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via Imago

via Imago

With 16 WWE World Champion titles, Cena stands as a prominent figure in wrestling history, boasting numerous accolades. His contributions to WWE are so remarkable that internally he’s revered as the Greatest Of All Time.

John Cena once shared that he’d prefer a crowd’s negative reaction over no reaction at all. He didn’t mind a 10,000-strong audience booing his every move, as he valued their engagement more than indifference.

John Cena confronts fear and connection with fans

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During his WWE career, John Cena faced a mixed reception, with some fans booing him. However, Cena didn’t mind this response, as he believed any reaction was better than apathetic silence. He revealed that his greatest fear was being met with indifference rather than outright negativity.

In a recent podcast interview with After The Bell With Corey Graves: The Ringer, Cena discussed his biggest fears and the effort to connect with fans. He said, “I never cared about the noise. My biggest fear was apathy. That non-focused silence. There’s the sound of focused silence, but that non-focused silence is when you’re dead in the water.”

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He also referenced his feud with wrestler Austin Theory. Cena related to Theory’s challenge in captivating an indifferent audience, recalling his own difficulties connecting with fans during the Ruthless Aggression era. He also added, “It was really one of my main points the last time we spoke when I was speaking about Austin Theory. Nothing I said about Austin Theory I wouldn’t say to his face.”

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Cena’s focus on connecting with fans shone brightly during his feud with Theory, which ended with the latter defeating ‘Big Match John’ at WrestleMania 39. This emphasized Cena’s firsthand understanding of the importance of engaging an audience. It stems from his experiences of performing to an uninterested crowd.

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Despite facing mixed reactions and understanding the silence of apathy, Cena recognized the value of maintaining a connection with fans, underscoring the importance of avoiding indifferent silence in the wrestling arena.