WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson recently revealed that his decade-long role as John Cena’s agent was a direct assignment from Vince McMahon. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda’s Bill Apter, Anderson recounted the moment McMahon entrusted him with developing the then-rookie.
“John Cena was handed to me by Vince McMahon,” Anderson stated. “He said, we got a kid who’s got potential here on. Teach him. He’s all yours. He didn’t know sht when he started. I was his agent for ten straight years at least. With WWE, I took all of his matches. I helped him learn the simple art of storytelling.”*
Anderson’s comments on building Cena’s in-ring foundation arrive during a year where the 16-time world champion’s legacy has been a central topic of debate. The discussion was reignited on the June 27 episode of SmackDown when CM Punk, dressed as Cena’s old “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, delivered a promo in which he claimed, “Let’s be honest, John Cena has buried more talent than The Undertaker.”
The accusation was a direct reference to long-standing criticisms that Cena held back other wrestlers’ careers. Cena himself addressed this narrative on the March 31 episode of Raw during a confrontation with Cody Rhodes. In a heel promo, Cena declared, “They’ve been saying for years that John Cena buries talents. I don’t bury talent, I am talent. I bury mediocrity.”
Cena’s statement prompted reactions from former talent who feel their careers were negatively impacted by him. The most cited examples include:
- The Nexus: At SummerSlam in 2010, Cena reportedly lobbied for a last-minute change to the main event’s finish, leading to his team defeating the rising faction. Former Nexus member Heath Slater, along with reports from Chris Jericho and Edge, indicated the original plan was for The Nexus to win, and the loss derailed their momentum.
- Alex Riley: A rising star in 2011, Riley’s push came to an abrupt end following what he has described as a backstage “incident” with Cena that “certainly changed the path of my career.”
Currently on a farewell tour set to conclude in December, Cena recently turned babyface and is scheduled to face Logan Paul at the upcoming Clash in Paris.
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