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John Cena Defends Friendship With Vince McMahon
Confirmed
In Short: In an interview with The Guardian, John Cena defended his friendship with Vince McMahon, stating he has no guilt or shame about their relationship.
Cena, 49, was promoting Matchbox: The Movie for Apple TV when he addressed the issue.
Cena emphasized that people do not have to be perfect to remain in your life, and he has continued to justify his relationship with McMahon.
Cena told The Guardian, 'I have no guilt nor shame about my friendship and my relationship with Vince McMahon. It’s OK to love somebody when they’re not perfect.'
Cena also mentioned that McMahon was a mentor who gave him a second family during his early years on the road.
The wrestler noted that WWE had invested heavily in his character, and he felt they deserved their share of ownership.
Cena’s stance is consistent with previous interviews where he has spoken positively about McMahon.
McMahon resigned from WWE parent company TKO in January 2024, following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Cena retired from in-ring competition in December 2025, losing to Gunther in his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Sasha Mistlin of The Guardian reported that Cena addressed McMahon in the interview while promoting Matchbox: The Movie.
Former WWE star Jim Ross also defended McMahon, saying he still considers him a friend, though he could not comment on the case.
Ross told Something to Wrestle, 'I like Vince, and I had no idea of the veracity of the case. That does not mean that all of it might not be true.'
Cena’s defense of McMahon aligns with the sentiments of other former WWE stars who have described McMahon as more than just a boss.
What this adds
WarpBeat previously reported on Cena's defense of McMahon in a recent interview.
The Guardian's interview with Cena adds new context to his relationship with McMahon, emphasizing the mentorship and family-like bonds.
The sources have not established whether McMahon's alleged misconduct has affected Cena's public image or his relationship with fans.
Background
In a recent interview with The Guardian, John Cena defended his friendship with Vince McMahon, stating he has no guilt or shame about their relationship.
What's confirmed
- While speaking to the Guardian in a new interview, John Cena was once again asked about his relationship with Vince McMahon, with Cena stating he has no guilt or shame about his friendship with his former boss.
- McMahon resigned from WWE parent company TKO in January 2024.
- Cena retired from in-ring competition in December 2025, losing to Gunther in his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
What's still developing
- McMahon has almost always been a controversial figure in the world of professional wrestling, but following recent accusations of sexual misconduct relating to Janel Grant, wrestlers and personalities alike in the industry have distanced themselves from the former owner of WWE.
- Cena, 49, is speaking to me on behalf of Matchbox: The Movie, a film extension of the Mattel toy car brand for Apple TV, and for 45 minutes he is generous, funny, complimentary and elusive without ever being evasive.
- But does his relationship with the WWE, and its controversial former owner, risk tarnishing his brand?
- I must admit, I was apprehensive about meeting John Cena.
- Still, Cena is obviously nobody’s fool; fools don’t rise from humble beginnings to become their generation’s answer to Hulk Hogan or The Rock.
- Would the Cena who appears on my computer screen be the real one?
- And rightfully so; they have earned their share of ownership of that.” Being bullied: “I didn’t treat hostility with hostility.
- McMahon has denied the allegations, and the case has since moved to private arbitration.
- “People are obviously going to take me to task over that. That’s fine,” JBL said.
- That he feels no shame about the friendship is the least surprising thing he could have said.
- Sunday’s comments are at least the fifth time Cena has been asked about McMahon since the lawsuit, and the position has not changed.
- Cena is not the only former WWE star to speak warmly about McMahon since the allegations were made public.