John Cena Is Forever Grateful For What WWE Mentor Did For Him
John Cena has been a mentor to many young WWE stars over the years, helping several talents in the wrestling business. The man who guided so many also had a mentor of his own, and it was none other than Stephanie McMahon.
Stephanie McMahon was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2026. While speaking to Denise Salcedo on the red carpet of the Hall of Fame event, John Cena was asked to comment on her induction.
In response, Cena credited Stephanie McMahon for saving his career and serving as a mentor throughout his 20+ years in WWE.
He revealed that he was once on the verge of being fired when he was failing to connect with fans. But Stephanie overheard Cena freestyle rapping on a tour bus and gave him another chance in WWE.
John Cena Opens Up On How Stephanie McMahon Changed His Career
Cena added that Stephanie not only helped kick-start his career but also kept him in check over the years. He stated that she acted like protective “bumpers,” ensuring he didn’t go off track, and he’s very grateful for that.
“Without Steph, legit, I’m fired. I tell the story of someone from creative was sitting in the front of the bus. It was her, and she asked me to rap for her, and I did, and she gave me another chance. Not only that, that wasn’t the end of our relationship.”
“Stephanie’s been a fantastic mentor to me and kept me in check. She’s like the bumpers that keep the ball from going in the gutter, and she can stop by with a word of wisdom, and it’s right when I need to hear it and right when it needs to be said, and, man, I’m forever grateful for that.”
Cena retired from WWE in December 2025, where he faced Gunther in his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He later returned in a non-wrestling capacity as the host of WrestleMania 42.