BONUS: Stephanie McMahon on John Cena’s legacy, her WWE Hall of Fame induction and more

0:01Stephanie McMahon, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with us today. No, thank you so much for having me. And this is very exciting because it's the first time I've had the opportunity to work with you. Yes, this is exciting for both of us. And we have a lot to talk about. We're going to talk about Survivor Series. We're going to talk about John Cena. But first things first, congratulations are in order. You are the first inductee into the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame. I mean, what an announcement. Wrestlepalooza, such a big day for WWE. The Undertaker, he is the one who lets you know that you're going into the WWE Hall of Fame.

0:37What emotions did you feel in that moment? Oh, my goodness. So I am still so blown away. You know, you don't ever feel worthy, I don't think, of an accolade like that. And it's funny because here we are, Wrestle Palooza. It's such a big night. It's our first show on ESPN. um we're you know we're we're doing it and everything and and paul my husband you know paul of h triple h he had said you know we're gonna do an id shot of you in the crowd like he normally does when i'm sitting in the crowd so i didn't think much of it and then the cameraman comes over and he says hey we're just gonna shoot over your shoulder for taker's entrance and i was like okay i didn't know taker was in the show and i was like but it makes sense it's a huge show that we would have our biggest stars.

1:28Like, you know, I guess I just, I didn't know what was going to happen. So here comes Take, and he's, you know, revving his bike, and he gives me the look ringside, which he normally does if I'm sitting ringside. That wasn't unusual. And then the bike shuts off, and I actually think he stalls it out, so I'm, like, about to start laughing, you know, and, like, point at him. But no, he actually intentionally shut it off there. Gets off the bike, now has a microphone, and is still looking at me. directly at me. So I'm like, okay, something's happening here, but I don't know what it is. He calls me over and then he's like, we're going to sit there.

2:06You want me to sit down? Oh, okay. It's the undertaker. You do as you're told. And as he's talking, it's going through my mind, like what on earth is this? Because we're live. I know we're live. It's my birthday the following week. So I'm like, is he going to lead everybody and sing happy birthday? That would be weird. and I'm like maybe he's like just setting up a big announcement for his show or something like that and I have no idea where he's going and then he says the are you ready and I'm like whoo because but again I don't know what what he's talking about and I think he's going to get up now and segue into whatever the real reason was he came out and then he said to be the first when he used the word inducted that's when I realized and you can see it in the video when you watch it back like my you could see it actually register across my face and I was just blown away I mean it's the most tremendous honor and for him to be the one to tell me and you know it's it's a little a little overwhelming overwhelming in the moment but then when you still overwhelming no it's still overwhelming when anybody says it it's just like no that's not that's not real that's not real So when you hear those words, Stephanie McMahon, 2026 Hall of Fame inductee, what do you think?

3:33I just can't yet. I can't. It's not real yet. It's just not. It's like the biggest level of achievement in our business. And our business means so much to me. It's unfathomable. Well, speaking of Hall of Fame careers, the greatest of all time, John Cena. Yes. Has his final match in just two short weeks. It's kind of wild to think about this retirement tour. And finally, we're here at the moment where the appearances are winding down. And you met John Cena his very first day in WWE. I suppose I did. What was your first impression? You know, I don't remember meeting him his very first day. I remember when he first started.

4:25And I remember always thinking he had something, you know. And I was like, who is this kid? Where is he from? Although at the time he wasn't a kid to me because he was, you know, who is this person is what I should say. He always seemed to have something. But we couldn't quite figure out what it was. You know, it wasn't registering yet with the audience. You know, he was, I can't remember if he was the prototype when he first started. I know that's what he was prior to WWE. But we were, you know, we were trying to figure it out. But I remember being very impressed. Well, sometimes it takes a while, right, for people to figure out what their thing is in WWE.

5:07And that was back in 2002. You were the SmackDown general manager, but you were also working a lot behind the scenes. There's a famous story about you hearing John Cena rapping on the bus. Was that a turning point? Because shortly after that, we suddenly see Cena on screen really diving into this persona. And that was the persona that allowed John Cena to really take off. Well, if you listen to John Cena, he gives me a lot of credit. But it wasn't working his gimmick necessarily at the time. It just really wasn't resonating. And again, we all felt like he really had so much to offer, so much potential.

5:47But it wasn't clicking. Like, what wasn't clicking? And you try to figure it out, you know. And somebody told me that he could freestyle. And, you know, it's one thing to be able to rap. It's another thing to be able to freestyle and have it be really, you know, I mean, at least from my perspective, it was really good. And I remember he tells the story that we were on a bus. I remember being on a plane. So whether we were on a bus or on a plane, we were in Europe, and I had a packet of tuna fish because I was always dieting, trying to be on camera. And I was eating the bag of tuna fish, and he was walking by, and I said, John, I was told that you can wrap.

6:27And he goes, I can. And I said, well, do it. And he goes, what, right now? And I said, yes. And he started wrapping about my tuna fish. and it was so good and clever and smart and like had a good beat to it. I mean, it was so impressive. And I said, John, have you ever thought about doing this on television? And from there, you know, there were various conversations and many other things that had to happen. It wasn't like, oh, I had this great idea and suddenly he was the doctor of economics. That's all him. But I was, I guess, the first person to support him actually doing that on television.

7:10And yeah, it was all him from there. So you watched John Cena go from rookie into one of the most recognizable faces in all of WWE. When you were working with John behind the scenes, what was that like to watch him experience that change? I think it's one of the coolest feelings in the world to watch one of our talent get over. You know, it just is. To watch how and why and the crowd connecting with you and, you know, reacting in the ways you want them to, when you want them to versus, you know, just begging for any kind of reaction. But it's just the best feeling in the world to watch our talent rise.

7:59And nobody rose higher than John Cena. You've been around this business since the day you were born. And you think about all of the titans in this industry. You have Hogan in the 80s. You have Rock, Stone Cold, Triple H in the 90s. They've all had their place in the business. You have Cena in the 2000s. What allowed Cena to really connect and solidify his role and change the industry? You know, it's a special gift that some people have. And it's very few people have the ability to connect with the audience the way that John did. And I have to say, once he started off as the doctor of Thugonomics as a heel, but then he turned babyface.

8:46And then he was the grossest babyface of all time. You know, hustle, loyalty, respect, just, you know, I mean, I like the heels. but and I would feel like it was too much you know and I thought at some point this isn't gonna work this isn't gonna work he's too he's too much that way he's he's too strongly that way we need to pull him back a little bit but he proved me wrong on countless occasions and he really stayed true to himself and his character and who he believed he was for so long and I think that's part of it because he believed so strongly that the audience believed with him. Well, not only has that worked in WWE, but really everywhere that John has gone.

9:36John, the person, he embodies hustle, loyalty, and respect. He does. He does. And he has a way of connecting with people anywhere he goes, whether it's Hollywood, whether it's at different community events, what do you think John Cena has that allows that to transcend wherever he goes? I don't know that John would agree with me when I say this, but I think John Cena has a huge heart. I think he has a lot of heart, and I think he has a lot of love to give. And whether it is, he is the number one wish grantor for Make-A-Wish, more wishes than any other superstar, celebrity, musician, entertainer, you know, you name it.

10:20And he didn't do that because he was trying to hit a quota. He did that because he cares. And he would meet with every kid every day, any day, you know, because that's just who he is as a person. I think when he shows up on set in Hollywood, he has all of that in his heart, but he's also so respectful. He's so professional. You know, John is somebody who always wants to grow and always wants to be the best version of himself. WWE offered the opportunity to learn another language, and he took us up on that immediately. John learned, I believe, French and Mandarin, which is a very difficult language to learn.

11:06and John did several, well he did a big press conference for WWE and he spoke in Mandarin at that conference when we were making our moves in China which was hugely impressive and I think one of the most impressive things that he has done is to go all the way to China and shoot a movie in Mandarin not just speaking Mandarin but taking direction from the producer from the director I'm not sure if Jackie Chan was speaking Mandarin to John but I believe he was especially towards the end and to do something like that so far away so completely removed from the things you're familiar with and the things you know to me is it's just kind of mind-blowing his work ethic is real.

12:00Hustle, loyalty, and respect. His mindset for growth, always wanting to be the best version of himself. And I think his heart, which is something he never talks about. But you couldn't do all of the things that he's done without having love in your heart. There's no question about the way that John Cena has shaped the industry. But when you think about some of the other greats in WWE history, their in-ring careers had to end for a variety of different reasons. John is the only one who has ever come out and said, this is my retirement tour. I'm going to control all of the dates, all of the appearances.

12:42How special do you think that is to John, knowing him that he's gotten to take the last year to do that? Well, I think first and foremost, it demonstrates his business savvy because he understands that while he may not want it to be the end, it needs to be the end. So what's the best way to do that? And how can we get our audience engaged and make sure they know that it's the final time so that they have the chance to have that moment together? And I think often about what John must be feeling, especially as we get so close to his, really his last match and his last appearance. And it's at the end of 2025.

13:27And I can't imagine what he's feeling. I hope that he feels proud. I hope that is something that he carries with him is this huge success that he has had in our company and the impact that he has made on so many people, so many fans around the world that I think is hard to appreciate when it's you. But when you see little kids looking up to John Cena, wanting to be like John Cena, embodying all he stands for and hearing how they, now some of those kids are grown and hearing how he impacted their lives. I mean, he brought joy. He brought the best example that you could possibly bring. I mean, he has made a difference in people's lives all over the world, and I hope somewhere he can appreciate that inside himself.

14:26We know how much you appreciate Don Cena. We know how much you appreciate this business and how much of a fan you are of WWE. I am. I'm a fan of wrestling. Love wrestling. Especially WWE. You're going to be in attendance for John Cena's final match. Yes. Have you thought at all about what kind of emotions you're going to experience as a fan in the audience? Well, I'm actually co-hosting with Joe Tessitore, so I'm going to have to rein those emotions in a little bit. Okay. But no, I haven't thought about how I was going to feel. I've only been thinking about John. But I have to say, I have had the most unbelievable blessings in my life.

15:14And to be there, to see a star be born, and then see that star go out on their shield, so to speak, it's such a privilege. It's something that I can't really put into words. I've never really even thought about it, you know, so much from my perspective. But to be a part of this business in any way is special, especially to know someone and to have been a part of such a remarkable journey. There are so many words to describe John Cena, but if you had to just sum up John Cena and what he's meant to this business in one sentence, how would you do it? Oh, I don't know that you can sum John Cena up in one sentence.

16:06You know, without sounding cliched.

16:13But I would have to say I have so much respect for him and who he is and who he's become and who he continues to become. I don't think John will ever truly appreciate what he's meant to WWE. So I guess that makes him, to try to put it into a sentence, he is revered, respected, admired. he is one of the best businessmen that I think we've had as a superstar he is so incredibly talented he's brilliant in some of the things that he does and I think he has surprised the wrestling world many times over with his matches because Because it's easy to fall into a stereotype about someone, but when John steps in the ring, he has always taken himself to the limit and his opponent.

17:29And he's always given everything that he possibly has for our audience. And I think from a fan standpoint, we couldn't be more grateful. So up until the very end, John Cena continues to make history. just a couple weeks ago for the last time in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, John Cena wins the Intercontinental Championship for the first time ever in his career against Dirty Dominic Mysterio. Now tonight at Survivor Series, it's the rematch and I think to say that Dominic has come into his own would be an understatement because Dominic has grown so much and we've all had a front row seat to watching that unfold.

18:15What do you expect the crowd to be like in San Diego when it's Cena against Dirty Dom for the IC title? So first of all, I love Dominic Mysterio. I have loved him since I first met him when he was a little kid, and he was a little kid. You love the heels. I do love the heels, but especially because I can relate. Like, especially Dom's rise. I can't relate from a wrestling standpoint. I don't have the chops. I don't mean that. But being a child of the business and making such an impact as a heel that the audience is like, you can't even hear yourself talk. And you're so bad. You're just like, oh, it's the best.

18:59I love it. I do love the heels. But I especially love Dom. And he's such a good heel. He's almost a baby face. You know, I mean, at some point, the audience will turn him. I don't think it'll be tonight at Survivor Series, but the audience might go back and forth. They might for sure. You know, I think especially in San Diego, they might be there for Dom. But the thing that's, again, so special about John Cena is John is going to make sure that Dom has that moment, that unforgettable moment and that unforgettable match. they are going to deliver something so special for this audience that it will be remembered forever.

19:46When you think back on John Cena's retirement tour, 10 years from now, what is going to stand out to you most about this last year? 10 years from now, I don't know how I'll look back on this last year. I think it is when you're in the middle of something remarkable you don't necessarily recognize it for what it is in the moment it is only once you gain hindsight that you can truly appreciate it I hope that ten years from now in terms of how I feel I hope that I am able to appreciate it and understand it from even a more evolved standpoint, as I continue to grow, hopefully, and mature and look at life differently, because life's all about perspective and what it takes to go out on your shield for a career that has been truly outstanding.

20:49John Cena truly is in rarefied air, and this opportunity, this year-long retirement tour has been something so special not only for John but for our audience and I think for every person who stepped in the ring with him and John will do what he has continued to do his entire career and that's bring everybody up with him. He has never put anybody down or kept anyone down. It's always been about bringing people up. And that's how I think everyone will remember John Cena. Stephanie, thank you so much for the time tonight. We're excited for Survivor Series, but also cannot wait for John Cena's last match in Washington, D.C.

21:40Thank you. Thank you.