John Cena was recently interviewed by
Al Arabiya English to promote his new movie, “Ferdinand.” He discusses his transition from WWE to films, a possible opponent for WrestleMania 34 and more.
Below are some questions along with Cena’s answers:
What did you originally intend your film career to be? Did you think that you were going to be a Marine action hero the entire time?
Originally my film career was a direction from upper management in WWE—like, ‘Hey, go do movies.’ Originally what I wanted my film career to be was an extension of the WWE business model. I understood. WWE studios opened in 2003/2004, they began to film movies, and the model of the business was, ‘if we can make our stars bigger stars, they will come to see WWE’. Well, that’s what I wanted, but I didn’t want to go do movies.
The process of making a movie is so different. It takes a long time, it takes a lot of people, and there’s nobody cheering you on. As a younger man I really was drawn, and still am, to the dynamic of a live audience, and the live experience of ‘just out there and see what happens’. But 15 years of telling stories in the WWE ring, the constant passion, loving my job every day, I began to ask why.
As a young man, I didn’t have the perspective. It was, ‘Oh, because I want to be champion, and I want to do this or that!’ Now, after all these years, it’s like, why do I still love this? I love telling stories, man. I love telling stories. That’s something that I didn’t enjoy on multiple platforms in 2005-2006. Now you can see I enjoy helping with morning shows, doing tonight show bits, hosting, doing R-rated comedies, doing family movies, still doing WWE, being on reality TV. I think I’m just drawn to the creative process. Now with more experience and a more comfortable feeling in my own right in WWE, I’m confident enough to use those skills elsewhere.
John Cena talks about how he fell in love with film after 15 years in WWE
What was the turning point for you, when you really fell in love with film?
When I got to be an idiot—because I’m an idiot! If you look at the stuff I do in WWE, yes there comes a time when the line is crossed, and I do have a moral ethos and I fight for that, but in front of the audience, I’m not afraid to be the butt of a joke. I’m not afraid to bring my life out there. Every time, and in a very genuine sense, and you can ask anyone I’ve ever stood in the ring with, I always tell them to come at me with their best shot.
It’s about being comfortable enough in your environment to just enjoy it and see what happens. I have the WWE Universe to thank because it’s the repeated process of facing that sort of adversity every day and it never getting to you and you being like, ‘Meh, sun’s still up! Still a good time! Still a good day!’ So I don’t know.
Anyone you want to face at Wrestlemania next year?
Aw I’m never in the picking business, man. I might have mentioned that on Edge and Christian’s podcast. Don’t play Vince if you’re not Vince. The best way to love what you do in that respect is to say, hey, here’s what’s going to happen, and then say, hey, I’m going to make this effin’ awesome.
They also discuss his love for “Ferdinand,” his future and more.
What do you think of John Cena’s comments? Leave us a comment below, or post a comment on our Facebook page!
