Austin Theory On His John Cena Feud

WWE Superstar Austin Theory joins Chris to discuss his feud with John Cena that ended with a match at WrestleMania 39
Watch the full interview with Austin Theory on my main ‪@ChrisVanVliet‬ channel here: • Austin Theory Beat Joh...
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#austintheory #johncena #wrestlemania #wwe

[@MrShrugger]

Listening to Theory talk in this episode should provoke WWE writers to restructure Theory’s entire character. He should be a face.

[@elkennedy1472]

I wish they hadn't dragged the Grayson/Theory feud on this long, he should've turned a while ago

[@OwocowyMr]

they teased the face turn for so long they completely forgot where it was going and dropped the ball

[@ThisWeekInStupid]

nah dude he blows, just does roids, we are one with big steroid losers. his personality sucks and so do his promos and in ring. grayson is better theory, let him go be elite. thats why he flopped people dont want this.

[@MrShrugger]

I agree he has sucked, but I think that is more on creative than him. His story has sucked, so he sucks. He has a ton of potential. The point is he showed he is actually an intelligent guy in this interview and they could remake him to be an honest character like Cena.

[@TomClancy-cq5om]

@@elkennedy1472That’s triple H’s one weakpoint. He doesn’t know when to tie up a story sometimes.

[@RikzzLaili]

Theory just seems like a cool chill guy who loves his job and is still a fan as well. I have a lot of respect for theory after watching this.

[@Dingus343]

Something I love about CVV is how it makes me respect the effort these athletes and performers put in. I want to see this guy even more and look forward to seeing his growth

[@TheJaviferrol]

The cash-in drove in down a deep hole. The Cena promo finished the job.

[@Goldrush81]

Once Vince left theory was lost in the shuffle

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

I feel bad for Theory. A lot of people will always see him as Vince's guy.

[@dumpthen23]

Yea but it's on HIM to come up out of that

[@FireLordKuzon]

I used to really enjoy what Austin Theory was doing as a character BECAUSE of the fact Vince as right next to him and it was such a good look at the time [obviously things have come to light and I would say in hindsight being 20/20 I'd say the OPPOSITE] as well as his history with Seth Rollins in the Monday Night Messiah Group; which im not sure why he got pulled out of that group... I think what made me stop caring as much as I did; and its rare if not never that I give up having someone as my boy who i want to become World Champion! The match with John Cena wasn't great and I REALLY wanted to like it, it was just...okay? I would say you gain more by John Cena beating you and eventually having that match again a year later and SMASHING him and in the long run it looks better on you; story telling of the progress you've made! [ Kevin Owens being the exception as he beat Cena and was already kind of running things in NXT] What put the nail in the coffin for me was Theory cashing in on a US Title; not the world title and LOSING... Which he might as well have lost to the world champion in which case or put his case on the line and lose it to Brock or Roman Reigns for that Unification Match. I want Theory to win me back however I can't get behind the narcissist personality if you aren't giving me a way to believe that your Main Character Syndrome is warranted

[@MattGOG666]

​@@FireLordKuzonbrother no one's reading that

[@Krish_Mazal]

He had beaten John Cena in WrestleMania that's what you call career insurance

[@imJB23]

@@MattGOG666i actually did tho

[@hashthe1Comedy]

as a performer, I think John Cena meant that he wanted him to be himself, and alot of them of performers it takes time to be ourself on stage, and Cena probably wanted to push Theory into the different mindset, but it just takes time before someone has that CLICK and they are changed

[@christianking5549]

If they would of gave him his face run i think he'd be much higher in the card

[@talldarkrandom3170]

Austin theory is not Austin theory yet. The best way to get it across is that he is cody rhodes before he left WWE. He has everything you need he just needs to be him.

[@mattstriker123]

John cena in 2002

[@talldarkrandom3170]

@mattstriker123 nah he has more to him than john cena at this point compared to 2002 cena. He's better, just like cody was at that point in his career. I'd love a fuck it theory. The funniest thing he's done was pose during the live feed with grason waller. That felt like Theory being himself.

[@2Good2BeTrue45]

I'm sorry but that "you just need to be you" is bullshit. That doesn't mean anything 😂😂😂 you think Scott Hall was being himself when he was Razor Ramon? Even Kevin Nash took eh big sexy gimmick and name from another wrestler in WCW. No what John Cena wanted was for Austin not be so starstruck with him and to give him a nasty side aka to have a chip on his shoulder. What John Cena wanted, was an MJF/William Regal esque promo or Him/Roman Reigns when he came back after covid

[@talldarkrandom3170]

@2Good2BeTrue45 that's a lie. Most of the legends said it was their personality turned up to 11. Shawn Micheal's the rock triple h even taker when he became the American badass. Stone cold. John cena in his later years. The list goes on. Scott Hall amd kevin Nash were OK. They weren't as good they thought they were.

[@KINGMONKEY1989]

Every single time I see or hear Theory doing an interview I cant help but like him more as a person. I honestly do think this kid will eventually get up a head of steam and them we will see the real Austin Theory.

[@monkeypuppet5482]

If they would of gave him his face run i think he'd be much higher in the card, who agrees?

[@v1005970]

You know Austin theory could actually be an incredible face... he has so much potential

[@drownbunny]

Theory was screwed here. He was Vince’s project, in one ear telling him how to act and what to do and then Cena telling him to do something else and be more real. When he said “I don’t believe in you” you could feel the tone shift on Theory. Waller and Theory might be in a lot of segments but since then it’s been clear that the office lost faith.

[@Dazza13]

Theory is a very interesting guy to listen to. His respect for Cena is great. Theory and Dirty Dom would be an amazing storyline 😊

[@Whatacomedian_]

It would be hilarious if john cena uses chatgpt for text replies😂 6:10

[@CCtheRapperman]

He might want to run his "if youre good at taking finishes eventually youll get to hit your finish" theory by Dolph Ziggler lol

[@dwinchester451]

After hearing this interview I just can't understand how they haven't just turned him face and ran with it. He can be so much bigger than WWE is allowing him to be

[@bigdre4life92]

No way he’s doing these type of interviews if the plan is to keep him heel. Babyface turn has to be coming soon, atp.

[@ericanders2819]

I get we love Chris and so do I so we gotta praise Theory but I like to speak truth. Cena’s promo on him is how I felt about him since the beginning. Great in ring, great look but does NOT have IT when it comes to connecting with fans. Can he get get there? Maybe. They need to start that feud with Waller ASAP.

[@akassh10]

you got to take it personally man and use it as fuel to rise, just like roman did.

[@AveLukas42]

Austin Theory really likes the word like 😂😂 No disrespect of course

[@jimmyHopkins-e5i]

I talk like that too 🤭🤭🤭🤭 I cant help it. I have to admit. its bad. its extremely noticeable. 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[@A15GamerEgg]

Why would you say that?.... I CANT UNHEAR IT NOW 😂😂

[@hayatorpg3896]

Hes no worse than Scott Steiner

[@OneDrewThree]

Idk why people always point this out about others lmao. The majority of people use that word to link together their words/thoughts while their brain tries to catch up with what they're saying lol

[@MichaelAmen316]

I'm sorry but the way that John Cena verbally ripped Austin Theory on the road the WrestleMainia took something away from Austin Theory's win over him at Mainia.

[@RuanAntunes7]

The Truth is he wasn’t ready to compete with John Cena on the mic but then again the only person who has been on par with Cena on the mic is CM Punk so Theory never had much of a chance in that situation.

[@yapmicson6840]

When the first time i watched Austin Theory in WWE debut , i saw there’s a john cena shadow inside him 🤔 Give him a push 🤌

[@alternative7586]

Him being tag team champions with Cena would be better for his career than him beating Cena.

[@MichaelAmen316]

If Austin Theory is a genuine face then have him be a face and not a heal and let him shine.

[@WolfMediaImaging]

Austin vs Cody ? Would be a crazy match this just popped in my head just speaking it into existence Then Austin goes over. I wanna see that title around Austin.

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

Theyve faced a few times already.

[@mlong1984]

He has so much potential

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

I could genuinely listen to Theory do a podcast talking about spirituality or something. He is very soft spoken.

[@SCRB1GR3D98]

Take a shot every time Austin says "like"

[@RuanAntunes7]

Anyone notice how much Theory said “Like” in this interview?

[@olivebluegarden]

when theory turns face he will prove all doubters wrong and truly mold himself to become the true next john cena

[@kingmonteyii2143]

Basically theory should be the future of wwe, he should be a megastar and all that. John seen that he should be himself as a face

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

HHH slowed Theory's push down but if Vince was still around, we COULD have seen a new Cena type mega heel/face. Now hes very cooled off.

[@SuperKidstar12]

I don’t have Cenas number 😭😭 seems like everyone has it 🤣🤣

[@jon-henrinorton9312]

He’s the opposite of Roman Reigns- we’ve been wanting him to turn face for a while because he could be the future face of WWE

[@TheInnovator25]

Theory has great potential but wwe has completely wasted him so far, and truth is cena buried him in that promo, he basically told him even if he wins he loses, who in the hell thought that was a good idea

[@mathkuah5567]

he's saying that he's not making the best advantage during that promo with John Cena. John doing everything he could to provoke theory to go off the script and defend himself for real and prove why he entitled for the run

[@newdimensionjt3452]

The problem is it's unrealistic to expect Theory who up to that point had been trained to follow a script and not deviate off of it to then suddenly pivot and go off script. Especially dealing with the pressure of a boss like Vince McMahon that will fire you if you do go off script similar to the way he did to Brad Maddox. Just like the Roman Reigns situation where he forgot his lines it wasn't a even playing field from the get-go. Cena is used to not being on script he has that creative license however the wrestlers he's doing a promo against don't

[@mathkuah5567]

@newdimensionjt3452 yeah that's what he's saying between the lines. But, you know that kind of segment with John Cena could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to do that. John was saying, I'm here, I'm off the script, follow me, don't be afraid, I'll handle it. That kind of moment is risky but it will be a huge jumping stone for him to prove his worth. Because the fans and crowds already knew he is a good wrestler, have a gimmick but it's too generic. He didn't connect with the fans at all. They don't believe him or care about him enough to sell the product. That's the issue. When people don't believe in your gimmick, you're out of the line real quick. This storyline if theory being more open, being more believable going to the wrestlemania match that he won should benefit him even more after that.

[@newdimensionjt3452]

@@mathkuah5567 regardless of if that's true or not as the veteran you don't fuel those rumors or what people are saying on the Internet by putting your stamp on it in a promo John Cena as the veteran had a responsibility to protect Theory not expose him whatever grievances that John Cena had about theories gimmick he should have expressed that to him behind closed doors. Whatever theory is falling short of he still green at the end of the day and needs space to grow into whatever he's supposed to be doing as a superstar you're not giving a superstar space by exposing their flaws even further and making it blatantly obvious. Even with Theory being a rookie and having certain shortcomings which is expected of a rookie, he still had a level of aura about him because of effort Vince McMahon invested into him with the push and that aura was immediately shattered with Cena's promo which is counterproductive. Like I said Cena can't realistically expect Theory to take that risk with shooting on John Cena when that's not what he's been trained to do. Plus John Cena is not even supposed to be shooting anyway it's supposed to be a promo he's not supposed to be telling the audience about piped in cheers in the office making Cena work with Theory. That takes away the suspension of disbelief and undermines buying into the entire storyline and devalues theories victory.

[@Gabrielle-Z]

@@newdimensionjt3452 You are spot on with this.

[@justmyopinion1098]

He has to turn babyface

[@Zay6005]

There is so much untapped potential with Austin Theory… I honestly don’t think he needs it but maybe a short run in NXT could do him favors

[@Gabrielle-Z]

John Cena can be a right arsehole with new talent sometimes. Aww, bless his heart. Austin Theory was trying to put a positive spin on the verbal lashing John Cena unleashed on him. I bet he wanted to go off script and respond to John, but knowing what Vince was like back then about sticking to the script no matter what, he just had to stand there and take it. Never mind, Austin should use it as fuel and prove John Cena wrong.

[@andrewbenjamin3835]

Remember watching the interview from 2018 when theory called out cena

[@newdimensionjt3452]

I don't care what anybody says. Cena needs to apologize to Austin Theory. That promo that Cena did on Theory delegitimized not only Theories entire character but the victory that Theory would go on to have over Cena at wrestlemania. And he hasn't recovered since. People remember the promo more than they do the match they had. You don't break the fourth wall like Cena did in that promo by telling everybody during the promo that he is being pushed, I don't want to work with him and the only reason I'm wrestling him is because the office made me. And also Cena saying his victory is not going to mean nothing after WrestleMania. That's burying the talent when you're supposed to be as the veteran helping push him. Cena does the same thing with all up-and-comers. He did it with Roman delegitimizing Romans entire Babyface run. And he did it with The Rock except he apologized to the Rock so if he can apologize to the Rock and to China in their native language he should apologize to the Theory as well

[@absoluteking95]

With that gimmick & his terrible promo no wonder Cena can't take him seriously so that's on theory

[@newdimensionjt3452]

@absoluteking95 please stop making excuses for John Cena's unprofessionalism. Regardless of what your personal opinion is of theories gimmick or promo that does not justify Cena burying him breaking the fourth wall and delegitimizing the entire storyline to SHOOT on Austin theory. Whatever criticism Cena had of Austin he should have said it to him behind closed doors. Again I say Cena did a SHOOT on Austin Theory it was not a PROMO which is unprofessional and it defeated the whole point of the feud which was to push Austin Theory it was on John because John was the veteran and as the veteran it is his responsibility to help get the younger talent over and he failed.

[@jackhughes7637]

Cena has always been a really awful promo, in the way that he breaks the 4th wall for no reason other than to bury the other guy from his character to his abilities as a performer. Promos are meant to have the final result of both guys being more hot and the match being more anticipated.

[@absoluteking95]

​@@newdimensionjt3452No, he was exactly the same, that's the problem. Boring before and boring after The man buried himself

[@newdimensionjt3452]

@@absoluteking95 that's the narrative that you keep telling yourself because you don't like austin. But like I told you your personal opinion of Austin theory has no bearing on the fact that Cena was the one that was responsible as the veteran to help get him over and he did the complete opposite and buried him

[@fallenexposure9663]

Theory's cool, they booked him one dimensional.

[@RuanAntunes7]

Even Omos has personality but they never booked him to show any of it.

[@broccoliboy9673]

His promo with cena was heartwarming for him but to cena it was more like live bait 😂

[@JT7Blu]

That Cena feud was so bad due to Cena burying Theory on the mic. Theory looked better in his promo with the Rock on that one SD episode.

[@absoluteking95]

The man buried himself because he proved Cena right.

[@staticJ7]

​@@absoluteking95 nope, Cena buried him with the comment, "even if you beat me, you will still suck." Imagine Mick Foley or Undertaker telling Randy Orton that back in the day. That's not how you put someone over. It made Theory's win pointless.

[@absoluteking95]

​@@staticJ7 No, he was exactly the same, that's the problem. Boring before and boring after The man buried himself

[@simenzewedlamini360]

@@staticJ7so what it’s up to theory to change he character even before that theory didn’t have it why do u want cena to do or wwe to do face someone else at the time wtf do u want them to do!

[@davidbgooch9587]

​@@staticJ7after reading the comments you have left on this video are you like 12? Serious question

[@mantistoboggan2599]

If they just let Austin theory be himself and let his real personality shine then he could be bigger than Cody Rhodes

[@TomClancy-cq5om]

And they had cena verbally destroy him leading up to it, negating the win against him that would have elevated Theory

[@bumpofdeath666]

undertaker taught em that dont u rember in 2thousand or before way before

[@CraigWeir-q5v]

Theory only got in the ring with Austin , Rock , Brock and Cena cause he was the old man's ''special boy'' ..........wonder what he had to do TO Vince for these things

[@davidbgooch9587]

All consensual if it did happen. Grow up already

[@mynameisjeff92]

Again, Cena lowkey destory Austin Theory's character with that promo on Raw...he never recovered

[@darrengladwell]

I think that's on Theory tbh, Cena challenged him and Theory failed to step up. The fact Cena worked with the guy at all shows there was some belief in Theory

[@staticJ7]

​@@darrengladwell Nah, that's on Cena. Cena failed to put anyone really over in his finals years active. He buried Roman in a similar promo which made Roman's win mean nothing.

[@absoluteking95]

​@@staticJ7 Tribal chief?

[@demonsbane6588]

​@@staticJ7 Man you're so stupid 😂 That promo on Roman is the wake call for him & The rise of the Tribal chief so I'll say Cena did the right thing

[@staticJ7]

@@absoluteking95 no, they had a feud before the tribal chief. The one where Cena says "it's a promo, you're going to have to learn how to cut one." This was after Roman been "The guy" for 5 years and main evented multiple WMs. Roman went on to defeat Cena and it meant nothing because all people remember was that promo.

[@damiantavares3291]

We might be looking at the next Roman reigns right here but just like Roman he gotta find his niche.

[@Mattznick]

So does that mean Cena ignores faces and heels when promos with others? Because keeping Theory heel doesn't make sense for that promo unless he started to turn during and after the match. That was not fair to Theory for Cena to do that and say "i want the real you" like man he can't he's playing a heel

[@CreativeLending]

Make him a face.

[@shivamyk]

get him a clean shave and turn him face. the tag team with grayson has run it's course

[@bumpofdeath666]

get a chain

[@Edward-fy6bt]

It’s actually sad bro beat cena and isn’t even on miz lvl

[@lcDer2]

To be fair alot ppl in wwe isn't on Miz level

[@Qballproductions]

Well you couldn't beat theory if you wanted to you ain't on his level so stop hating 😅

[@lcDer2]

@Qballproductions I'm not hating I've been a fan of Theory since I first saw him in nxt but a lot of ppl aren't on Miz level there's a reason he's still around and always involved in a storyline

[@Qballproductions]

@lcDer2 do you mean like promo wise

[@lcDer2]

@Qballproductions yes but Miz isn't bad in the ring either like I said I'm not hating on Theroy I just think being compared to MIz shouldn't be an insult he's had a career most dream of

[@suavemunoz924]

New challenge take a shot every time the word like was used in this interview.

[@ROCKETS2965]

Cena was right though. Theory has all the potential in the world but isn’t there yet because he’s playing a character and everybody knows it’s not authentic.

[@TBrown44]

I like theory! I hate “like” talkers

[@ThisWeekInStupid]

Rois of the future met roids of the past. spoiled LA boy put on by the bucks, hate him. release him.

[@Uncle_n00b]

OMG like, Theory like, talks like a teenage girl, like.

[@staticJ7]

A lot of wrestlers (people in general, really) use the word "like" as a crutch. Kofi does it as well. I've seen old interviews with Seth using the word consistently.

[@briansmarty594]

Second❤

[@wa2k99]

Theory is the most unlikable wrestler on the roster

[@calvinhouston5015]

Umm... You should probably re-watch this interview... 🤨🤨🤨

[@monkeypuppet5482]

as a performer, I think John Cena meant that he wanted him to be himself, and alot of them of performers it takes time to be ourself on stage, and Cena probably wanted to push Theory into the different mindset, but it just takes time before someone has that CLICK and they are changed

[@monkeypuppet5482]

Listening to Theory talk in this episode should provoke WWE writers to restructure Theory’s entire character. He should be a face.

[@monkeypuppet5482]

I feel bad for Theory. A lot of people will always see him as Vince's guy.