Much like the film and television industries, professional wrestling is home to many over-the-top characters who display incredible strength, grit and, on occasion, supernatural feats. But according to John Cena, who has enjoyed success in both worlds, what makes a character appealing to audiences has nothing to do with their physical abilities.
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“Every character is made interesting by their vulnerability,” Cena said during an appearance on NPR’s “Bullseye.” “A lot of characters don’t want to come across as weak. They’re afraid that if they come across as weak, they’ll lose the audience’s interest. You can come across as weak. You have to build a connection with the person you’re trying to communicate with. And that takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable.”
Much of Cena’s WWE appearance was accompanied by a strong mix of boos and cheers, despite the company positioning him as a babyface. He noted that WWE’s decision to allow the double reactions was a little out of character for how they typically handle characters who don’t get the reactions they want.
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“Two things can happen: You tell the people who are booing you, ‘I hear you, and I don’t like you, and I’ve never liked you,’ and now you’re a bad person. Or you tune them out. You pretend they’re not there and carry on with your daily life. I was told to choose the second path, but I chose it on my own terms, by smiling and staying true to myself,” he explained.
With Hollywood becoming a priority for the 16-time world champion, the rare occasions he does reappear in professional wrestling usually generate the pure babyface reactions WWE has always wanted. WWE hopes to get more of that in 2025, when Cena begins his farewell tour and makes his final in-ring appearances at WWE’s major events.
