Published: 45 seconds ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 1 second ago by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
WWE/TNA Wrestling
A TNA Wrestling star has shared their thoughts on John Cena, praising the WWE star and revealing that they keep in touch.
In December of last year, John Cena competed in his final match, losing to GUNTHER at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
While Cena’s in-ring career may be over, the impact of his influence over stars further afield than WWE has been revealed, with Ryan Nemeth sharing an insight into their relationship.
Speaking on the Generation of Wrestling Podcast, Nemeth opened up about a relationship that started in his time in NXT and continues to this day, saying:
“I never got to wrestle him, but I would train at his gym multiple times a week all throughout NXT, John Cena was incredible. The whole time I was in developmental in the FCW NXT.
“Even my week when I went for my tryout, I went for a tryout for a week in Tampa when NXT was there. John Cena came in and was like ‘Hey guys, I’m in town, does anyone have any questions?’ And I thought I’ll ask a question, I don’t work here yet, but sure. I think I said ‘With everything that you have to keep in mind as a professional wrestler, everyone has all these different ideas, advice and points of view, what is the overall thing that I should keep in mind that covers everything?’
“And he said ‘Are you Nic Nemeth’s little brother?’ I said ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘Hey man, what’s up?’ And then he had a great answer, he said ‘Work for your producer.’ And that is a very underlying, foundational piece of advice that I still do everywhere, not in comedy, acting, wrestling, anything. So work for your producer, meaning if Vince McMahon is the person in charge of your job that night, he’s your boss. If it’s a house show and the crowd is your boss that night, that’s your boss…
“There’s all these levels, especially back then in WWE; there was like FCW coaches, NXT producers, in-between executives, I was like ‘Who’s in charge of me.’ So whoever in that moment is your boss right there, that’s who you’re trying to follow and impress and get a good grade with basically.
“John Cena was incredible, amazing. Still keep in touch with him. Great guy.”
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Ryan Nemeth would sign his developmental contract with WWE back in 2011, competing as Briley Pierce in the then-developmental territory of Florida Championship Wrestling.
As Pierce, he would appear on screen in 2012 when NXT came into being, as a backstage interviewer, before making his in-ring debut in May 2012, with his release coming the following year.
Nemeth would head to the independent wrestling scene and compete in AEW and ROH, before signing with TNA Wrestling in 2024.
The Enduring Legacy of John Cena
To hear that John Cena was offering sound advice back in the early 2010s, it becomes apparent why he continues to have that passion of paying it forward to this day.
His in-ring career may be at an end, but Cena would share his knowledge with the attendees of Bayley’s Lodestone all-women seminar, spending a reported eight hours.
Still involved in the WWE ecosystem, the John Cena Classic has been announced, although many aspects remain under discussion, with a focus being main roster vs. NXT matches, a crossover that was seen in the aforementioned Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Very much like the December show, the matches gave an opportunity for NXT stars, and TNA Wrestling’s Leon Slater, to compete against the main roster, offering opportunities that they may not have received, even after a call-up.
Clearly, the future of the business, particularly in WWE, is where Cena’s interest lies, not just now but historically. Being able to shape that future can only be a good thing for a star that could otherwise rest on his in-ring legacy.
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