Long before the days of “It's boss time!”, and “Here comes ‘The Big Dog!’”, the most common phrase Michael Cole would say during an entrance is “John Cena is the most polarizing superstar in WWE history.”
For over a decade, the WWE Universe was deeply divided in the way they felt about Cena and the bulk of that reaction has its roots in John Cena's 2006 feud with WWE Hall of Famer Edge.
During the WWE Untold special centered around their 2006 rivalry, Cena was more detailed than ever before about his feelings towards the polarizing reaction he’s received over the years. John would admit that he loves feeling visceral hatred towards him and it makes him feel just as larger-than-life as a reaction that is overly positive.
“Every time you see me come out, it's like I'm shot out of a cannon. It's because I'm ready, I'm ready to go, and that's whether you're telling me I suck or whether you're telling me that I'm great. It's why I orchestrate you to continue to make noise because as a performer, this makes me feel 10-feet tall. Just audible reaction.”
He continued, “I love it when a group of people has so much energy that it's viscerally negative towards me. I also love it when the energy is so overwhelmingly positive, it does lift you up. It's like it's all so fucking wonderful.”
The polarizing reaction that John receives would become the focal point of many of his rivalries throughout his decade-plus long run at the top of WWE. Many superstars from CM Punk, to The Rock, all zeroed in on acknowledging the massive boos that John Cena would garner throughout the years.
Even in his most recent match, a cinematic match with Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 36, centers around John Cena's popularity and polarizing reaction. In that match, John Cena would see visions of himself giving in to the urge to fully turn heel but ultimately, John would disappear at the end of the match, presumably waiting for the right time to resume his story.
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