Wrestlers were once thought to be unsuitable for film work. Professional wrestling, at least in the WWE’s style, necessitates a great deal of acting, but just ask Hulk Hogan about his time in Hollywood. It took Dwayne Johnson two decades ago to break through that barrier. (Perhaps he’ll shatter even another record and become president.) They may now be picky because there are so many wrestler-actors. Dave Bautista, who recently retired from the WWE, recently stated that he does not want to work with other pugilists, a strong declaration that teammate John Cena both mourns and understands.
Cena recently had a video chat for Esquire in which he answered questions from everyday people (as teased by Digital Spy). His tighty-whitey sequences in The Suicide Squad drew a few questions. However, one guy went a step further, inquiring about what Bautista, with whom Cena has previously wrestled, stated.
“I’m super sad about that, because Dave Bautista is an unbelievably gifted actor,” Cena replied. But I think when someone makes a statement like that, the important thing is to look at things from his perspective.”
He went on:
Dave has put in so much time and effort into his craft, and he is so passionate to his characters that he truly wants to create a body of work that establishes his own identity. That is something I completely understand. Dave is one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, as well as one of the most generous. I don’t have anything against Davie, and I’m pretty sure Dave doesn’t either. He simply wants to be known and identified for his efforts. And I can’t say I blame him for it. I congratulate him on it. Being brave enough to say something like that gives him the freedom to venture out on his own. And I am grateful for that.
It’s a really diplomatic and mature statement from Cena. Nonetheless, it would be lovely to see the two of them in a role other than wrestling, such as closest friends or brothers. They’ve demonstrated such a wide range of emotions by this point that few people think of them as wrestlers trying out acting. They’ve devolved into mere extras. On top of that, they’re outstanding wrestlers.
