He's the old, worn-out champion on the quest for one last moment of glory before bowing out, but while his ambition remains, his capability does not.
For the past several years, it has been proven time and time again kayfabe that Cena is not the caliber of competitor he once was. Not only has he paled in comparison to the best, he's even been bested by the mediocre. He's old, slow and weak now.
But he wants to bow out as the guy he once was, he wants his name etched in glory. For all the work he did, all the hardship he put his body through and the miles he traveled, he wants to be regarded as the best for years to come. He wants to be the 17-time world champion and the man to headline WrestleMania in his final year. Does he not deserve that?
But as it's become clear to him that he can't do this on his own merits, he needs to find another way. So he seeks it from the man who can grant him immortality as he himself is one - The Rock.
The alliance will guarantee him his place in history, but it also grants him his future. When the wrestling is all said and done, what better ally to have as you try to make waves in Hollywood than one of the biggest actors out there in Dwayne Johnson, a man who can not just help him navigate the difficulties of transitioning his career but has lived it directly himself and relate to his experiences.
John finds himself stuck between the former glory of being the top wrestler in the industry and the yet to be realised success of Hollywood superstardom, while both recede from his grasp. With the Rock, maybe he can attain both.
