On WWE After The Bell, John Cena discussed various topics, including praise for Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns for being the greatest of all time, ahead of his clash with Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel 2023 this Saturday.
“He’s a sponge, and he’s athletic, super intelligent, and a fan of this, and I mean all of this. Most importantly, a fan of psychology. I say the WWE Universe is the biggest superstar we have. Roman navigated those waters without them. Here’s the thing with Roman, I don’t think Roman is Roman if he doesn’t have a time to work in front of no crowd. The crowd is so against the fact that the company believed in Roman Reigns…I set the precedent of ‘Company guy, see ya.’ Everyone has a tough hill to climb once they become pushed. There is a giant ray behind the curtain, we all know that too. ‘We have to be careful how this happens because we don’t want this to happen.’ That absolutely happened with Roman. It was when the crowd wasn’t there that you’re able to take more chances, that Roman could be himself. There wasn’t anyone to be like, ‘That sucked, that didn’t work,’ because you don’t have the instant feedback. Night after night, it becomes this extremely nuanced soft-spoken character that is not the ‘welcome to SmackDown!’ that they’re used to. As soon as they bring people back in, he had done such a riveting program, that it was, ‘Man, I want to see this guy.’ He has done it better than anybody I have ever seen. He’s the Greatest of All Time, in my opinion.”l.
Cena continued, “Me watching it, it was very difficult for some performers to work to that crowd, I definitely would have been that person. Roman leaned into everything they gave him and really made it cinematic and so nuanced and so incredible. He got the viewer to (pay attention), without the energy of the audience. I don’t have that tool. I don’t know how I would be able to do that because I’ve never done it. The Firefly Fun House was it. It’s a very interesting environment when you don’t have an audience.”
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In a recent episode of WWE After The Bell, John Cena shared his admiration for Roman Reigns, praising him as the greatest of all time in the wrestling industry. Cena’s comments come ahead of Reigns’ upcoming match against Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel 2023.
According to Cena, Reigns possesses several qualities that make him stand out. He describes Reigns as a sponge, someone who is constantly learning and absorbing knowledge. Additionally, Cena highlights Reigns’ athleticism, intelligence, and his genuine love for wrestling. But what sets Reigns apart, in Cena’s opinion, is his understanding of psychology in the ring.
Cena also acknowledges the challenges that Reigns faced early in his career. As the company’s chosen one, Reigns faced backlash from the crowd. However, Cena believes that the absence of a live audience during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed Reigns to take more risks and truly showcase his character. Without immediate feedback from the crowd, Reigns was able to develop a nuanced and soft-spoken persona that captivated viewers.
The absence of an audience also presented a unique challenge for performers like Cena himself. He admits that he would have found it difficult to adapt to performing without the energy of the crowd. However, he commends Reigns for embracing the situation and creating a cinematic experience that kept viewers engaged.
Cena concludes by stating that Reigns is the greatest of all time in his opinion. He believes that Reigns has excelled in navigating the challenges of being pushed as the company’s top star and has delivered riveting performances that have captivated audiences.
It is clear that Cena holds Reigns in high regard and recognizes his talent and dedication to the craft of professional wrestling. As fans eagerly await Reigns’ match at Crown Jewel 2023, it is evident that his impact on the industry continues to be recognized and celebrated by his peers.