JOHN CENA would spend £35,000 buying drinks at the bar – all because Ric Flair told him to.
Cena was at the height of his stardom in 2007 when the WWE toured Europe – including shows in the UK.
GettyJohn Cena pictured in 2007[/caption]
GettyRic Flair taught Cena a valuable lesson[/caption]
And the WWE legend – holding the championship gold at the time – would splash the cash buying rounds on nights out.
Jonathan Coachman – who spent nine years as an on-screen WWE personality – was one of the punters witnessing Cena’s incredible generosity.
Coachman told SunSport: “When I think of John Cena and my love that I have for John Cena, the best story I have, and I’ll make it quick…
“Ric Flair taught him years ago when he became a world champion, you got to act like a world champion.
“And that means that you buy the bar, you pay for the bar tabs and you’re the leader. So we had a ten-day trip like we always did.
“Every single night he paid for the tab and he was there till we closed and he was the first guy up at the gym in the morning.
“So Sunday night, the next night was Monday, we’re having more beers. All of a sudden I asked him, I said, ‘How much money have you spent on this trip?’
“And he said, ‘Well, I checked my Amex bill this morning. It was 35,000. I said, ‘$35,000?’ He goes, I wish, £35,000!’ Which back then was two to one.
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“So he has spent 70,000 US dollars on bar tabs because Ric Flair was teaching him, if you’re gonna be the champion, you’re gonna make the most, then you pick up the tab.”
Cena had just beaten Shawn Michaels in the WrestleMania 23 main event when the WWE toured in London.
And at the end of a week of heavy boozing, ex-WWE star Dean Malenko broke the news that Cena had rematch spanning an hour with Michaels booked.
Coachman revealed: “We’re having that beer and Dean Malenko – one of the great quick storytellers of all time – walks up to John Cena, whispers something in his ear.
“He takes his beer, puts it on the thing, watch the elevator, and he’s gone. I turned to Dean Malenko and I said, ‘What did you just say to him?’
“He goes, ‘I just told him that tomorrow night after nine straight nights of drinking and doing house shows, that he was gonna have a 60 minute Iron Man match with Shawn Michaels live on Monday Night Raw.’
“And he was like, ‘Can’t have any more beers!’ And the next night, because we were so close back then, I was waiting at Gorilla to congratulate him when he came back through.
“And when he came through, you could smell the alcohol because we had been drinking for over a week.
“But it never affected him and that’s kind of the lifestyle back then was you ride hard at night and you make sure that you show up during the day to perform at a high level.
“And that’s the one thing that I’ll always remember about John Cena. I have so much respect for that guy.”
Ric Flair taught him years ago when he became a world champion, you got to act like a world champion. And that means that you buy the bar, you pay for the bar tabs and you’re the leader.
Jonathan Coachman
Coachman had various broadcast roles in the WWE before leaving in 2008 – returning on and off from 2016-2021.
He also worked with ESPN and CBS as a presenter and commentator.
Coachman now has a promotional and analyst role with the Professional Fighters League – an MMA promotion.
Cena meanwhile is due to retire at the end of 2025 and for the first time ever turned heel – otherwise known as the bad guy.
The race is on to be Cena’s last opponent and while Coachman is somehow in the running – he named some more suitable candidates.
He said: “To me, it’s got to be historically somebody he’s had a storyline with.
“You actually could bet on me, I was +3500 (35/1), by the way, to be his opponent at WrestleMania. And actually people put money down.
“I was like, you idiots! Of course I’m not gonna. But for him, I think if they do it the right way, he’s a heel for most of the summer, then at SummerSlam, you turn him back baby face.
“Then he’ll have four months. But to me, it’d be somebody like a Randy Orton. Not Cody Rhodes, because they don’t have that history.
“But I think also you could go back and bring somebody back. He had some great matches against The Rock.
“Maybe he turns back babyface and him and The Rock go one-on-one in December in a non-WrestleMania match, but it’s got to be somebody that he’s had a history with.”
WWEJonathan Coachman formerly worked with the WWE[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
