On The Jim Ross Report, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross spoke to Bully Ray. Among many topics of discussion, Bully Ray discussed why he thinks WWE will never again allow a superstar to be as huge as John Cena.
Bully thinks WWE no longer allows performers to reach the brass ring if creative did not envision them at the top themselves. He also suggests that talents cannot get themselves over organically as Steve Austin did in his legendary Austin 3:16 promo.
“[Ross] know[s] damn well that you don’t go to the top of the mountain and stay at the top of the mountain unless you are chosen to be at the top of the mountain. And that’s not the way it was. One of [Ross’s] best friends in the [pro] wrestling business and in real life is a guy named ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
He was told to never talk. What would’ve happened if he never grabbed that microphone and never would have said, Austin 3:16 means I just whooped your ass’? Now, back then, it worked. Now, if you’re not told to say something like that, how can you ever get to the top of the mountain?”
According to Bully, WWE will never allow a superstar to be as popular as John Cena ever again.
“Seth Rollins has done it all and can do it all. But how come Seth Rollins is not at Cena level? How come he’s not at Rock level? How come he’s not at Austin level? It’s because I don’t think they will ever allow anyone to get to that level again.
If you take the three biggest stars over the last 20-some-odd years, would you say that Cena, Austin, and The Rock are the three biggest ones? Okay, so those three guys in their own way do what they wanted to do without Vince’s approval. Listen, Steve was able to walk out and still come back and have a job. [Ross] helped out a lot, but not a lot of people walk out and come back in the next day.
Rocky was able to walk away and become the biggest star in Hollywood. And John, my God! He just won the Muhammad Ali Award. He [has] granted more wishes than anybody on the planet. I mean, he walks on water when it comes to the WWE. And he was able to tell Vince, ‘I’m not [going to Saudi Arabia].’ I don’t think they’re ever going to let anybody get to that level again where they have control or say.”
h/t to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.
