Austin Theory Says He’s Not Trying To Be Next John Cena, ‘Don’t Want To Be A Rip-Off’

Austin Theory is preventing his childhood idol, John Cena, on “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” WrestleMania, however the present WWE United States Champion desires everybody to know he is not attempting to be a Cena 2.0 — telling TMZ Sports, “I don’t want to be a rip-off.”

We spoke with Theory forward of his highly-anticipated match with Cena for the U.S. title at ‘Mania … and he put into perspective what the second means to him contemplating John performed a job in his want to be knowledgeable wrestler.

“Being eight years old and knowing what I wanted to do for the rest of my life because of John Cena and that is be a WWE Superstar. That was the first time I seen wrestling and I was inspired. And I went straight to the TV and I’d watch John every single week.”

Theory and Cena made their match for the U.S. Championship at WrestleMania official two weeks in the past … throughout an intense section the place the latter reminded the WWE Universe that he can nonetheless minimize a promo with one of the best of them.

“We did have a moment,” Theory mentioned about his encounter with Cena. “A face-to-face on Monday Night Raw. He had a lot of things to say to me. In that moment, it’s very cool to be out there with John Cena but I’m in a different place now.”

Austin instructed us he is uninterested in folks always evaluating him to Cena — a 13-time WWE Champion, well known because the G.O.A.T. within the promotion’s historical past — particularly after he is labored so onerous alongside his journey to determine his personal id.

“I don’t want to hear that anymore,” Theory mentioned. “I want to be the first Austin Theory and I want people to see that. I don’t want to be a rip-off of anybody and at WrestleMania, I’m going to show everybody just how different Austin Theory is.”

“My mindset going into this match is all about me,” Theory mentioned. “I can’t go in there and get swallowed by this giant John Cena story. I know the crowd’s going to be crazy for him. ‘Let’s Go Cena’ and ‘Cena sucks.’ Even the people saying ‘Cena Sucks,’ they love him, too.”