WWE Rivals is exploring the notorious rivalry between wrestling icons The Rock and John Cena.
In an exclusive clip obtained by PEOPLE of the A&E’s show’s second season, fans are given a look back on the legendary feud between the two actors and sports heroes, who also happen to be two of Hollywood’s most charitable stars.
“Two faces of their generation! Two icons in their prime!” the clip begins with an announcer’s voice over some archival WWE footage. “Two of the greatest wrestling superstars EVER, going head to head.”
Cena publicly criticized his predecessor on and off-screen, which led to a dream match in 2012 (and again the next year), following all the public criticism. In 2011, Cena began rattling off to fans how The Rock hadn’t been in a ring in 8 years and “questioning whether or not The Rock even cares about the business,” one of the experts says in the clip.
“This is what happens when idiots have confidence,” The Rock says in an old clip about Cena “popping off at the mouth,” leading up to their much-anticipated Wrestlemania match.
“My size 15 boot right up John Cena’s candy ass, I mean it’s really gonna be a beautiful thing, The Rock says during a second BTS clip while appearing to be in mid-interview.
“He came out swinging, I came out swinging,” Cena, dressed in a suit, recalls in a confessional-style interview after the iconic event took place. “It was as real as you can imagine.”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was the face of WWE in the ’90s until his Hollywood career took off, and Cena was fast approaching his own WWE takeover as The Rock’s switched to movies.
Austin Theory is well aware that John Cena will be at this Monday’s edition of WWE Raw from Boston.
A-Town spoke about the Cenation Leader during his recent interview with Inside The Ropes. During his chat, Theory would be asked about potentially facing the former 16-time world champion at this year’s WrestleMania 39.
Plans on giving Cena a warm welcome at Raw:
Of course I do. I’m on Raw every single Monday and we all know the history of John Cena and the work he’s put in and how many Mondays he’s been there. I want to show him all the respect that I can when I see him on Monday. I’ll be the one to bring that to him. It’s going to be a very warm (welcome).
Plans to really showcase the U.S. title at WrestleMania:
This is going to be a chance to take the United States Championship and showcase it in the match I’m in. Everybody has their thoughts, ‘is it going to be John Cena?’ Me, personally, I don’t think he would face me at WrestleMania. I don’t think he’s going to show up. With his schedule, he’s the past now. It is what it is.
I don’t see that happening. If it does, oh, if it does. Anybody else out there, maybe we have somebody we’ve never seen before in the WWE show up. Maybe they want some of Austin Theory and that Hollywood WrestleMania and try to take home the United States Championship.