Celebrity Feuds
Celebrity Justice
WWE Takes CNN to the Mat

It's a case of "he said -- but you didn't get to hear it."


Quizzed by CNN about whether he has ever used steroids, pro wrestler John Cena quickly responded, "Absolutely not!" -- then offered nearly three minutes of follow up. But when CNN made its edit to their special, "Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling," Cena's response was replaced with: "People conceive things because performance enhancing drugs have got the spotlight. It's a hot thing to talk about. I can't tell you that I haven't, but you'll never be able to prove that I have."

Needless to say, the folks at World Wrestling Entertainment are pissed! They've posted the original, unedited video on their official website, along with the following response:

"In a country in which the news media is highly suspect, and the quality of unbiased reporting has been thrown into the trash can, CNN has stooped to new depths. Notwithstanding the fairness, or lack therein, of CNN's recent piece entitled "Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling," perhaps the best example of how CNN misrepresents and unfairly presents their biased, if not illegal, point of view is the comparison of WWE's unedited video above to CNN's edited version. CNN's depiction of John Cena as it relates to steroids is not only professionally and morally wrong, but damaging to his character." Now 'dems fightin' words!

UPDATE: A rep for CNN has issued the following statement: "CNN has reviewed the footage of Mr. Cena and additional video from that interview has been added to the program which aired in replays of the program on Sunday."

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Celebrity Feuds

Reader Comments

(Page 4 of 7)Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. GEEE...CNN editing audio and video in bizarre ways to make a story where there ISN'T one--who would have thought. Yeah, from the lines of the "quality" news work who has been making a habit of this lately...I wish someone big would launch a huge lawsuit and really play them out publically for the news they make up.

Posted at 10:28PM on Nov 12th 2007 by Derek

47. ------------------
Post 18 said:
John Cena was actually BIGGER when he was wrestling in UCW in California and Ohio Valley, Cena is not abnormally big, but he is ridiculously legit strong, Anyone who can lift 500 lb wrestlers up, hold them up for a period of time, then send them flying with his finisher the F-U. Cena's name has never come up ever in talks about steroids or any performance enhancers, and it is possible he got his size legitimately. Cena has been training for wrestling since he was a teenager, so I'll take his word at face value that he is clean
-----------------

While this doesnt have anything really to do with this news story, nor does it take away Cena's "Legit Strength"... I was an Amateur wrestler in college.. plus I have a family member that is a firefighter.. and I've known for a long time that the Fireman's carry is the easiest way to carry/hold someone up (In a rescue situation) And that is basically what cena's move is.. a fireman's carry into a slam.. here is what wiki says about this hold...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireman's_carry

Posted at 10:57PM on Nov 12th 2007 by Josh

48. .... DAMN!

Posted at 2:10AM on Nov 13th 2007 by Ron Simmons

49. don't let friends watch wrestling.

Posted at 6:20AM on Nov 13th 2007 by sweets

50. Ted Turner - CNN's founder, created the now defunct WCW wrestling. Does anyone know if he's the money behind the relatively new TNA wrestling?

CNN has always attacked the WWE because Turner couldn't crush it with his wrestling league, no matter how much money he poured into it.

Posted at 7:29AM on Nov 13th 2007 by Susan

51. Penny,

You'd better hope Cena's telling the truth. You know 10 wrestlers were recently suspended from the WWE because of violations of their steroid policy, right? Maybe Cena wasn't on the list, but every WWE and pro wrestling fan in general (including myself) needs to understand that looks are just as much a part of the wrestling world as performance. And we all know clearly the long-term consequences of steroid and performance-enhancing drug use.

This isn't the first time the WWE put out a statement basically "defending" itself and its wrestlers against media scrutiny. Truth is a lasting defense. However, if Cena is lying, then it'll be him and the WWE who will look most foolish.

Remember...Marion Jones said for YEARS that she never did steroids or any performance-enhancing drugs. She recently admitted she lied. What's to say Cena won't do the same years from now when he's not as popular as he is now?

Posted at 8:11AM on Nov 13th 2007 by Harlin

52. Live it to CNN to try to make John Cena look bad, i think they are trying to blame someone or some organization for Benoits actions and we are all human and it goes to show you how easy a news organization can change things around for their own benefit, if John says he doesnt take steroids, who are we to judge him or the WWE. Keep strong John and heal fast we Miss you................

Posted at 8:38AM on Nov 13th 2007 by Analita

53. You do not get that big WITHOUT steroids...PERIOD. If for one second you think he has not used them...you are a fool. Its impossible for the human body to get like that without the help of Drugs. END OF STORY. I used to watch wrestling and still do occasionally and its sad to see some of those guys. Who watched Ray Mysterio years ago...and look at him now. UNREAL

Posted at 10:04AM on Nov 13th 2007 by Jack

54. Oh yeah right Cena does'nt take "any kind' OF DRUGS IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THEN i HAVE A BRIDGE i'D LIKE TO SELL YOU. YOU DON'T get that big without using something.Also he put his foot in his mouth by first saying "Absolutely not" and then saying I can't tell you that I haven't but you'll never be able to prove that I have. What the hell kind of sense does that make? NONE. Either he has or he has'nt, simple as that.What a load of crap.

Posted at 10:07AM on Nov 13th 2007 by Laure Hole

55. Wow, wrestling calling the media fake. Ouch!

Posted at 1:27PM on Nov 13th 2007 by mikeirwin

56. From age 12 to age 18, I spent five to seven hours a day in the gym lifting weights. I have a lean muscle build and I worked hard to keep it. I didn't want to be "cut" or build lots of mass, just be really strong, so I worked out a certain way to avoid mass. However, I knew plenty of people who did want mass, and they lifted in an entirely different way to build that mass. None of us wasgoing for sports or bodybuilding, so steroid weren't used, but i saw some of the guys get to the size of Cena and maintain it by a strict diet and lifting regiment. It IS possible,if one does it it consistently and strictly, and has the genetics, to get to that size without 'roids.You just have to be willing to do the work.

Posted at 1:39PM on Nov 13th 2007 by emeraldpunk

57. CNN only briefly added an additional video to their 7 p.m. (central time) Sunday replay; the other times on Sunday (10 p.m. & 1 a.m., central time), did not have the additional video. The additional video they added at 7 p.m. made it sound like Mr. Cena was speaking out of both sides of his mouth. I am disappointed with CNN; I thought they could be trusted.

Posted at 1:49PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Shy

58. I believe that some wrestlers may use steroids, but not all. To say that a person cannot get as big as Cena without steriods is wrong. Anyone can get that big or bigger if they are willing to put their mind to it and work out. For CNN, to change things around to make it seem as though Cena admitted to using steroids was wrong, I don't like to watch the news as it is because of B*llsh*t like this. Cena Rocks and I can't wait for him to get better and be back in the ring and I Love the WWE.

Posted at 4:08PM on Nov 13th 2007 by John Cena & WWE Fan

59. First of all 56, he did NOT put his foot in his mouth. When asked if he had taken steroids he said absolutely not. If you listened and paid attention when he said that "i can't say that I havent but you'll never be able to prove that I have" he also explained what he was saying. He was getting at the fact that he "cant say that he hasnt" because NOBODY will believe, he'll be blamed for taking steroids no matter what. And when he said "but you'll never be able to prove that I have" he's telling you that you wont be able to prove it because every test he's taken since he was 17 PEOPLE has been NEGATIVE. The WWE's wellness program tests for steroids and any kind of growth hormone or anything else that might be used. So he didnt put his foot in his mouth he was just saying that IDIOTS arent gonna care what he says cause he's big.

And YES you can get that big without using steroids. YOU HAVE TO BE TOTALLY IGNORANT to tell me that you can't. Its all about diet, excersise, and will power. By your logic any man/woman who is in the olympics, strong man compeitions, worlds strongest man competitions, ANYTHING and they look huge and muscular has been on steriods. You have to be idiotic to tell me that EVERY SINGLE one of those huge people get that way because of steriods or human growth. The only reason we are even discussing this whole thing is because the minority screwed it up for the majority of the people who actually get big THE RIGHT way. Science tells us that with the right genes and the right attitude about weight lifting that you can get huge. John cena just happens to be one of those people. Of course there are going to be people out there who don't care what ANYBODY says, they could be in the room when Cena takes any steroid and hormone test, SEE THE "NEGATIVE" RESULT AND STILL BE CONVINCED THAT HE'S A USER. It's a shame that we live in a world where people don't think for themselves and are driven by the media, I feel sorry for you people.

Posted at 4:15PM on Nov 13th 2007 by hurrafreak

60. Hi, I wrote an email to CNN and I would like to share it with all of you:

"An open letter to CNN:


I am forced to email you in regards to your so-called "investigation" report: Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling. In a segment featuring John Cena, a WWE wrestler, you say that he doesn't like being asked if he's used steroids. However, I went to wwe.com and viewed the UNEDITED interview. That told a VERY different tale. So, that led me to two conclusions: 1. You obviously think that wrestling fans are mindless, brainless, uneducated sheep that won't amount to much according to your "moral" standards. And 2. You are the most bias, communist, fascist, ratings hungry and soulless organization I've ever known! How can you devalue someone like that?! How can you tell the truth and lie?! Apparently, you've had years of experience. The news' job is supposed to bring truth, not the truth according to them! Obviously, you don't care one ounce about human dignity, just about ratings and how to get them, not matter what you have to do and in my mind, you've sold your souls to the devil. May God help you all."


What that too much?!

Posted at 4:48PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Nya D. Taylor

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