Stephanie McMahon Recalls Recognizing John Cena‘s Potential Despite Early WWE Struggles
Stephanie McMahon has shared insights into John Cena’s initial WWE run, recalling her early impression of the future 16-time world champion and the creative process behind unlocking his star power.McMahon, a key member of the WWE creative team during Cena’s debut, detailed how she immediately sensed his potential, even as he struggled to connect with audiences.
While appearing on a recent interview with Megan Morant of WWE, McMahon explained that Cena, initially known as “The Prototype,” possessed an undeniable quality that intrigued her. “I remember always thinking he had something, you know? and I was like, who is this kid? Where is he from?” she stated. “He always seemed to have something,but we couldn’t quite figure out what it was. It wasn’t registering yet with the audience.”
The breakthrough, McMahon revealed, came through Cena’s previously unknown freestyle rapping ability. Recognizing his potential was untapped, mcmahon recalled a moment where Cena spontaneously rapped about the tuna she was eating, describing it as “clever and smart.” This led to a pivotal conversation about incorporating the skill into his WWE persona.
“Well, if you listen to John Cena, he gives me a lot of credit,” McMahon said. “but it wasn’t working, his gimmick, necessarily at the time. It just really wasn’t resonating. And again, we all felt like he really had so much to offer, so much potential. but it wasn’t clicking.” She explained that freestyle rapping, unlike simply rapping, demonstrated a unique talent that could captivate fans.
Cena himself has acknowledged McMahon’s role in encouraging the rapping gimmick, which ultimately became a cornerstone of his character and propelled him to superstardom. McMahon’s recollections offer a behind-the-scenes look at the early progress of one of WWE’s most iconic performers, highlighting the collaborative effort often involved in creating wrestling legends.
