Despite the crowd’s applause, John Cena was unmoved by Austin Theory’s challenge for WrestleMania 39. He showed no remorse in cutting down the United States Champion and said he wasn’t ready before eventually acknowledging that he had been asking for it. While Theory tried to sway Cena with his comments about how much of a fan he was growing up, Cena reminded him that there were real fans at the TD Garden Arena who would never forget their love for him. When asked why Theory should be Cena’s opponent at WrestleMania, the savvy veteran gave an interesting response – that ‘A-Town Down’ doesn’t believe in his own words. The crowd erupted with cheers and signs of support from Cena’s hometown as it became clear that this match is going to be one for the ages.
It would have been so easy for John Cena to back down and avoid the fight when Theory tried to challenge him. But true to his “Never Give Up” motto, Cena wouldn’t let the authority figure get away with such intimidation. He reminded Theory of the consequences he would face regardless of the outcome – if he won, he’d have no Cena to sink his feet in; if he lost, the US title was gone too – but he promised to never give up on his fans. And it was their overwhelming support that convinced Cena to accept Theory’s terms and combat him in a one-on-one match. The crowd is cheering for John as loud as ever, ready to see him rise above any and all obstacles in order to prove that nothing can stand between him and earned success.
Theory has been wanting to say something significant for John Cena since childhood, though it may never happen. After “getting eviscerated” by Cena several times on WWE, Theory still dreams of a match with his idol. Last year, he candidly told the New York Post of how he imagined stepping into the ring with John Cena: “I don’t know what I’m gonna say. I have no idea just because like you’re saying and the way you spoke about it, I clearly know what it was like for me growing up watching John, just the story there and how much we’d actually have for a story. Man that’s just so crazy to me. I see it happening for sure.” Theory may never get a chance to express his admiration for John Cena in the same vein as many of their other fans, but this isn’t halting his lifelong hope that someday a match between them will happen.
