Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena defends WWE’s PG in a new interview with USA Today in promotion of the company’s new “Flintstones” film.
The article noted Cena, who has granted more than 400 wishes for the Make A Wish foundation, used to be less proper as the “Dr. of Thuganomics.” But then, it hit Cena one day.
“I looked around and saw who was sitting in the audience and said, ‘You know what, I proactively need to change.’ And it was for the greater good,” he says.
With that, WWE went PG. Cena then said he understands why some would be upset with the programming being geared towards kids, but feels there is room for balance.
“I totally get it,” he says. “I don’t necessarily spend my time watching programs that 6- to 10-year-old kids enjoy, so I get the need for different racy comedy and story lines. But at the same time I don’t want to offend anyone in our audience so I do what I do to the best of my ability, and I actually really enjoy being able to be a real-life superhero and an aspirational character both in live entertainment and animation films like Flintstones.”
The 38-year-old former champ says all the heckling is worth it in the end.
“It gives you a feeling of self-worth at the end of the day,” Cena concludes. “It becomes more than just a job — you feel as if you’re affecting lives and that truly is pretty important.”
More from the piece can be found here.
Editor’s Note
People blowing this interview out of proportion, saying Cena essentially said he’d never watch the product. Read the quotes. Just being a company guy.