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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."

Tags: John Cena, JohnCena

Reader Comments

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

61. 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

62. 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 9:28PM on Apr 22nd 2009 by Shy

63. 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

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

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

65. I commemorate the WWE and John Cena for not allowing this issue to just die. CNN officially stands for the Corrupt News Network, and they have proven that defiantly now. Cena deserves an apology, and the WWE does too, for having their reputation/credibility/career smudged, especially since it takes a while to establish those aspects!! I hope CNN finally gets what they deserve!

Posted at 12:48PM on Nov 14th 2007 by atombomb911

66. 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

67. 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

68. First Cena says "absolutely not", he's never taken steroids. Then he says "to answer that question, I won't say I haven't, but you can't prove it." Oh yes I can, John. The proof's right here:

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/j/johncena/10.jpg

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/j/johncena/06.jpg

Pinnoccio's nose just keeps getting longer and longer.

Shame on WWE for using this piddle to divert attention from the pathetically bad performance given by their owner.

Posted at 5:34PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Paulie

69. If you support WWE in this, it might not hurt to let CNN know that you aren't stupid enough to fall for everything they put on their station. A lot of WWE fans have been writing to CNN complaining about the editing on that interview. If this is something you're interested in doing, the CNN contact form is at: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form6a.html?2

Posted at 5:02PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Fi

70. hmmmm....didn't CNN try this same thing once with a Mick Foley interview? for shame...well in this situation I think that even Mick would say "John Cena is good, and CNN is faker than wrestling"....

Posted at 8:39PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Sandman

71. Actually it's most of the posters on here that are faker than wrestling. Some are just tools of the WWE. Like TMZ.com is.

Posted at 9:17PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Joe

72. It's just another way that the media puts a spin on Pro Wrestling in a Negative light. Very unprofessional on the part of CNN, but what can you expect from a network like CNN other than this type of response. If anyone wants to truly investigate sports, why not investigate the 19 year olds in College Football that are ripped out of their mind and don't have the testosterone levels to achieve that naturally. Wrestling continues to be the blackhorse scapegoat for the media in Sports News.

Posted at 11:52PM on Nov 13th 2007 by RingKings Radio!

73. First of all i am in the Wrestling business on the Independent scene and i have worked with john cena back when he was a nobody in ROH...yes he is a very large dude....but no he did not take steriods to get like that if any of you knew any better you would know that he was a body builder before he got into wrestling.....get off his back and for those of you that thing wrestling is fake lol...come step foot in the ring with me one good time or anybody that i work and we will show you just how fake it is...i promise you will change your mind.

Posted at 9:13PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Cliff

74. Ummmm...excuse me "Cliff" but you say YOU worked with Cena back when he was a nobody in ROH? Cena N-E-V-E-R worked for ROH, and that says to me that YOU definitly N-E-V-E-R worked for ROH and probably never worked with Cena either. And as for his body? Yes, he did get his size while bodybuilding earlier in his career, but where do you think THAT body and THAT size came from other than steroids? He may be telling the truth that he is not on them now or even since he started wrestling, but to say he has N-E-V-E-R used them is a flat out lie.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/adhesion/CneaSteroids.jpg

Posted at 9:32PM on Nov 13th 2007 by Staci

75. To Staci,
You are one of the many ignorant sheep my post was directed to. You can ABSOF%CKINGLUTELY get that big without steroids. If you think he is juiced, then any man with any appreciable amount of muscle is juiced as well. Get your lazy a$$ off the couch and go to the gym and you might gain some muscle as well. My God, people like you make me sick, so jealous and envious of others because they are something you are not or can never be and you must degrade them and their hard work to make you feal better. Please, just exit the gene pool now, you have clouded the pool enough as it is!LOSER!!

Posted at 9:49PM on Nov 13th 2007 by CAPTAIN D-BOL

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