John Cena dropped a provocative label on Logan Paul that set social media on fire. The WWE legend went all-in on Paul Friday night, using his words as a pre-fight warm-up before their upcoming clash in Paris.
During WWE SmackDown in Dublin, Cena declared he didn’t believe in the authenticity of Paul’s career. He also dismissed the idea that Paul had any real impact on future generations of wrestlers.
A heated rivalry
According to Mundo Deportivo, Cena acknowledged Paul’s skills during the promo. However, Paul fired back, criticizing Cena’s constant switches between heel and babyface during his farewell tour.
The tone shifted drastically when Cena accused Paul of exploiting the WWE platform to promote products and of threatening other wrestlers to steal their opportunities. Among the names mentioned were Dominik Mysterio, AJ Styles, Seth Rollins, The Usos, and Jacob Fatu.
The Miz & Carmelo Hayes defeated the Motor City Machine Guns after some sneaky teamwork. Miz vs. Melo is set for next week to determine the #1 contender. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Bth0PhZqDL
— Bray (@brayywwe) August 23, 2025
Cena closed his tirade by branding Paul a “parasite.” With that word, Cena made it clear he doubts Paul’s authenticity and legitimacy in WWE.
Paul had previously shared his views on Cena in his IMPAULSIVE podcast. He admitted being “a little disappointed” with the 17-time champion’s constant attitude changes. For Paul, those changes revealed a search for external validation rather than authentic direction. He even called it a “midlife crisis live on stage” and urged Cena to “pick a lane and stick to it.”
On August 31, Paul and Cena will collide in Paris. This kind of controversy just days before the event only adds to the hype. The match promises to be a major milestone in Cena’s final run in professional wrestling.
