Former WWE manager, Dutch Mantell, recently clarified his views on John Cena’s wrestling prowess amid controversy.
Mantell, addressing Cena’s accountability stance and facing fan backlash, emphasized that Cena’s legendary status in the wrestling business is grounded in his ability to emotionally engage audiences and drive significant revenue.
In a recent episode of “Story Time with Dutch Mantell,” the 74-year-old legend expounded on Cena’s unique contribution to WWE:
“It’s not how great a wrestler you are that considers you great or an immortal… it’s how much money you drew, and (John) Cena drew a lot of money. He sold a lot of tickets, he sold a lot of merchandise, therefore the company made a lot of money, and he made a lot of money. Now, is he a technician like Bryan Danielson? No, he never intended to be, but he was over with the people,” Mantell stated.
While acknowledging Cena’s lack of technical prowess, Mantell highlighted Cena’s excellence in interviews and connection with the audience as pivotal factors in earning his “great” status.
In the same conversation, Mantell cited other WWE legends, including The Undertaker, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Hulk Hogan, as examples of individuals whose in-ring skills may not have been top-tier but whose ability to draw money and connect with fans defined their greatness.
Mantell explained,
“And I can name you a few: Was Hulk Hogan a great wrestler? No, he wasn’t. Was Stone Cold Steve Austin a great wrestler? No…The Undertaker wasn’t a great wrestler in the ring, but he played the character and drew a lot of money, so that’s what I mean.”
Dutch Mantell’s clarifications dispel assumptions about his critique of John Cena, underscoring that greatness in wrestling extends beyond technical prowess to encompass an individual’s impact on fans and financial success.
The wrestling community is left pondering the multifaceted criteria that define greatness in the industry.
