John Cena Privately Criticised Austin Theory Before WWE Raw Promo

John Cena had largely been away from WWE since SummerSlam 2021 outside of a tag team match with Kevin Owens against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn, but the 16-time world champion returned on the March 6 episode of Monday Night Raw in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Cena kicked off his programme with Austin Theory on the show and the Peacemaker star repeatedly criticised Theory, saying he should be a big star, but he isn't because nobody cares about him to the point WWE pipes in boos during TV broadcasts. 

The promo was considered one of Cena's most brutal in recent years and the 46-year-old has since revealed that he criticised Theory privately before the segment, during which he told Theory that he doesn't believe his character.

"That's what I love about WWE. Fans can see through the BS if you don't believe in your character. It's what I said to Austin Theory. 'You are young, you are athletic, you will work for this company, you will do interviews. I don't believe what you do when you're out there. I don't.' I said it to him personally before I said it to him publicly. I'm serious. In a room, with Austin Theory, I said, 'The reason I came back to Boston is because you can't do this yourself yet. You cannot carry a WrestleMania promo yourself yet. If you fail, we waste the equity that I'm willing to give. In that match, if I get hurt, I hold up production, which puts 300 people out of work. Let's do this right. Let's get some equity here.' Then you start thinking about the angles, what's the most important thing, what's our story? 'I don't believe what you do,' that's what I'm going with," Cena said on Notsam Wrestling.

Austin Theory would defeat John Cena to retain the United States Championship in the opening match of WrestleMania 39 on April 1. The jury is still out on how much the match actually helped Theory as WWE look to develop him into a top star. 

H/T to Fightful