- The two faced off two ‘Manias in a row, with each man winning one fight each
- They had criticized each other in real life but showed respect after the fight
- The former rivals reunited when The Rock appeared on SmackDown last week
WWE has released dialogue between John Cena and The Rock from after their match at WrestleMania 29.
The two stars battled it out at two straight ‘Manias’ more than a decade ago, with The Rock coming out on top in the first match before Cena got his revenge a year later in New Jersey.
The second fight drew criticism from fans after the first match was dubbed a “Once in a Lifetime” match between two stars from different generations, but WWE resumed the rivalry a year later.
The two showed respect for each other as they engaged in what previously seemed to be a genuine dislike for each other.
And that’s reflected in the transcript shared of the post-match fall in 2012 at Sun Life Stadium in Florida, when both men thanked each other for the matches.
The WWE have released the dialogue shared between John Cena (left) and The Rock (right) after WrestleMania 29
Two pairs had a second fight after initially facing each other at WrestleMania 28 twelve months earlier
They also came face to face on SmackDown last week, where a tense exchange was teased before they hugged.
In the video, shared to WWE’s TikTok account, Cena starts the conversation as he picks up the WWE Championship he just won in the match.
“Because of you I mean it, you have no idea,” Cena begins.
“I asked for a photo with you and me when I was twenty years old and working in a store in Venice, California. You’ve always been kind, you’ve always been respectful when we talked. You always told me to get on with it.”
The Rock takes a breath before responding, “I want to tell you that I came back for this moment. Right now, for them (points to the crowd), and for you. I believe in you.’
The two then shake hands as the majority of the crowd boos in the background as Cena’s music stops playing, before hugging each other as the video comes to a close.”
The Rock made a surprise appearance last week when he confronted Austin Theory (left) at the start of the show
Cena, meanwhile, is enjoying his longest stint with the company since 2015, which is an initial stay of two months.
The pair left the WWE full-time for Hollywood and have since starred in several films, but returned to the company amid the industry’s actors’ strike.
While Cena is in the middle of a two-month stay that could be extended upon his return in early September, The Rock made a one-off appearance on SmackDown last week, where he confronted Austin Theory after discussing a potential match against a real-life cousin. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania next year.
Backstage, The Rock and Cena interacted on screen, teasing a tense exchange before laughing it off and hugging again.
Cena, meanwhile, could be scheduled for a longer period than the originally planned two weeks, with a potential match at an event in Saudi Arabia on November 4 on the horizon, as well as rumors of a fight at the Royal Rumble in January.