John Cena and Dwayne Johnson have come a long way since their days as WWE rivals.
The two stars were once at the center of one of WWE’s biggest feuds, but these days, Cena has nothing but kind words for Johnson. In fact, the former wrestling rivals have developed a genuine friendship, and Cena says he would love the chance to work with his longtime friend on a movie.
During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast on Oct. 8, Cena was asked about the possibility of sharing the screen with Johnson. While he joked that Johnson already has plenty on his plate, Cena made it clear that he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity.
“He’s very giving with his time and very sincere and very present,” Cena said, explaining that he wouldn’t want to add another project to Johnson’s already busy schedule. But if the right opportunity came along, Cena would be all in.
Their friendship is especially interesting considering how complicated things once were between them.
Before Johnson returned to WWE in 2011, Cena had publicly criticized his decision to leave wrestling for Hollywood. Cena questioned Johnson’s passion for WWE, setting the stage for what would become a memorable rivalry between the two stars.
Their feud eventually led to back-to-back WrestleMania showdowns. Johnson defeated Cena at WrestleMania 28 in 2012, while Cena got his win the following year, defeating The Rock and capturing the WWE Championship.
Looking back, Cena has acknowledged that his attitude toward Johnson was misguided. He eventually apologized and described their old rivalry as “short-sighted and selfish.”
Today, the former competitors have clearly left that chapter behind. Both have gone on to become major Hollywood stars, making the possibility of a future project together especially fun for fans who remember their WWE battles.