"Live with Chris Jericho" Podcast
Guest: John Cena
April 6, 2015
Episode #1 on WWE Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

After Raw went off the air, WWE Network picked up with the first installment of Chris Jericho live-podcasting on WWE Network, replacing "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

Jericho and Cena were seated opposite each other, with Cena in street clothes and Jericho dressed in a scarf over a black shirt.

Jericho opened things up on the Five Moves of Doom, noting Cena has busted out new moves as of late. Jericho noted he even has a springboard Stunner. Cena playing into the rumors of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin having issues with WWE, jokingly asking if he can use a Stone Cold reference or has to call it a "modified neckbreaker."

Jericho shifted to Cena not being in the main event picture and holding the U.S. Title. Cena said he's never been caught up in not being in the main event, which is easy to say after main-eventing for ten years. Cena said the locker room is so gifted, like his last two title challengers in Dean Ambrose and Cody Rhodes. Cena said he hopes to re-define the U.S. Title to help out the rest of the roster in the future.

Asked if it was stale with Cena on top PPV after every PPV, Cena said some people might feel that way with so much content they produce, but he doesn't look at it that way. As for the U.S. Title, Cena said he wants to give the title a different feel than the other titles to make it interesting.

On the Open Challenge, Jericho wondered what Cena would have done if Funaki answered the Open Challenge in Austin, Texas since Funaki actually lives in Texas. Cena laughed, then talked about one of his first WWE traveling groups with Funaki, Tajiiri, and Ultimo Dragon. (Graphics were included on the video board over their heads.) Cena then put Tajiiri "on notice" after recapping a Burger King road story.

Jericho moved on to working with Vince McMahon. Cena said they share the same vision. He said creatively they can be different, but he loves this company. He said some people love pro wrestling, but he loves the company. He said he took a "real liking" to McMahon being all-in. Cena said he wants to take WWE to "more places" like China and India. "I just want to leave this thing 100 times bigger than I walked in," Cena said. Jericho said he envisions Cena and McMahon having secret planning meetings. Cena said they're just like-minded, even if they differ creatively. He said he's earned McMahon's trust to go try things, but he still gets yelled at. "And deservedly so," Cena said, coming across like a good soldier taking his medicine and proudly reporting on it.

Jericho flashed back to Cena's first-ever PPV match, which was against Jericho, who noted there was some backlash at the time. Jericho said he wanted to put over Cena, but McMahon didn't agree. Cena then recapped his first meeting with McMahon years ago in Chicago after being brought up from OVW. Cena said he was told to cut his hair, and the rest is history. Jericho said his first encounter was a "backwards promo" that Cena did in OVW. Cena credited Jim Cornette and Danny Davis for helping him develop. So, they played around doing ridiculous promos. Cena said it would have been a short-lived gimmick on TV, especially since he hadn't developed the concept, but it would have been a way for people to identify him.

Cena said he feels like it captures a lot of the guys backstage right now who aren't willing to take a chance on something like a backwards promo. Cena said he loves McMahon's "brass ring" speech, even if people are mad about it because McMahon gives everyone a chance. He said wrestlers shouldn't be afraid of what McMahon is going to say. He said they have PG rules, but you have to take a chance. Asked about things being too restricted in today's era, Cena said you have to know the rules and know how to dance around, but just take a chance.

They went back to Cena's early years trying to find his identity when he was a goofy wrestler. Cena said he grew up liking the European style from William Regal and Finlay, so he loves talking to Regal. Cena recalled having a terrible dark match in the early 2000s, then asking Regal for advice when he came back through the curtain. Regal politely told him just to buy some boots to at least look like a wrestler.

Jericho went back to Cena's OVW class with Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and Batista. Cena said walking into the training room during this era was ridiculous. Not pictured was Shelton Benjamin, who Cena said was amazing in the ring. Cena said the class was stacked and made you question whether he would ever advance. Cena said he knew he was not #1 on the list since so much was invested in Lesnar, Orton, and Batista. He said he just showed up early, tried to work harder than everyone else, and learn. Cena said he "kept producing" and waited for a chance.

Jericho flashed back to Cena's early run when he put over Cena, then he was losing on Velocity two weeks later. Cena said he didn't have an identity and wasn't setting himself apart from anyone else. He said he looked like everyone else, didn't have the in-ring skills, and wasn't credible compared to the rest of the roster. So, he developed the Thuganomics character. Cena said Rikishi taught him a lot about the business and longevity, but before he ran with Rikishi's crew, he decided to try his hand at free-style rapping on the back of the bus. Cena said he got a chance to talk and "a few decision-makers" were on the front of the bus hearing him rap. Jericho said the European Tour is a chance to bond with the other wrestlers. And, Creative asked him if he wanted to try this on TV. "Identity!" Cena said, with the lightbulb going off. Cena said he became the kid he hated dressing outlandishly.

Jericho went back to Cena's childhood asking him if he wanted to get into wrestling when he was a kid. Cena said he thought the goal was unattainable because the business was so protected and secretive. Cena said Killer Kowalski's school was 25 minutes from his house, and he had no idea. Jericho joked that Cena is the first "reverse second generation" wrestler, because his dad got into the business after him.

Jericho went through Cena's bodybuilding background. Cena said he never took performance-enhancing drugs. He said every competition he did was drug-tested. He said everyone thinks wrestlers are on steroids, but he's proud of doing things the right way. He said his body has looked exactly the same his entire WWE career and his body weight has never changed. Jericho flashed back to Cena having neck surgery, then showing up at TV the next day, endorsing Cena as a "freak." Cena said he knows his body and wanted to get back to WWE right away.

Jericho joked about drinking in Alaska. He said Cena "counseled" a married couple on their issues at a bar, convincing them not to get divorced. Cena acted like he doesn't remember that. But, he remembered the bar shutting them down, so they carried a cooler full of drinks to their hotel room until Jericho fell asleep. So, he stayed up and crushed beer cans while listening to Jericho's iPad. They said it was good times.

Jericho then looked at the Mt. Rushmore of WWF/E since 1984 - Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, The Rock, and Cena. Asked who he thinks the next person to try for that spot is, Cena said he doesn't think it matters because the next person in that spot will face adversity and polarize the audience. Cena said if the company gets behind someone, then it's immediately no good to some of the audience. (Daniel Bryan is the counter argument to Cena.) Cena then presented Roman Reigns as the current example. He said he thinks Reigns is smooth, has found himself, and has a "good look." Cena hyped Reigns as "a star." Cena acted as if it's the audience's problem for not getting behind Reigns as if Reigns is 100 percent ready for the spot.

Jericho said it seems like it's changed where people buy tickets for the brand, not so much a "Hogan" or "Cena." Cena said that seems like the case, but he still thinks everyone brings something different to the table, so there still has to be a frontman, like in Jericho's "Fozzy" group, otherwise it's just "a bunch of skilled musicians" performing. Cena said the next guy is the one who will take the biggest chance and go for success. Cena said when he rides off into the sunset, he'll know he did everything his way taking chances and pushing limits on television. Cena said it's tough talking to the locker room nowadays because he's viewed as the guy who's always been on top, not the guy who almost got fired before he was anything in WWE. Cena said he'll tell someone to take a risk and they reply, "Easy for you to say," since Cena doesn't have risk of being fired now. Cena said they don't know and see what he went through, so there is a disconnect. Jericho brought up Brian Pillman saying the best way to get over in the business is to do something that's never been done before.

Asked if he watches NXT, Cena said he tries to whenever he can. He said the most interesting thing about NXT is the steam behind the brand. He said they're not just having training matches anymore, but wrestling in front of vocal audiences, forcing them to learn how to react. Cena said everything is built on emotion and learning how to react to different audiences.

Cena was asked about heat with The Rock when Rock first came back for their WrestleMania series. Cena said it's creative clashes, because he wanted it to be Rock as Michael Jordan vs. Cena as LeBron James, but Rock came back "justifiably so" not happy with him after calling him out in the media. Cena said he finally understood Rock's perspective after Rock came back for their series. Cena said his biggest gripe was not being given a chance to fight with Rock verbally. Asked about Rock having notes on his arm during their promo battles, Cena said he wasn't aware of it until a "referee who shall not be named" pointed it out watching backstage. So, Cena saw promo gold and decided to call out Rock because this is the big-leagues and "leave the playbook at home." And, calling out Rock forced Rock to get back to being Rock. Cena said Rock was pissed, and they had some abrasive times, but he's so glad he got to work with Rock for three years because now he sees things through his eyes. Cena said everything stayed professional even when he called out Rock for the notes.

Cena brought it to C.M. Punk when real-life issues work better for storylines. Cena also mentioned Daniel Bryan, saying he told Bryan not to worry about what he says to him because he wants it to feel real. And, he wants to be challenged to think and react in the moment to whatever the other person says.

Jericho went back to Summerslam 2005 when the crowd was very obviously split for and against Cena for the first time for their match. Cena said initially the dynamic of "Let's Go Cena / Cena Sucks" came from "the company is pushing this guy," then his character became too genuine, so the audience felt it was too much. Cena said because he has strong ideals, people either like or dislike him. (No mention of early-years issues when Cena didn't look the part of a top star from a wrestling perspective, similar to Reigns today.)

Jericho asked Cena about a typical WWE crowd today. Why do the adult males chant "Cena Sucks?" Cena said he thinks they want something more, something else. He said they want something besides what WWE is offering. He said he learned early on that you cannot please everyone, but it's cool to see "those kids light up" for his character. He said that gives validity to what they do. Jericho asked if Cena goes over the line with "Poopy Cena." Cena said if you deliver the same product every night, you become stale. So, it's his "feeble attempt to show versatility," trying to take a risk, like he's been talking about.

Jericho got to the heel turn question. Cena said it was discussed briefly for the program with Rock, and it would have been great to show a different side, but at the same time it is great to be on TV as inspirational and aspirational appealing to the eight-year-old kids on the front row. Cena said his response to turning heel is he's the biggest heel in the company to so many people anyways. Cena added that inspiring kids is the validity he seeks, which is the biggest thing he's concerned about at this stage of his career. WWE flashed through photos of Cena with Make-a-Wish kids, saying being bad or turning heel is not worth it when the kids continue showing up. Cena said he'll be open to it, but he doesn't want to turn heel until the next big babyface star comes around, and his heel turn doesn't negatively impact the kids who watch the show.

Cena then talked about his current traveling group of himself, Michael Cole, and Mark Carrano from Talent Relations. He said their conversations are very interesting coming from three different perspectives.

Lastly, Jericho asked Cena what his favorite career match is. Cena said it's always the next one. He gave a real answer that his first match with The Rock was his favorite. Jericho noted a lot of the build-up was on Cena's shoulders, but Cena put it back on Rock being a big factor because when he did show up, it was a huge deal to make the match bigger. Asked what his relationship is like with Rock right now, Cena said it's awesome. He said Rock has a ton of career advice and he's been a tremendous help.

What's the future for John Cena? Cena said he tries to live one day at a time, not thinking about how much time he has left in his career. Jericho and Cena shook hands to wrap up the one-hour interview. By the end of the show, Cena's left eye was swollen from getting hit on Raw.

OVERALL: They hit basic talking points, but it came across like two friends having a conversation at the bar not really diving into anything super-insightful or in-depth. Cena also seemed to be trying to avoid "making news," avoiding picking the next big star from NXT and sticking to generalities. Cena glossing over Reigns's shortcomings as a potential top star and redirecting some of the anti-Cena sentiment onto the audience, rather than assessing his early-years struggles as a top star, was pretty revealing. This was definitely a p.r.-driven interview trying to win over viewers, if not for Cena, then for WWE.

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