"Never speaks bad about anybody" - John Cena calls former WWE Champion the "nicest human being"

John Cena spoke about his rivalry with AJ Styles and detailed the discussion he had with The Phenomenal One leading up to their first-ever feud in the WWE.

Styles and Cena feuded around 2016-17, with Cena dethroning Styles at the 2017 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event to win the WWE Championship. Styles also holds two wins over Cena.

Speaking on The Ringer, Cena spoke highly of Styles and said that he was the "nicest human being" he came across in the sports entertainment business.

"First time ever I've worked with AJ Styles. He is the nicest human being in sports entertainment. I can find some energy of like, 'You said this about me in an interview once' or like, 'Man, I don't like the way you work' or whatever. AJ's such a good guy and I sat down, and I'm like, 'Man, this is going to be okay, why are we fighting?' He's like, 'What do you mean? Why are we fighting? I want to be the champ. That's not good enough. Take a second to yourself, figure out why we're fighting'. I went on my bus and scoured the web to try and find anything this guy has ever said. Just anything, a sentence. Never speaks bad about anybody." [32:49-33:26] said John Cena.

John Cena detailed the conversation he had with AJ Styles leading up to their feud

John Cena further opened up about the conversation he had with AJ Styles and the thought process behind their rivalry.

During the same conversation, Cena revealed that he researched for more than a couple of hours, but couldn't find a logical reason that could've been the catalyst for their feud.

"So I came back to him, literally after two and a half hours. He was finally like, 'Okay, this is AJ. This isn't Allan, but maybe AJ is thinking that if you were never around, I would be where you're at and I'd be so much better because in that ring, I am better'. I'm like, 'We got it'. We built our story, culminating with even the match at the Royal Rumble with, 'I, AJ, am a better in-ring performer. You are charismatic, but hella lucky. You put these two in a ring together and I will run circles around you every time'." added John Cena. [33:27-34:07]

Cena and Styles crossed paths in 2025 at the Crown Jewel Premium Live Event, with The Last Real Champion emerging victorious.

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