WWE fan were left stunned as John Cena opened Monday Night Raw with a blistering verbal assault.
The 16-time world champion, who is looking to break the all-time record with his 17th title by dethroning Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 in April, made his first appearance since betraying the American Nightmare at Elimination Chamber.
After Rhodes rejected Dwayne Johnson’s offer to swap his ‘soul’ for everything he ever wanted, The Rock, Cena and Travis Scott unleashed a brutal beatdown on the WWE Champion.
In the opening to Monday’s show from Brussels, Belgium, the 47-year-old legend came out to his same theme music and look but with an entirely different demeanour.
What followed was a devastating attack on the fans for the way he thinks they treated him for the past 23 years.
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‘For 25 years, I’ve been a part of an abusive relationship. All you do is be hurtful, all you are is abusive, and all you do is bully me into being your puppet and expect me to do it with a smile on my face,’ he said.
The Brussels crowd chanted expletive-landed insults at a man who spent two decades as a firm fan favourite, as he explained his decision not to change up his aesthetics for this run.
‘You don’t get a new look. You dress like me, I don’t dress like you idiots. You don’t get new music. That’s my voice on that song,’ he added.
‘Your time is up and my time is finally thing is now. The only thing you get is a long look in the mirror to see how awful you’ve been to me.’
He targeted fans in the crowd wearing his merch claiming they’re just as bad as his critics, while they looked heartbroken.
Online, fans were similarly emotional.
”I’m legit crying at this john Cena promo #WWERaw #WWEOnNetifix,’ wrote @Liv4Cora on X, while @glowcedes added: ‘That Cena fan in the front row looked so hurt I’m crying.’
‘I’m a 32 year old grown ass man crying at this John Cena promo. Couldn’t ever imagine this man being so vile,’ tweeted @Prakharisms, as @PWrestlingNet said: ‘Cutting to the kid in tears. WOW #WWERaw’
He was eventually interrupted by Rhodes, who tore down Cena for what he’s become since the betrayal at Elimination Chamber, and called for his rival to bring back ‘the real John Cena’ for WrestleMania.
Afterwards, the camera cut to stunned commentators Michael Cole and a returning Corey Graves.
Veteran Cole apologised in advance, before pointing out that Cena owed his millionaire and Hollywood status to the fans and labelling him ‘a selfish pr**k’.
Netflix is the home of WWE in the UK, including live weekly episodes of Raw, SmackDown and NXT, and upcoming premium live events like WrestleMania 41 on April 19 and 20.
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