In the latest episode of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, Booker T shared his thoughts on the unexpected dramatic shift in John Cena’s character against Cody Rhodes at the recent WWE Elimination Chamber event in Toronto.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the podcast:
Regarding John Cena’s sudden character reversal, Booker T shared, “I absolutely adore it. Wrestling always keeps you on your toes, throwing a curveball when you think you have everything figured out. For example, everyone was under the impression that John Cena was returning to claim the title. He was expected to win the Chamber and set a new record. Most didn’t anticipate that Cena’s heel turn would be a part of this narrative. Regardless, I enjoy wrestling for the unpredictability of it. Unexpected moments like these, especially leading into WrestleMania season, are what make it exhilarating. It’s more about the narrative than Cena’s wrestling skill. Storytelling is the essence of wrestling, and it’s what draws the crowd in. The actual match is secondary. It’s essentially a life-sized soap opera for men, which is why I believe wrestling has gained traction since WWE has reverted back to this format…”
When discussing the event at Elimination Chamber, Booker T commented, “It was exceptional work, surpassing the previous PLE at the Chamber. The Chamber isn’t generally the show where big twists are expected, but this one caught everyone off guard and perfectly set up the build towards WrestleMania. The buzz around WrestleMania is now higher than ever before, and anticipation for the match is at an all-time high. It’s going to be phenomenal.”
He concluded, “As we move forward, especially with the PLEs and Netflix deal, WWE is likely to continue experimenting. They’re doing so much right and, with Cena’s heel turn and The Rock adding an extra layer of intrigue, it’s turning out to be excellent television.”
Watch the entire conversation on the “Hall of Fame” podcast: