Taker666 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 FOUR years ago John Cena was just another wrestling fan looking forward to watching WrestleMania at home with his friends. This year he'll be headlining it. In between the two, the star not only broke into the WWE but also turned himself from a clean cut wrestler-next-door with no direction to one of the world's most popular superstars. In this exclusive webchat, John answered your questions on why he's had to tone down his style, the rappers who wouldn't battle him and how his freestyle comments have upset other wrestlers. You can see Cena take on JBL for the WWE title at WrestleMania 21, live on Sunday April 3 at 1am ONLY on Sky Box Office. The price of £14.95 includes all repeats for the three days after the live event. Sky Digital customers see channel 770 or call 08705 800888. Ntl and Telewest customers contact your operator. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It took Chris Benoit 18 years to headline his first WrestleMania but you've done it in less than four. What's that whirlwind experience been like? Has there been any jealously backstage? Andy, Derby It's been a phenomenon and I can't explain it. Two years ago, I was getting booed out of every building and people wanted me dead - and now they're fighting along with me. I haven't had any problems. For as much s*** as I talk I'm an easy going guy. I go out there and I work hard. I have a little saying that "real recognises real" and nobody can say they are just handing it to me. And you've got to look where I came from. I don't have the hard luck story of a Chris Benoit, but I didn't have the company just hand everything to me on a silver platter. I started in darks, I started on Velocity - for so long. Then I worked my way up to getting the c**p beat out of me on Smackdown and at PPVs. But slowly, through more and more matches and two years of development, I'm at where I'm at. That's a fast track for any new superstar, but I'd consider it a case of good timing and hard work. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You once fought Batista for the OVW title so how does it feel to know Mania could be a passing of the torch for both of you? Do you know who's match is going on last? Graham, Leeds I actually beat him for the OVW title! We had a close call finish at the Royal Rumble as well. So in the two matches we've had against each other it's been pretty much neck and neck the whole way. I even had to pull out the ether to beat him in OVW! Dave and I are competitive friends and talk about our history all the time. I was really campaigning for him to come to Smackdown after the Royal Rumble, but I think he made the right decision in facing Triple H. I don't know how the card's going to be set up, but usually the Raw matches go on last. It's probably because they're more accustomed to going out on a live TV basis so if there is only a certain amount of time for the main event, they're the guys who can pull it off. Either way it's going to be a hell of a show. I just can't wait for WrestleMania, especially seeing Austin in Piper's Pit. There's also a lot of excitement in the back about Shawn Michaels v Kurt Angle and Randy Orton v The Undertaker. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WrestleMania has always been THE show of the year for us fans - is it as important to you as performers? Ginge Absolutely, especially me being one of those rare people who's been both. It wasn't too long ago that I was a fan. I've done well in a short period of time, but I was watching WrestleMania for many more years than I've been participating in WrestleMania. So I can say that it's equally as big for the guys as it is for the fans. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HULKED UP ... John loves Hogan Hi John, I'm your No1 fan but who was your favourite WWE wrestler when you were younger? Adam Harding, Cambridgeshire Definitely Hulk Hogan! Hogan was the guy who kept me watching wrestling for so long. When the whole nWo thing hit, I was really hot on that. But then as Steve Austin and The Rock came along I started to heavily idolise them as well. I also used to like The Genius Lanny Poffo. He was the first microphone poet in the WWF/E and I've got to give him props for that! I didn't get to work with Hogan in the WWE and I never actually got to tell him how much of a huge fan I am. He'll be at the Hall Of Fame banquet this year and I'll probably say something then, but I'm always so frickin' star struck when I see him. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it - he is still The Hulkster. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I read on SunSport Online that our great country played a major role in your character development. Can you tell me more? George, Derby The UK is very important to me and I thank my lucky stars I got to come over here on tour. On the very last PPV we did from England we had a lot of free time and the whole creative team was over. The more time you get to spend with them, the more they know you. I was new to the WWE and they were marketing me as a clean cut kid from small town America. I am from small town America, but I was the kid putting dog c**p on your steps, knocking your mailbox off and doing doughnuts on your lawn. The creative team didn't know that and it was only when they got to spend time with me at these overseas events, where we have to travel together, that they came to know what I'm like. They found out that I liked rap music and also that I could actually rap. So, for a joke, they said: "Hey, let's try it on TV." I really didn't have anything else going for me at that time, so they let me play around with it and see if it would take off. But they didn't realise how passionate I was about it and our audience, although not heavily hip hop based, identifies itself with that passion and realism. It took me a long time - like I said I was booed out of every arena - but I think the fans saw this wasn't just a gimmick. This is me. This is who I am. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When you first started rapping it seemed like you were going to be one of these joke characters we see every so often - but when did you realise that you were connecting with fans? Jamie, London First off, I didn't care whether I was getting over. Every second I got on screen, every word I got to say, I did it my way and made it as controversial as I could. If it appealed to the fans that was fine, but if they didn't like it that was also fine. I wasn't going to make them sit on their hands. I was going to get a response. I first noticed the fans starting to go for me at the Backlash 2003 PPV in Worcester, Massachusetts, in my match against Brock Lesnar. The show was sold out, there were around 12,000 people, and I had a lot of family in the crowd. There were some Cena chants and positive backing for me - and I don't have 12,000 people in my family! That was the start of it and we took a slow build from there. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John, your rapper character has really taken off but why don't you actually rap anymore? Mark Walker, Bangor, N Ireland In the beginning a lot of my raps were completely freestyle and that's why I got away with so much on TV. I got to go for the throats in the way I wanted. But as of late they've really been cracking down thanks to the Janet Jackson incident. So I've had to scale back on my TV raps, because I have to run it by so many people and I'd rather be able to rap the way I want to than put something out there that's just watered down and stupid. I have to go through 150 committees and if one person says "I don't like this" then I have to go back and do it again. By the end of the night I'd just be generic and cookie-cutter. So I said: "Forget it. I won't rap unless you're going to let me be me. But when you don't I'm still going to go out there and speak from the heart and be hip hop at the same time." It is frustrating but it means the fans know that whenever you see John Cena rap on Smackdown or a PPV then it's going to be something special! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TUG OF WAR ... Simon LilsBoy can't take Cena's chain Hi John - why are you Americans so hung up on censorship? Ian, Birmingham I know it's hard for you guys in the UK to understand, because you're amazing with your freedom of the press and are very liberal. As much as we brag about freedom in the US - everything is censored. I can't wear a hat that says 'Ruck Fules' because it implies something else. I can't go out and speak the way I want to speak because all the networks are scared about the Janet Jackson incident. The networks themselves are being gun-shy because they don't want to upset the FCC, who regulate what we can and can't say. It makes my life a living hell! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have any of the other WWE superstars ever got genuinely upset at something you've said about them in a rap? Zak Young All the time! And I would never let them know what I was going to say. Honestly, that was half of my game to get the most original reactions out of people. I remember once smacking Stephanie McMahon's bum - she didn't know I was going to do that. All my stuff on Brock, Big Show, the Guerreros and especially on Undertaker was on the fly and really got that fire going. They'd take it as personally as the fans would. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What's the story behind Jay-Z and Fabolous not turning up to battle rap against you at WrestleMania XIX? Matthew Mills Jay-Z was scheduled to be at WrestleMania and I set out a challenge to battle rap him. It would've been billed as a main attraction on the biggest wrestling show of the year. Now in the rap world, especially two years ago, professional wrestling and the WWE were not exactly hot. Jay-Z wanted a ton of money and I can see why, because he wouldn't have actually gained anything from doing it. He then cancelled three weeks before, still giving us time to find a replacement. But the company were angry and told me to say something about Jay-Z. Fabolous on the other hand was the replacement we got for Jay-Z. At the time he was a platinum-selling artist and he's still doing very well. We booked the whole thing, it was advertised and scheduled to go. Then Fabolous cancelled the day of WrestleMania to go to Spring Bling. Once again I can see why he did it - because he wanted to reach more of his demographic - but at the same time that's like one team not showing up for the SuperBowl! What the hell was I supposed to do? I took that personally and something had to be said. Especially as it meant I missed out on WrestleMania. So I did a tongue-in-cheek rap on Heat, with their faces on Austin Powers cut outs. I wanted to let them know: "Hey listen, you missed out on something really big. This place is sold out and there are millions watching at home." I recently spoke to Fabolous at the NBA All Star game and although he was a little p***ed off he knows that business is business. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you think Jay-Z and Fabolous backed out because they were scared about being out-freestyled by a wrestler? James, London Definitely not. First of all Jay-Z is unbelievably gifted and he would have ate my lunch. I can freestyle but there's not much that can touch him. Also at that point I was a heel, I wasn't trying to get a positive reaction from the crowd or make my opponent look bad. It wasn't a chance for me to turn babyface - it was a chance for a rapper to come to WrestleMania and bring an element of hip hop to our programme. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CENA v CENT ... John would love to get 50 in the ring Which rapper would you most like to take on in a battle rap if you had the opportunity? Matthew Mills Right now 50 Cent is talking a lot of trash! I respect that, because everybody else hates him and he keeps talking his trash. That's like what I was doing two years ago when everybody hated me but I wouldn't shut my mouth. So it would be cool to see 50 Cent in the ring and I think he'd fit the WWE persona. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi John, I'm a big fan of your wrestling and can't wait for your album and movie - when are they out? Robert, California The album is coming out on May 10. It's been a true labour of love. This is not John Cena trying to cash in on wrestling or hip hop, if that was the case it would have been out two years ago. The album's got 17 songs on and I think everyone is going to be pleasantly surprised. It should be the beginning of a good relationship between hip hop music and sports entertainment. The movie comes out this autumn - it's been a pretty busy year for yours truly! It will be another treat for WWE fans, as they'll get to see John Cena in an environment that is not like the one on TV. It's a bit like the A Few Good Men WrestleMania commercial, where people will be saying: "Wow, the kid can clean up and wear a suit." It's going to be a really cool surprise. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of all this female attention you've been getting? Do you have a girlfriend? Carly I'm single, available and easy. You can put that in print! I've been all around the world and seen all types of girls. And I can't say I don't love it - because I do. It gives me a lot of options, as I have a lot of help when it comes to making that first contact and breaking the ice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought the Royal Rumble was amazing and you should have won - but what happened at the end where you and Batista both hit the ground at the same time and Vince restarted the match? Kevin, Berkshire That was pretty cool, huh? That was one of those things we wouldn't be able to do again in a million years. I don't think anyone could. I've seen a lot of close finishes like that, but none of them have been that tight. That was a real coin toss. Sadly Vince ended up getting hurt, it was one of those freak things that you see every so often where somebody moves the wrong way. I think he had a problem with his legs, but he's on the mend and doing great. I know Vince McMahon is going to be at WrestleMania! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think is more important in wrestling - sport or entertainment? David, New York You would get a 100 different answers from 100 different people. You're asking a kid who grew up watching entertainers. At the end of the day you have to be an athlete, but there's a definite spectacle to what we do and without entertainment I don't think we stand up at all. The two sides are equally important and I work on them both every single day. You always have to try and improve your craft. Once you think you know everything is the point where you know nothing. Right now I'm learning a lot from Ricky Steamboat and Arn Anderson. They're two of the best of all time and I owe a lot to them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John, would you like the chance to move to Raw and face legends like Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and Triple H? Yazmin Bracknell, Berks No, I'm Smackdown born and bred! I'm a split baby. I love Smackdown and I've been there since I've been with the WWE. I was on Raw once for the draft and I wore Smackdown blue on purpose. If things happen and I go to Raw then I'll go kicking and screaming. My goal is to make Smackdown the best show in the world. It's like playing for one team your whole career. It doesn't mean they're any better or worse than any other team, it's just that they are your team. I think the brand extension is working out really well - you saw that at the Royal Rumble - it's getting like a WWF v WCW thing. I'd like to do more with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 Interesting read. He comes acrosss as someone who really loves what he does and says. And I wouldn't be surprised if he had to run through 150 people for his raps. That would definitely explain why he couldn't do them anymore. At least as good as he used to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest webmasterofwrestlegame Report post Posted April 15, 2005 Sounds like a straight-up honest bloke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 Its good when wrestlers remember they were once fans themselves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 Good read. Nice to see that the Janet Jackson thing is the reason his raps aren't as "cutting edge" as before. Good to see he stopped doing them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crimson Platypus 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 What do you think of all this female attention you've been getting? Do you have a girlfriend? Carly I'm single, available and easy. You can put that in print! I've been all around the world and seen all types of girls. And I can't say I don't love it - because I do. It gives me a lot of options, as I have a lot of help when it comes to making that first contact and breaking the ice Made me laugh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheLastBoyscout Report post Posted April 15, 2005 John Cena is a great guy who gets WAY too much shit here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 It's because he can't work a **** classic, he's not your typical gimmick, and people here don't like his style. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Buzz 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 He's not one of my favorites nor will he probably ever will be. But I respect him that he's worked hard enough to get this level, and I will say that he's not a waste of airtime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest reek Report post Posted April 15, 2005 Have any of the other WWE superstars ever got genuinely upset at something you've said about them in a rap? Zak Young All the time! And I would never let them know what I was going to say. Honestly, that was half of my game to get the most original reactions out of people. I remember once smacking Stephanie McMahon's bum - she didn't know I was going to do that. All my stuff on Brock, Big Show, the Guerreros and especially on Undertaker was on the fly and really got that fire going. They'd take it as personally as the fans would. I can't imagine John Cena saying bum. I also can't imagine John Cena's raps being written "on the fly". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Sandusky 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 I can, lots of people can freestyle rap, especially at his slower pace. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted April 15, 2005 If Cena smacking Stephanie on the ass really was spontaneous, then he's officially the coolest guy in that company. I can't imagine anyone else (besides Triple H) who would've had the balls to do that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Decemberists 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2005 I didn't care whether I was getting over But isn't that kinda the point...? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest reek Report post Posted April 16, 2005 I can, lots of people can freestyle rap, especially at his slower pace. I'm surprised a mid-card heel at that stage of his career was allowed to use his own material. I was always under the impression that everything is scripted these days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
