John Cena – American Grit

By starrymag | April 27, 2016

Q) Jon Kroll mentioned that you had been interested in doing something that involved the military and I think in the season premier when you talked to Chris, it really showed that you have some really strong feelings about the people who serve. And, I was wondering if you could talk about what drew you to do this kind of a themed show?

 

John:     Amazingly enough I spoke very similarly last night at an event in USO Metro in Washington D.C. where they awarded myself, in conjunction with the cast of American Grit and WWE, with an achievement award for civilian dedication to the military. I’ve never made it a secret that I support our armed forces and my patriotism in the 15 years that I’ve been involved with WWE has also never been a secret.  Last night I said that I’m not one to rest on my accomplishments, so I consistently ask myself how can I do more. This show originally was birthed as an entirely philanthropic idea. But, we thought it was a better idea and a better concept to make it a competition show which showcased the leadership skills of the US military because oftentimes there is a giant divide between those enlisted and those in civilian life. Us as civilians, we can all say, you know, we’d like to support the troops, but the troops are this weird, outlying body that we know very little about. There are national programs devoted to getting veterans back in the workforce and teaching them how to apply their skills and this was a wonderful show with tons of energy, tons of production value, the spirit of competition. But, at its vertebrae, at its backbone, is a way to showcase the absolute real life skills that these elite level veterans have and a way for them to apply them to normal civilians.  If you look at what the show is and you really strip it down, it is military leaders teaching civilians, untrained civilians how to function as the most efficient team as they can. So, if I’m a businessman and I’m thinking about something like that and I see a military leader create a cohesive unit with four strangers they just met and they function better than they ever have as human beings before, that’s a notch in the cap of those who serve. Okay, they have those skills.  I think the show hits on a lot of platforms but that’s what I’m most proud of, it serves as a business card or a calling card to all of our men and women in uniform that they have unbelievable skills that aren’t necessarily taught in civilian life and this show is a great application of that.

 

 

Q) I just wanted to talk to you about the first episode with Chris and your chat with him before going into the circuit. Do you think he’s kind of symbolic that he was the first person eliminated? Do you think it sets the stage for the rest of the season of American Grit?

 

John:  I think what you saw in the first episode was a testament to what the show is. The show is about heart. So often you see shows about strength, and so often in the athletic competitions, pure athleticism is the one measuring stick. Who can jump the farthest, who can run the fastest, who can lift the most?  American Grit is about heart because the final test, and each week it will, although the tests look different, it will be different, the word will be the same; endurance. So, regardless of what it is, in episode one you saw all of the competitors holding 15% of their body weight. It’s equal to every competitor but it’s just a matter of inside yourself, how long can you hold that rope. It’s a basic remedial task, holding the rope. But, it’s also a metaphor for what you have inside, what your heart is; holding the rope. It’s often a term used when you’re up against it; you tie a knot and hold the rope. The show really takes the viewer on a wonderful journey through a bunch of those endurance metaphors that it’s not necessarily in the fact that Jim and Goldie stayed and Chris went home, it’s a great testament to the show and I think it was a great way to show our viewers that it isn’t like typical competition reality.  I really was happy with the turnout of episode one. I still feel, myself, that Chris could have benefited from more time on the show. But, man, what a statement it makes and that’s what I like most about the show, there is no typical mold for success. It’s all about digging deep and finding something inside yourself that you didn’t know you had.

 

Q)  What from your past work with the WWE have you adapted to your hosting duties on American Grit?

 

John: Well, what haven’t I? In the WWE we are constantly performing. It is a constant ever-evolving episodic television show that is for the entertainment of the masses. And, I guess the biggest thing that I took away from this was perspective and understanding my piece in the puzzle. My piece is to be a vehicle to move the competition from A to B to C. And it is not to just showcase my talents. The talents here are in the competitors and the talents here, and I think the stars of this show, are the military cadre. And like I said, I wanted my vision of the show to show what these elite men and women can do with a group of civilians and how they can evolve over the course of this journey. And, I think the viewer will really become attached.  That’s what makes American Grit so much more than a competition show. People will attach themselves. I literally watched episode one and was tearing up at the embrace of Goldie and Rorke and was so fired up when Jim and Nick had a moment of genuine achievement. Like, I don’t even care what they were doing, it was the emotion that I was driven to while watching it. And, that’s the focus, not how much I can browbeat these people, it’s not showcasing my abilities. I think what I took away from WWE most and applied it to American Grit was perspective, my perspective of the show is I am just a vehicle to move along this competition and I am very much aware and so very proud I let the stars have the stage, and that’s the military cadre and the competitors.

 

Q) John, I just wanted to touch base on what you just spoke about, going back and watching the show. Did you find yourself, in watching the show, learning anything that maybe you didn’t pick up on the first time, where in WWE I’m sure you’re accustomed to knowing what it’s going to look like for the television product. But, in this case you may not know what the final product was going to look like. Did anything surprise you when you went back and watched it?

 

John: Not really, because we have the element of true competition. So, as much as you want to try to bend things around, there is standards and practices that go along with true competition and I lived it. Like, I was there experiencing all those moments. And yes, sometimes it’s viewed out of a different focus, it’s a wide shot or a tight shot, but we have what we have. I’m sure it’s different through everyone’s eyes just because of where they’re positioned as these moments happened, but I wasn’t at all taken aback by what happened. The fact that I lived it and can go back and relive it, and still be moved to genuine emotion, I think speaks volumes for what the show stands for.

 

Q) You’ve branched out into a couple different areas outside of WWE from movies, to some stints on the Today Show to now, this competition show. Did you set out to dabble in a bunch of different areas? Is it something that just kind of happened? Is this competition show something that you can see yourself doing more of in the future?

 

John: My mission statement has always been the same. It was the same when I set foot in WWE. How can I extend the WWE brand as large as I possibly can? And after close to 15 years of consistently competing every single day, I don’t want to say I’ve exhausted that resource, but it’s also time to take opportunities elsewhere when they could possibly broaden the outreach of the brand. And, also, a goal of mine has been to change people’s perception of what WWE Superstars are. We are damn good entertainers, so good that the general populous who does not know the product, thinks that’s all we can do and that’s how well we do it. They think we’re just oh, just this big crazy guy who does X, Y, and Z. No. We understand what we do and we do it extremely well and opportunities like this, opportunities like the Today Show have been wonderful places to showcase different facets of what goes into performing in the WWE.  It’s not just myself, it’s the entire WWE roster that has this talent. I would love to do another season of American Grit. How I’d love to be talking to you about Season 10 of American Grit, because I love, I truly love what the show stands for. And, I think as people watch, and as they watch this week, and as they watch next week, and they continue to watch they’ll realize what I’m trying to say; that this show is such a wonderful calling card for the US Armed Forces. And not only that, it just has really positive moral fiber and it actually sends a good message. All these things considered, I would love to do it again.

 

 

Q) I was wondering if you could talk about the Chicago, contestant of Tony Simmons from Chicago there. I was hoping you could talk about that and if you’ve been in Chicago and when you’re coming to visit your fans here.

 

John: If you have a specific question about Tony, I’ll answer it. Otherwise, I’ll give you a general character overview. I’ll start with the backend first to maybe give you time to think of a specific question about Tony.  I’ve been to Chicago many times. There’s a WWE event coming up very soon in Chicago. I was asked on an interview, it was a Center Stage for the YES network, what is the favorite place that I like to perform. It absolutely without a doubt is All State Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Although, Madison Square Garden is the world’s most famous arena and WWE has very strong roots there and always will, and that arena has a special place in my heart. There’s no denying the absolute mayhem that is the audience at All State Arena. It always has been, it always will be, it’s been like that since I had my very first match there in 2002. And, ever since then it has been the loudest, most chaotic facility that I have ever stepped foot in. It holds a special place in my heart because that’s the city that my career started. I owe a lot to Chicago, I’ve had wonderful moments from a WWE perspective in Chicago, and believe it or not on a personal note, it’s where I went on the first date with the woman I love. I went to Gibson’s in Chicago and took Nichole out on our first date. So, both professionally and personally that city has a special place in my heart.

 

Q) I guess specifically with Tony, how does the casting work? Were you involved in the casting very much with the show?

 

John:   I was not and I enjoy that, and I enjoy the fact that the military cadre will not either. Because very similar to basic training, the GIs have no idea who enlists. They get off the bus and they motivate. I really like the fact that every single—what I was told and what the cadre was told, information was given to us. We learned a little bit about the people; we were able to study a small dossier. Every dossier said the same thing; these people all will never give up.  So, it was great, on the very first day, as you saw on the show, me reminding them that they should be accountable for their words because their words will be put to the test.  Now, what I can tell you about Tony from having spent time with him, he is a fantastic human being and I have chills on the other end of the phone saying that. He not only makes me proud, he not only makes the military cadre proud, he will make America proud, and he certainly will do the Windy City proud.

 

 

Q) You were talking about extending the WWE brand with this show so I wanted to ask about, you’re pretty hilarious appearances in movies like Train Wreck and Sisters. Are these also things like extending the WWE brand, or is that you branching out to try something?

 

John:  No, I can’t tell you how many people, especially Train Wreck is pretty much hitting the movie channels now, like how many people come up to me and recognize me from Train Wreck or Sisters instead of WWE. But, once again when the mission statement is to reach new audiences, you take the steps necessarily. Those were wonderful opportunities that I’m really thankful for them. And, I really am trying to seek those out as we move into the future here, but it’s not a—so many people use the word transition, when will you transition from WWE to this. I guess in changing, my goal is to change the perception of what we are, I have to stay in allegiance with the brand. Not only to complete my goal but it’s because what I love to do.  So, yes, I will hopefully be doing more of American Grit. Yes, hopefully, you’ll see me more on the Today Show. If they do a sequel to Sisters, or Train Wreck, or Daddy’s Home, or any of that stuff, I would love to be involved with that. But, at the same time, my heart lies on the canvas of a WWE ring and that will never change. I will find a logistic way to manage all things.

 

 

Q) I know you spoke about it, but we’ve seen the mainstream success of WWE Superstars like The Rock and Bautista when crossing over into other mediums. Was American Grit just a passion project or are you hoping this leads to bigger opportunities in mainstream media?

 

John: Anything you do in entertainment business, you don’t just want to just do it and just leave it out there with no rhyme or reason behind it. That’s not a smart business move.  The great thing about American Grit, it runs parallel with WWE. You want to talk about passion project, WWE is my life and it is my passion, and when something like American Grit comes along that I helped create from the very first conversation into fruition of airing the first episode, it becomes a passion project.  And, if you look at what I do on WWE television and, essentially, what I’m doing on American Grit, they’re also very close. It’s a very fine line between the two shows. So, essentially I get to do what I love in WWE and in American Grit. I don’t see it as just well, I’ll put this out there and hope for the best. Of course I hope it brings more and better business opportunities, I hope it brings more brand awareness, I hope we can do more, I hope it establishes a better relationship with FOX. There are so many things I could talk about that this show could be used as a vehicle for, but right now I just want a bunch of folks to watch Episode 2. We’ll see where it goes.

 

Q) American Grit is a physically demanding show and injuries are almost inevitable. You have suffered several injuries throughout your career, so what did you tell contestants suffering through pain, and can you provide any update on your current injury status?

 

John:  I’m feeling pretty damn good, man. I’m like that relief pitcher in the bullpen just waiting for the phone call. So, I’m ready to go, I’m just waiting for the manager to ring the phone, and answer it, and put on the old Superman outfit and show up where they need me to and do what they need me to do. So, as far as my condition, that’s where I’m at.  As far as me educating the competitors about taking care of themselves, I think that would just be assumed from what you do. And, the great thing about watching American Grit, and this was by design, if you watch a lot of these competition shows some of the feats that they have to accomplish, there’s so much into them that it’s almost un-relatable to the audience at home. Like, they’re just so produced. In Episode 1, we had folks carry a log, and then we had them run an obstacle course that was something you could definitely find on your local obstacle run, and then we had them hold a rope. And I think every person, and this is by design, I want every person who watches this to see, feel, relate, and compare. Okay, I feel what they’re going through; I can relate to that, I’ve had to do something like that before in my life. And you know what, how would I do if I was in my shoes?  I think we did a really good job of not thinking over the head of the audience and trying to go for uber-spectacular things that people had no idea what it feels like to do or can conceptualize. So, these things being basic, everyone has an understanding of the toll it takes on the body. I mean, injuries happen in anything that’s active. You could get hurt crossing the street, but I think competitors have a general better awareness in American Grit because it’s all stuff that they’re genuinely familiar with.

 

Q) I just wanted to talk to you about the competitors, too, because there are some things that are left on the cutting room floor that maybe we don’t get to see. What are some of the challenges of working with untrained civilians when they’re put in these situations? You don’t even know how they’re going to react until they’re actually there. So, what didn’t we see?

 

John: I don’t think that’s a challenge. I think that’s where the—from the viewer’s standpoint, that’s where the goal is. And, from my personal standpoint, that’s—when the show was designed to achieve a goal, you have to go through some hardships to achieve a goal. Although, as a viewer you can’t see everything, what you see is a trimmed down version of what happened. I will give you an example. The testimonial or the interview that I had with Chris was quite long and you saw three sound bites. But, you get the gist of what happened. The testimonials with the cadre, they’re 30-minute, 40-minute sit-downs, but you get two or three sound bites that basically summarize what they want their team to accomplish. Same thing in the house reality, same thing in the team building exercises. It’s not that you’re missing out on anything you don’t see; it’s that they just try to encapsulate the moment in the best way they can and you absolutely get the point.

 

Q) What about the difference between a competitor who comes across as arrogant and one who’s confident? Is there any kind of working with them on showing them, look, there’s a different between the two?

 

John:  No. As a human being, you can do your best to explain circumstances to people, but ultimately it’s a person’s choice on how they carry themselves. And, that was made overly apparent to everyone in the show, both competitors, cadre, and myself. But, once again, it’s a person’s choice on how they carry themselves and how they live their life. And, I’m no one to judge, certainly, how anyone lives their lives. But, as a viewer, perception is indeed reality. How we perceive someone is our only reality of them. Sometimes that can be great and sometimes that can be bad. So, this is why I do all these interviews to get as much information on myself as there is out there so I can get the best perception of myself out there. But, sometimes when you only have a few minutes to throw your business card on the table, things can get left out, and a lot of times you don’t see the moments when they’re in front of your face, of absolutely how defining they can be.

 

Q) David George, one of the other executive producers of American Grit talked about the involvement you have as an executive producer. I’m curious if you had a role in designing some of the challenges that the contestants are doing, such as the challenge tomorrow night of Man versus Ice, the water challenge?

 

John:    No. I was given all that information, but to be quite honest, that’s not my field, and that’s not my expertise. And I think the job of a good leader is to surround yourself with great individuals and let them do their best work. As a producer, I had a nice wide angle of the show, and like I said, I had a really strong vision of what I wanted the show to be.  So, as long as the show carries that moral vertebrae, I was fine. When it comes down to challenges like ice cubes or even the first challenge in just holding that rope, those are challenges derived from military exercise. I have no qualifications to weigh in on that. We have a wonderful challenge department that is very skilled in doing that. David’s a hell of a guy, I hope you guys had a great conversation, but I’ll be the first to tell you I did not have much input on that and justifiably so. That’s not in my repertoire.

 

Q) John, I believe this is the first time you have handled something as an executive producer. What’s it been like for you to adapt to a role that people like Dave and others who put the show together, who have done, in some cases for years, putting on a show like this?

 

John:  It’s great because you’re able to voice your opinion. But, once again, I think I’ve had great training with the WWE to learn gradually as I go, how the WWE produces television. So, I took a lot of that with me to American Grit, but understand that not everyone produces television the same way. Also, that the guys at Leftfield do a pretty darn good job of what they do. So, yes, I have my preconceived notion of how things should go, but I was never hey listen, this is my way or the highway. I’ve always had great success with learning from individuals around me. So, although I can see something, and talking to David and especially Jon Kroll and his crew, it was great to learn what everybody does and to learn what their vision of the show is. And, just to give them my two cents every once and a while, it made me feel really special, but I’m really glad I let a lot of the pros do a lot of the pro work because it certainly shows on screen.

 

Q)  What was the most rewarding experience for you filming American Grit and do you think we could see a special episode featuring WWE Superstars in the future?

 

John: I think the possibilities of this show are limitless. I really do because of what it is based on. You will be put in a certain area of the earth, you will work with a team as best you can, and at one point or another, your resolve will be tested. Any single human being can fit in that category, so I really think that the possibilities of this are endless. I think it would be unbelievable television having a WWE version of American Grit. The thing that I learned the most, the thing that I’m most proud of this show is all the good that happens within it, really honestly, I remembered the very last, when we filmed the finals and I’m walking away saying to myself, either America is going to be ready for this or they’re not because it is just unlike anything you see on television because there is no voting. The backstabbing manipulation is a waste of breath because it is not necessarily about biggest and strongest, competitors are immediately downsized to whoa, I am going to have to just ante up and do my best. There is no unholy alliances because it doesn’t move you forward at all. It is just, all of it is on your team, how well you function as a team, and on you as an individual when you are called to face the circus, as we call it on American Grit. You just know that you’ll have to get to a point where you extend beyond yourself. For people who have to ring out it is disappointing, but for people who can survive the circus, the bond between teammates, the bond between cadres, and I think looking inside themselves, and Goldie, what a great example. She said, and I quote, “Thank you for believing in me.” It was so great. Just moments like that that make me happy. That’s what I really love most about the show. I don’t know, there’s so much dark stuff on television that, like I said, I don’t know how it will take but I can tell you I watch it and I love it. So, I just hope everybody at home feels as good about American Grit when they watch it as well.

 

Q)  Is there any pressure or nerves on your end hosting American Grit?

 

John: Absolutely. You put your heart and soul into something and you want it to be so good and you know you have something that is more than just a television show. Like I said, it speaks volumes about how the military can function in regular society. It has good morale fibers. When something can hit this well on multi platforms, you want it to do so good. You do everything you can, that’s why I’m talking to you guys right now, because I believe in the show.  Of course you get nervous when it airs, you get nervous of public opinion, but I’ve learned a lot in my long and arduous career in the WWE, and I’ve certainly had my share of hits but I’ve had plenty of misses to go with them. So, you do the best that you can, you promote your product the best that you can, and then there’s a point when it’s just out of your hands.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*