This is really an incredible segment from last night's episode of Monday Night Raw in Newark. John Cena made his way out to the ring to say that while he was disappointed that Rusev wouldn't accept his challenge for a match at WrestleMania 31, he would turn his focus to the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
That led to Stephanie McMahon walking out to put Cena in his place.
Steph: "Excuse me, John, but since when do superstars declare what match they're going to participate in, let alone the Andre the Giant Battle Royal at WrestleMania?"
Cena: "Steph, that's what everybody does for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal -- they declare they're in it. Miz did it, Fandango did it, Adam Rose did it; that's not exactly like a murderer's row, I think you got some spots open for me, I'm in."
Steph: "...Andre the Giant was my friend ... So forgive me if I take it a little personally when you disparage or belittle the very match that pays homage to his great legacy. So my answer as to whether or not you can compete in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal at WrestleMania is no."
Cena: "You know what I liked about that picture? You can tell all those years ago you certainly weren't the bitch that you are now."
Steph: "Oftentimes women in power and position are referred to in a negative way but that doesn't mean I don't have the final say."
Cena: "You do have the final say and I wasn't trying to belittle Andre the Giant. As a matter of fact, Steph, any WrestleMania moment is a moment to last a lifetime. I was simply informing you that in my service here at WWE I'm a 15 time champion and I've been in 10 WrestleManias. So I figure that that would get me in."
Steph: "I guess you figured wrong. You see, John, let me put this bluntly -- you haven't exactly been a friend to The Authority. I mean, your actions in the past -- you know, where you had us thrown out of power -- it doesn't exactly curry favor. You couldn't get the job done against Rusev. So maybe it's about time we find someone who can."
Cena: "Steph, stop. Stop with the authority crap, stop with the Rusev crap. It's not about Sting, it's not about any of that. We are talking about WrestleMania, the biggest event in WWE history, and the day you leave me out of WrestleMania is the day...
Steph: "Is the day you'll what?!? You'll realize that John Cena doesn't define WWE? Newsflash for you, John, it doesn't. Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Bret Hart; they all thought that they could leave WWE and WWE wouldn't survive, we would be a sinking ship. Well not only did we survive, we thrived. And that is exactly what's going to happen this year if John Cena were to sit this one out, to sit this WrestleMania out, which is exactly what I think these people want. ... Then WrestleMania will still be the biggest show of all time. You're not special, you're not unique. You need to think about it this way, John -- it's not where would WWE be without John Cena, it's where would John Cena be without WWE."
That is a thorough takedown.
What's so great about this is that for the second week in a row, Cena just assumed he would get his way. When he "challenged" Rusev to a match for the US title at WrestleMania, it wasn't so much a challenge as a declaration. He was so sure he would get what he wanted, he just skipped the formalities.
That's what made it so great when Rusev told him "no" and just walked away.
Here, Cena does the same thing. Rusev denied him but that's okay because he'll just enter himself into the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. This time, Stephanie was the one to say no. In response to this, Cena calls her a bitch and tries to big league her with his credentials, which are, admittedly enough, impressive. Steph more or less no sells this, which leads to Cena getting belligerent and yelling in her face.
Stephanie rises to the challenge however, and Cena is left speechless.
Had Curtis Axel not made his entrance right after this, it wouldn't be a surprise if Cena's next line was "But I'm John Cena."
Ultimately, Stephanie revealed that Cena would have to prove himself enough that Rusev would accept a match against him, which will, of course, happen. The biggest star on the roster is not going to sit out WrestleMania.
But it sure was nice to see someone take him down a peg, wasn't it?