John Cena did not taste success immediately upon entering WWE. In fact, he was on the verge of losing his job in 2002 when he created the character that ultimately saved his career. The “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, influenced by his love for hip-hop culture, was brash and playful, but it reportedly rubbed other superstars the wrong way at the time.
Ahead of his final week as an in-ring competitor, Cena appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” to clarify the backstage heat he received during that phase. He explained that his actions weren’t born out of unprofessionalism, but rather desperation to remain employed.
“In doing that, I never followed dress code. I was saying disrespectful sh*t about my peers. I kind of did it my own way. So I was kind of ruffling some feathers backstage or just I was taking big swings cause I was going to f**king get fired anyway. The alternative was lose my job. So I was like, ‘**** it. I’m going down swinging,’” Cena said.
Cena noted that while his behavior frustrated management, the audience’s reaction forced the company’s hand. The noise he generated in the arena kept him on the card despite the internal friction.
“And then the people behind the curtain were like, ‘Ah, the kid’s disrespectful to the business. He doesn’t care about the business.’ All the while, I just want to keep my f*cking job. So the ‘theys’ behind the curtain weren’t really invested, but they were also humble enough to be like, ‘There’s noise out there. Got to give them another match and one match at a time,’” Cena said.
Decades later, Cena prepares for his final match against Gunther at “Saturday Night’s Main Event” on December 13, 2025, leaving behind a legacy that began with those initial risks.