WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long Opens Up About John Cena’s Reality Show Personality
Wrestling fans worldwide have always adored John Cena for his incredible talent in the ring and his dedicated commitment to his craft. However, his appearance on the reality shows Total Divas and Total Bellas, during his relationship with Nikki Bella, exposed a side of Cena that some found unpalatable. Now, WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long has weighed in on Cena’s controversial personality in a recent interview on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s The Wrestling Time Machine.
An Unlikable Character Emerges
The show’s host, Mac Davis, admitted to not being a big fan of Cena’s persona on the reality shows. Davis commented that Cena, revered by many for his charismatic performances in WWE, came across as an unlikable individual in his off-ring reality TV appearances.
“The Leader of Cenation, who usually knows how to get the crowd on his side, seemed distant and somewhat cold on the reality shows,” said Davis, who sparked the conversation about Cena’s real-life personality.
Teddy Long’s Insightful Remarks
Teddy Long, a revered figure in the wrestling industry and an inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame, chimed in on the issue. He offered a different perspective on Cena’s seemingly unpopular personality portrayal of Total Divas and Total Bellas.
“We gotta look at it this way too. It’s TV. So some of it there could be what the producers wanted or whoever was doing the show,” Long commented. He raised the possibility that Cena’s perceived personality may not have been entirely authentic but a character crafted by the show’s producers.
The Reality of Reality TV
Long continued by saying, “They may have wanted him (John Cena) to have that suit and portray the person he was returning on TV, or it could have been the real him, or you might have seen the real side.”
The WWE Hall of Famer highlighted the nature of reality television, suggesting that it may not always present the complete truth about the featured individuals. He left room for the possibility that Cena might have been encouraged or required to act in a certain way for the sake of the show’s narratives.
Public Perception vs. Reality
While Long’s comments don’t provide a definitive answer, they do invite the audience to consider the discrepancy between public perception and reality, particularly in the world of reality TV. Even for well-known public figures like John Cena, there are complexities in their personality that might not always translate well on-screen. As viewers, it becomes essential to bear in mind the potential influences and biases that come into play in reality TV production.
In the end, while Cena’s portrayal on Total Divas and Total Bellas may have given rise to debates, his legacy as a WWE performer remains unscathed. Fans still hold him high regard, not just for his achievements in the ring, but for his contributions to the wrestling industry and his dedication to his fans around the globe.
