John Cena: Former WWE executive on what he told Vince McMahon after first discovering star

Jim Ross has revealed exactly what he told Vince McMahon after discovering a 24-year-old John Cena back in 2001.

John Cena, following his WWE debut in 2002, went on to become the company’s franchise performer until his move to Hollywood in the late 2010s.

Cena is also one of wrestling most decorated performers, main eventing several WrestleManias and winning 16 world titles, a record he shares with Ric Flair.

It was WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross who first discovered Cena, bringing the now 44-year-old into WWE back in 2001.

Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast back in 2020, Jim Ross spoke about bringing Cena into the company, also discussing John’s insane work ethic.

Ross was asked whether or not Cena belongs on wrestling’s Mount Rushmore, which JR’ unequivocally said yes to:

“Oh hell yes, absolutely… “If John Cena is not on the Mt. Rushmore of WWE stars, then there doesn’t need to be a Mt. Rushmore. Knock it down, and build an apartment building or something because you don’t need the mountain. He’s on that mountain and he’s very firmly in place.”

Ross went on to speak about just how committed and dedicated Cena was to wrestling, something that Ross stated was unlike anyone else he’s worked with in the industry:

From the get-go, I never worked with a more dedicated guy than John Cena. The greatest work ethic of any guy I’ve ever known in the wrestling business for sure simply meaning he didn’t turn anything down but the covers… He did appearances, his Make-A-Wish total is astronomical, but John Cena was a very special guy.

As noted, JR was actually the person that brought John Cena into WWE, signing him to OVW, the company’s developmental territory at the time.

When speaking to Vince McMahon, Jim Ross told his boss that he’d