Many experts consider John Cena one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. His 16 World Championships, 20 years of superstardom in professional wrestling and crossover success in movies have made him one of the most recognizable faces in the history of the business.
While Cena has always had plenty of supporters, he’s also had his fair share of detractors. During his heyday, dueling chants of “Let’s go Cena” and “Cena sucks” echoed through arenas whenever he entered for a match or promo.
While Cena had his battles with the audience, his peers and the legends before him always seemed to show him the utmost respect. Surprisingly, at least one former WWE icon doesn’t quite see Cena at that legendary level.
Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts Doesn’t Think John Cena Has ‘It Factor’
Jake “The Snake” Roberts is one of WWE’s all-time greats. The Hall of Famer was known for his methodical promo style, captivating audiences with his words, his delivery and his presence.
Roberts would enter arenas to his signature theme music, carrying a large bag that housed his snake. After matches, the snake would often be released, striking fear into his opponents. This made Roberts one of wrestling’s most intriguing characters.
Roberts has never been shy about sharing his opinions, and he recently weighed in on Cena.
Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Snake Pit,” Roberts admitted that he never saw Cena as having the “it factor.”
“I don’t think he did have the ‘it factor.’ I don’t feel it, man. It’s nothing personal, but I just always struggle with him … Just doesn’t have that magic in him, man. You know, his interviews are okay and his work was good, very good. But he didn’t have that ‘oomph.’ He had to work really hard.”
Roberts did give Cena credit for his recent heel turn, saying it was great for business. He noted that Cena’s turn helps position Cody Rhodes in an even stronger role as WWE’s top babyface.
Cena’s Recent Heel Turn Shocked the World
Cena hasn’t been on WWE TV since his shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber, but that’s about to change. Cena is scheduled to appear on WWE Raw this week and will be a regular part of WWE programming as WrestleMania 41 approaches.
The buzz around Cena’s return has left fans wondering what’s next. Rhodes and Cena will be under the same roof for the first time since Elimination Chamber, and things could get interesting.
With Cena’s heel turn and his impending return to TV, plenty of questions remain. Will Cena change his music and gear to make his new persona official? Will The Rock make an appearance to support the man who aligned with him? Time will tell.