John Cena has sent a wholesome message to one of his greatest WWE rivals.
In a social media update on Thanksgiving [November 23], Cena acknowledged what day it is and gave thanks to one Superstar who helped his career be a success, Randy Orton:
Cannot celebrate this day without being thankful for all the people who helped and grew along the way. Truly thankful for my time in OVW and @RandyOrton during those years. Take a look back at our final match in OVW! Happy Thanksgiving! @tiktok_us @WWE
Cena commentates over the clip of his final match against Orton in Ohio Valley Wrestling before The Apex Predator made the jump to the main roster. Known as The Prototype back in OVW, Cena made fun of his questionable hairstyle before stating that he hit his finisher at the time, The Protoplex, to defeat Orton and become the new OVW Champion.
Cannot celebrate this day without being thankful for all the people who helped and grew along the way. Truly thankful for my time in OVW and @RandyOrton during those years. Take a look back at our final match in OVW! Happy Thanksgiving! @tiktok_us@WWEpic.twitter.com/LUVzXNOCA0
— John Cena (@JohnCena) November 23, 2023
Cena would later note in the Ruthless Aggression documentary that the hairstyle would be forcibly changed by Vince McMahon. The first time that McMahon saw Cena, the first thing he said to Michael Hayes was “Cut his f*cking hair!”
John Cena and Randy Orton: A Storied WWE Rivalry
Cena and Orton would feature in the same match a total of 336 times in their main roster career, with 94 of those being televised. The rivalry would heat up in 2007 when Cena reigned as World Champion and Orton would make things personal, targeting Cena’s father. The two future Hall of Famers would cross paths repeatedly for the next 10 years as allies and enemies. Another highlight of the feud included Orton defeating Cena in 2013 to unify the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships. The last match to feature Cena and Orton was the 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble.
After an 18-month absence, Randy Orton returns to WWE at Survivor Series to compete in WarGames.