On WWE television today, John Cena is often disliked by fans and fellow wrestlers, yet he remains the undeniable WWE Champion and a top villain in the company. Behind the scenes, Cena was well-liked and contributed significantly to charitable causes such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation. However, his long tenure at the top has caused tension with other wrestlers, including Wade Barrett. Although they now collaborate on the Smackdown commentary team, Barrett openly admitted his past animosity toward Cena.
A memorable moment from WWE Raw involved the Nexus faction, led by Barrett and made up of several NXT talents like Daniel Bryan, attacking Cena and others in a shocking segment. Nexus quickly became talked about, but Cena’s repeated dominance over Barrett and Nexus crushed their momentum, something Barrett has never forgotten. Barrett has expressed his dislike for Cena multiple times. In a 2011 radio interview, Barrett said he didn’t get along with Cena either in or out of the ring. Later in 2014, Barrett confirmed that their animosity was mutual, stating plainly that they were not friends.
On March 31st during Raw in London, Cena, in a heel promo, voiced his disdain for his fans, specifically responding to accusations that he buried other wrestlers. Cena declared, “I won’t bury my talent, I’ll bury my mediocrity.” Barrett responded on Twitter/X, showing he still hadn’t let go of past grievances caused by Cena’s actions in his career.
Fan Take: This rivalry highlights how long-term superstar dominance can impact locker room dynamics and wrestlers’ career trajectories. For WWE fans, it’s a reminder that backstage politics and personal conflicts often shape the on-screen product and character storylines in meaningful ways.
