via WWE/IMAGN

'Personally, I Don't Like Him' Wade Barrett Spent Years Hating John Cena In Real Life

Originally posted on The Sportster | By Shawn Van Horn | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 1:40 PM ET

On WWE TV today, John Cena is hated by fans and other wrestlers alike, but that's just the Undisputed WWE Champion doing his job as the company's top heel. Behind the scenes, Cena is well-liked and has done a lot for others, such as his work with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Still, with Cena once the face of WWE for over a decade straight, his spot at the top of the card caused some friction with other talent. One wrestler who didn't like him was Wade Barrett. They work together now, with Barrett on the SmackDown desk, but once upon a time he couldn't stand John Cena.

Wade Barrett Felt Like John Cena Held Him Back

One of WWE's Raw's most shocking moments was when the Nexus, made up of several NXT stars, including Daniel Bryan, attacked John Cena and others at the end of the show. They ripped the ring apart, leaving destruction in their wake, and immediately became a much-talked-about faction. With Wade Barrett as their leader, it looked liked the Nexus would go far, but with Super Cena in their way, the face of WWE destroyed Barrett and the Nexus repeatedly, quickly killing their push. Wade Barrett never forgot it.

Barrett spoke about his dislike for John Cena several times. During a 2011 interview with radio station M94.5, he said:

"Then there are guys like John Cena who I don't get along with. It just so happens that he's not a personality that I get on with very well, in or out of the ring." (h/t Wrestling Inc.)

He reminded fans of his hatred for John Cena again in a 2014 interview with DNA India, saying:

"Everyone knows that I don't like John Cena, and he doesn't like me either... Personally I don't like him and he doesn't like me, we are not friends."

John Cena Took A Jab At Wade Barrett Recently During A WWE Raw Promo

Back on March 31, during Raw in London, John Cena gave a heel promo where he spoke about how much he detested the fans. One thing he pointed out was how fans accused him of burying other wrestlers. Cena said, "I don't bury talent, I bury mediocrity." Wade Bennett took to Twitter/X with a response that showed, even all these years later, he still hasn't forgotten what Super Cena did to his career.