certainly grabbed the WWE Universe's – and Brock's – attention.
Feb. 13, 2003: Lesnar shows Cena the meaning of pain
Cena wasn't done poking fun at Lesnar as they fought for the first time on the Feb. 13, 2003 edition of SmackDown. He provoked the beast with a pre-match freestyle, mocking Lesnar with lines like, "God build me strong, forget to give me brain." Brock then made Cena pay for disrespecting him with punishing blows before Cena nearly pulled off an upset by smashing Lesnar's head with a steel chain.
After Brock ultimately powered back and defeated Cena with a powerful F-5, he made an example out of him with another F-5 into the steel ring post that wrecked the Cenation leader's knee.
March 2003: Back on his feet, Cena calls out Lesnar again
Cena didn't keep quiet while recouping from the knee injury inflicted by Lesnar. In a series of insult-laced freestyles aired on SmackDown, The Cenation Commander-in-Chief warned Brock that he would seek revenge for the F-5 that put him out of action for several weeks. Claiming that Lesnar had awoken his more intense side, Cena vowed to take out all of his pent-up aggression on Brock when he returned to SmackDown.
March 27, 2003: Cena gives the F-5 a serious adjustment
Returning to SmackDown on March 27, 2003, Cena entered himself in a No. 1 Contender's Tournament for an opportunity to face Lesnar for the WWE Title at Backlash. Cena wasted no time proving his intensity against his first opponent in the tournament, Rikishi. He wore the 350-pounder down and finished him off with a new, modified version of the F-5, which later became known as the Attitude Adjustment. In essence, the very finishing move that helped carry Cena to the top of WWE was something he conceived to anger Lesnar. After the contest, Cena called Brock out to the ring, and then charged to the backstage area to brawl with Lesnar when he didn't get an answer.
The Cenation leader went on to win the No. 1 Contender's Tournament, defeating Eddie Guerrero and Undertaker along the way, to earn his sought-after rematch against Lesnar at Backlash. Throughout the tournament, Cena continued to use the modified F-5 as his finisher to conquer his challengers, fanning the flames of his growing rivalry with Brock in the process.
April 24, 2003: Battered and bruised, Lesnar stands strong
On the April 24, 2003 edition of SmackDown, Cena showed he would go to any lengths in his quest to take the WWE Championship from Brock. The Cenation Commander-in-Chief interfered in Lesnar's match just days before Backlash and brutalized Brock with the WWE Title and attempted to humiliate him with the modified F-5/Attitude Adjustment. As Cena came back to the ring to taunt Lesnar, though, he found himself caught in the whirlwind of Brock's F-5. Cena's merciless assault seemed to only feed Brock's hunger to teach him a painful lesson with the championship on the line.
Brock and Cena: Their turbulent history
With a bandage covering the wound from Cena's attack, Lesnar took the early advantage at Backlash by exerting his freakish strength to overpower his smaller opponent. A determined Cena rallied back and pinpointed the WWE Champion's injury by sending him headfirst into the steel ring steps and ring post. However, when Cena tried to worsen the damage with a steel chain, the referee stopped him in his tracks, giving Brock an opening to bring the pain with the decisive F-5.
Their rivalry ended at Backlash in 2003, but Cena's precipitous rise in WWE was only just beginning. The budding Superstar kept climbing the ranks and captured the WWE Title a whopping 10 times, while Brock departed WWE in 2004 as a three-time WWE Champion and achieved great success in the world of mixed martial arts.
It wouldn't come as a surprise to discover that Lesnar's hatred for Cena is still thriving nearly a decade later. And if Lesnar's return to WWE is driven by a grudge after all these years, Cena better watch out – because history tells us that Brock's rage cannot be ridiculed.
Did Brock purposely try to reignite his past rivalry with Cena? Or did he put the bull's eye on him for the sheer enjoyment of inflicting more pain in WWE?
"What’s black and blue and falling fast down the rankings? The Cenation leader, who incurred the wrath of Brock Lesnar on Raw SuperShow just one day after his ego cost him a "Once in a Lifetime" victory at WrestleMania over The Rock."
SyFy Kicks Into High Gear When ‘Dream Machines’ Premieres Tuesday, April 10 With Guest Star 50 Cent
NEW YORK – April 4, 2012 – Syfy will drive viewers to dream big and build bigger as its latest original reality series Dream Machines premieres on Tuesday, April 10 at 10PM (ET/PT) featuring guest star 50 Cent, immediately following WWE SuperSmackDown Live at 8 PM (ET/PT).
Dream Machines follows Florida-based brothers Marc and Shanon Parker, owners of Parker Brothers’ Concepts, and their crackerjack crew as they take the most imaginative vehicles ever seen in movies, comic books, and TV shows, and engineer them into on-the-road realities. There’s no design challenge too fantastical – or even impossible – for the brothers to take on, and each week they’ll stop at nothing to create these one-of-a-kind “dream machines” for their vast array of celebrity and collector clients.
WWE Superstar John Cena will also guest star in an upcoming episode of Dream Machines enlisting the Parker Brothers to design the “InCENArator,” a vehicle specifically built for the former World Champion. The custom made “InCENArator” will make its television debut on WWE Monday Night Raw on Monday, April 9 at 9PM (ET/PT) on USA Network live from Washington, DC.
WWE SuperSmackDown Live will feature WWE’s biggest Superstars and Divas, including Randy Orton®, Daniel Bryan™, Big Show®, Sheamus™, Mark Henry®, Wade Barrett™, Cody Rhodes™ and Alicia Fox™. The special will encore in Smackdown’s regular time slot on Friday, April 13 at 8PM (ET/PT).
In the premiere episode of Dream Machines, entitled “50 Cent’s Jet Car” – the first of a two part episode – the Parker Brothers have their hands full when rapper, actor and entrepreneur 50 Cent (a.k.a. Curtis Jackson) requests a one-of-a-kind formula one race car inspired by a futuristic space ship. In order to find inspiration for the design, Shanon must get over his fear of flying and challenge Marc to a mid-air dogfight in jet fighters. Back at the shop, design and fabrication collide when Shanon’s creativity conflicts with Marc’s practical ability to build the plans. Just as the car is coming together, a major design change combined with a harrowing new deadline could make the Parker Brothers’ build crash and burn.
Dream Machines is produced by Triage Entertainment with Steve Kroopnick (Iron Chef America) serving as executive producer. Steve Nigg (American Chopper, UFO Hunters) is co-executive producer.
Brock Lesnar returned and with one crushing F5 to John Cena completely changed the entire landscape of WWE!
The shocking return happened after John Cena admitted defeat to The Rock at WrestleMania and called him the greatest WWE Superstar. Cena apologized if he let any his fans down, then vowed to be the best he could. But after inviting The Rock to the ring, Brock Lesnar emerged to completely unglue the WWE Universe in attendance!
Standing 6-foot-3 and 266 pounds, Lesnar eyed the WWE Universe in attendance, then Cena as he paced around the ring. With emotions running high for the thousands in attendance and watching all over the world, Lesnar dropped Cena with a brutal F5.
What's next for Cena? Questions swirl after loss in "Once in a Lifetime" Match
The last we saw of John Cena, he was sitting on the entranceway of The Grandest Stage of Them All, with a look on his face that can only be described as, well … simply miserable.
Since his agonizingly close loss to The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII, Cena hasn't said one word about what he's thinking or feeling. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case, that image can't even begin to express what it must feel like to lose a "Once in a Lifetime" Match.
"Nobody goes into a match thinking that they're going to lose. If they do, they've already lost," said WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson. "Simple fact is: Cena was very confident going in."
Throughout WrestleMania Week, the leader of Cenation was active on Twitter, encouraging his followers to get ready for a match for the ages. Now he's gone radio silent, leaving the Cenation with only questions – and serious concerns – as they wonder what's going through their icon's head.
"I think he's probably a little confused," former WWE competitor Dean Malenko said. "There are likely a million emotions going around in his head. He might be feeling that he let people down, and maybe even let himself down."
It was nearly a month ago on the Raw SuperShow in Boston where Cena told The Great One, "If you beat me, I lose everything!" As The Brahma Bull still soaks in his monumental victory, Cena's silence has left us with pressing speculation: Has the 12-time World Champion really lost everything?
One thing is for certain: John Cena has never quit in the face of adversity. He rises above adversity at every turn. Even with the Miami crowd pouring on some haterade, Cena didn't let it faze him as he pulled off one of his greatest performances yet. But Cena has said it himself: "Nobody remembers second place."
Is the shame of a second-place finish enough to make Cena second-guess his decision to get in the ring with The People's Champion? Is it enough for him to contemplate quitting for good?
"As far as his state of mind, he's gotta be upset about it, because I know he really wanted to win," said WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston. "But he can only blame himself for it. He tried to showboat at the last minute and it didn't work out."
Someone who knows what it takes to cope with adversity, WWE Tough Enough trainer Bill DeMott, admitted he has to wonder if Cena is still shocked by what happened Sunday night, but warned that it may light a spark under Cena to become an even more fearsome competitor.
"For Cena, he's always said it: he's not going anywhere," DeMott said. "Maybe this is the kick in the ass he needs for a new gameplan. They may have just awoken a sleeping lion."
As the chorus for Cena to speak up grows louder and louder, so do the expectations for him to rise above this devastating defeat. What will be the next move for the leader of the Cenation? Can he repair the potential damage to his WWE legacy?
These are questions that only one man can answer. And knowing the kind of man Cena has always been, it wouldn't come as a surprise if he answers them sooner rather than later
"It’s been a year since John Cena challenged The Rock to a match at WrestleMania. In recent weeks, the two engaged in a bitter war of words that intensified on each subsequent Raw SuperShow. Some would argue their verbal battles came down to a draw. Now, can Cena win the war and walk out of WrestleMania with a huge win over Rock in his own hometown of Miami?"
WWE WrestleMania 28 Results: The Rock vs John Cena
MIAMI – This wasn't just a WrestleMania XXVIII main event one year in the making. It was a "Once in a Lifetime" Match, an epic battle that redefined the legacies of two of WWE's most legendary Superstars.
To put it simply, winning this meant everything for John Cena and The Rock.
All the heated confrontations, personal attacks, and physical aggression that forged one of the bitterest rivalries in history, finally came to a boil on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
In front of a Sun Life Stadium record-crowd of 78,363, the leader of Cenation and The Great One both delivered in the toughest fight of their accomplished careers. But only one man would be able to leave WrestleMania with his head high, knowing he seized the rare opportunity to change how he's remembered for all of eternity.
Before the match even began, excitement filled the air as MGK performed a rousing rendition of his hit song Invincible. MGK left no doubts as to who he was rooting for, saying the WWE Universe was about to see "one of the biggest egos get beat by one of the biggest underdogs," referring to the leader of Cenation as the underdog. Cena strode down the entrance way sporting a brand new green T-shirt emblazoned with his "Rise Above Hate" mantra, and expectedly received a mixed reaction from the WWE Universe.
In another sensational musical performance, Flo Rida matched MGK with his own hit songs, Good Feeling and Wild Ones before The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment emerged as cameras flashed seemingly everywhere throughout Sun Life Stadium. It was clear from that moment on who had the crowd advantage between these two icons.
Shortly after the bell rang, Cena sent The Rock tumbling with a show of power to send an early message to start the contest. The Rock didn't flinch and promptly returned the favor with a shove of his own that tossed Cena down to the canvas. The Great One proved that he didn't miss a beat despite the ring rust, as he executed a couple of hip tosses and a very crafty technical move for a near-pinfall. Cena looked shocked as he took a breather in the corner of the ring. The Rock soon asserted more of an early advantage, forcing Cena to roll out of the ring to regroup to a loud chorus of boos from the crowd. But Cena began to build momentum by using his power to wear down The Rock with punishing suplexes and a vice-like bearhug around Rock's midsection. The Brahma Bull then reached down for a second wind and rallied back before both men found themselves laid out by a double clothesline.
The personal nature of the rivalry was on full display when The Rock attempted to mock Cena with his own "You can't see me" hand motion. The decision backfired, however, as Cena caught The Great One with a massive Attitude Adjustment and nearly got a three-count. The Rock soon answered and nailed a vicious Rock Bottom of his own, but couldn't keep Cena down.
As both men started to show signs of fatigue, they began to try whatever it would take to gain an edge in the matchup, including a pair of excruciating submission maneuvers. The Rock slapped on a Sharpshooter, Cena answered by rendering his opponent almost unconscious with an STF. But neither Superstar would give up, proving their outstanding will to win in the face of severe physical and mental exhaustion.
After Rock managed to slip out of an Attitude Adjustment attempt, he nailed the much-anticipated People's Elbow, but it still wouldn't be enough to defeat the leader of Cenation. In a remarkable show of strength, Cena reversed a crossbody from the top rope and lifted The Rock straight into an Attitude Adjustment. Even more remarkably, The Great One somehow kicked out.
With The Brahma Bull on his back in the center of the ring, Cena had his best chance to put his rival away for good and win the exhausting showdown. One mistake -- one moment of ego -- would ruin everything for the leader of Cenation, though. Perhaps still dwelling on the exchange earlier in the match when Rock poked fun at one of his signature gestures, Cena tossed his armband and tried to imitate the People's Elbow to a tee.
Using the extra bit of time to recover, The Rock bounced back to his feet before Cena could execute the maneuver, and drilled him to the mat with a Rock Bottom for the 1… 2… 3!
Hulk Hogan, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and now John Cena: The Rock has conquered them all on The Grandest Stage of Them All and cemented his legacy as arguably the greatest Superstar of all time.
The expression on Cena's face said it all as he sat in the middle of the entrance way while The Rock raised his fist in celebration, soaking in cheers and more camera flashes from the booming crowd.
Cena could've been about to enjoy a "Once in a Lifetime" victory over The Rock. Instead, now he'll have to forever replay the final moments of the match in his mind forever, wondering what could have been.
