Cena believes that, unlike Reigns, he would have struggled to operate at a high level in front of empty arenas, and that “Roman leaned into everything that it gave him” and “made it cinematic” in ways that no wrestler had previously accomplished. Cena also credits Reigns for getting The Bloodline’s “We the ones” hand gesture over with the ThunderDome video crowd, which, he says is another testament to his ability to have the fans in the palm of his hands. 

Another reason for Cena anointing Reigns the G.O.A.T. is the current state of WWE’s business, pointing to the promotion shattering live gate and attendance records over the past year or so — all without his involvement as a full-time wrestler. “We’re doing the best we’ve ever done, and that’s very little thanks to me,” Cena stressed, adding that it’s rare for the torch to be passed up the way he has with the likes of Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Seth Rollins. 

When asked if he greenlit WWE’s strategy to proclaim him to be the G.O.A.T at recent WWE shows, Cena clarified, “That is an idea that doesn’t belong to me, sir. That is not my opinion.” Cena — who recently hinted at retiring from in-ring competition — will wrestle Solo Sikoa at today’s Crown Jewel premium live event. While the match could be one of his final few WWE appearances, Cena sounded optimistic about some of his unaccomplished goals. “The great thing about WWE is there’s always another show. There’s always something [else] to accomplish. I think individuals tend to look at it selfishly. Can I win a 17th [World] Championship? I haven’t won the Intercontinental Championship. I wanna win another Money in the Bank. I wanna win another Royal Rumble. It could be like, I’d like to help Roman Reigns become a larger, global phenomenon. I would like to be Austin Theory’s mentor … I don’t think I’ll ever run out of things to possibly accomplish.”