Why John Cena Spoke To WWE Cameraman During His Entrance

John Cena has explained the reason why more often than not he would address the fans at home via the roaming cameraman, which was regularly held by Stu.

During the latter years of his career, Cena would make a statement to the cameraman during his entrance before running down to the ring. Known as breaking the 4th wall in productions, the 17-time World Champion elaborated on why he would give an extra message to those who were not in the venue.

Speaking with TJ Jefferosn and O’Shea Jackson Jr. on the No Contest Wrestling podcast, Cena first noted that it was a way for the production team to get recognised as part of the show, and how it was one of many nuances he could take away when it was time for the heel turn:

“So, when I thank the camera department or talk to the camera department or the camera department gets recognized, production gets recognized. So, that’s a win there. Secondly, I’m in your home. I’m talking to you. You guys know about Stu, and you’re like, ‘Stu’s the man.’ It’s because I’ve talked to you for years, and you can sometimes see fatigue in my face, but then it’s like, ‘let’s go to work.’ And then when you turn, you take away that element. I didn’t know how long I was going to be a bad guy, but I knew, like, take away the energy, take away the Stu, like the little nuances. Wear the belt backwards. Just the little things of like walk, don’t run, take the energy out of the character.”

Cena also added that while he was aware of the unwritten rule of not breaking the 4th wall, he found a way to bend it so that Stu the cameraman and others could also receive credit:

“Talking to Stu allowed me to talk to you guys at home, and I didn’t believe in the rule, so I came up with a creative way to break it. I never got a good explanation, but I thought it was a way to get people at home excited to, like, if you’re not there ‘Stu, can you see all this?’ You guys gotta be here.”