Finn Bálor Reveals What Made John Cena Different From Everyone Else in WWE

As John Cena prepares to wrestle the final match of his career this Saturday at Saturday Night’s Main Event, heartfelt tributes from WWE Superstars are pouring in — and Finn Bálor may have delivered the most revealing one yet.

Speaking with The Sun’s Alex McCarthy, Bálor praised Cena not just for his legendary career but for the rare type of leadership he brought to WWE’s locker room.

“The thing I remember most about John and the early years in WWE is just that I thought that was the norm,” Bálor said, recalling his call-up to the main roster in 2016. “I came into WWE with a lot of wrestling experience but no WWE experience and didn’t really understand how cutthroat or ruthless it can be backstage. But of course, when I get brought in like 2016, John was at the top and he’s kind of like the leader in the locker room and backstage. He leads by example and not fear and threats. He was just a really, really good leader that everyone looked up to and respected and admired for his work ethic.”

Bálor admitted he was naïve at first, mistaking Cena’s generosity and class as standard in WWE — until reality set in.

“I thought, wow, these WWE guys are really, really professional. I can’t believe it’s so easy. I come in here as this new kid, I guess potentially a threat to their position on the card and the main guy is just so cool. Wow, I can’t believe it. Surely this doesn’t happen everywhere? I’ve heard all these horror stories about all sorts of politicking and whatever. ‘But that doesn’t exist here in WWE – that’s crazy. Things have really changed.’ I was wrong. That only applies to John.”

He went on to highlight just how rare Cena’s attitude truly is in the wrestling world:

“There’s only one John Cena. There’s only one 17-time champion, future Hall of Famer. But no one commands the respect (he does), but gives the respect that he gives at the same time. I guess I naively thought all WWE superstars were going to be like that and fast-forward 10-11 years, I’ve discovered that that’s not the case and it’s made me even more grateful for how John treated me when I entered WWE and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”

Bálor was also part of a few recent Cena moments on TV, including his last WWE match at Madison Square Garden, and his final Premium Live Event appearance at Survivor Series: WarGames.

“I was super surprised to be involved in his last match at M.S.G., which was a huge honor, and a lot of fun – especially three Irish boys in there in New York City. So that was a lot of fun.”

“Getting to come out there at Survivor Series, be involved in that, which was not only a huge moment for John being his last Premium Live Event match, but also huge for Dom in his hometown, in his favorite baseball team’s stadium against John Cena. It was such a huge event for them both. The spectacle was really cool for me.”

Even on Cena’s farewell Raw moment, Bálor wasn’t sure he’d be involved until he was standing behind the curtain.

“It (had) been brought up to my attention a couple days before it might be a possibility, but in WWE, you never get attached to any idea until I’ve got my gear on and the music is playing (laughs). The closer it got to the day, I thought, wow, maybe this is going to stick. It was a great night. I didn’t expect to be in a ring with John again. Being in there for such an important moment for him at a historic venue for us – it was a real career memory for me.”

With Cena stepping away from in-ring competition for good, these behind-the-scenes tributes offer a reminder that his legacy isn’t just what happened in front of the camera — it’s what he represented when no one was watching.

Do you think John Cena’s leadership was truly one of a kind in WWE? Or are there others in today’s locker room who follow in his footsteps? Share your thoughts in the comments below.