The newest Monday Night time Uncooked episode reminds the WWE Universe who John Cena’s first WrestleMania opponent initially was. When readers take into consideration John Cena’s first WrestleMania, they will seemingly take into consideration The Physician of Thuganomics overcoming The Huge Present to win america Championship at WrestleMania XX. Whereas this was Cena’s first WrestleMania match, it was not his first WrestleMania.
John Cena’s first Mania look was the 12 months earlier than, WrestleMania XIX, on WWE’s Sunday Night time Warmth pre-show, throughout which the then-rookie was given the bizarre job of battle rapping to cardboard cutouts of Grammy-nominated rappers Jay-Z and Fabolous. Fab made a cameo on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, and his look reminds older viewers of his extra uncommon “cameo” on the nineteenth WrestleMania.
The circumstances of Jay and Fab’s Mania “look” (or lack there of) are unusual in themselves, however with John Cena approaching retirement as a heel, WWE might now rectify a 22-year-old missed connection.
Why Did not Jay-Z and Fabolous Present Up at WWE WrestleMania XIX?
Jay Had Different Obligations, Whereas WWE Would possibly’ve Forgotten to Ask Fab
In 2003, earlier than touting a extra family-friendly “By no means Give Up” persona within the years to come back as WWE’s franchise participant, John Cena’s rookie 12 months noticed him achieve relevance as a shady rapper character. The story goes that for his first WrestleMania as a WWE Famous person, John Cena was deliberate to battle rap each Fabolous and Jay-Z on the Grandest Stage of Them All in 2003. On the day of the present, neither Jay nor Fab made their presence identified at T-Cellular Park in Seattle, Washington, forcing Cena’s pre-show rap to be directed at two cardboard cutouts of the celebrities.
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Some weeks beforehand, Jay-Z would let WWE know that he could not decide to The Present of Reveals on account of what has solely been described in stories as “different commitments.” In the meantime, there have been conflicting stories relating to Fabolous’ lack of look. Cena would speculate to ESPN that he “[didn’t] suppose [Jay-Z or Fabolous] had a realization of what WWE and WrestleMania are.” Nevertheless, in a 2019 publish on X, Fab mentioned that he did not recall anybody from WWE contacting him to battle Cena within the first place.
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In each his rap and the aforementioned ESPN interview, John Cena implied that each Fab and Jay-Z’s egos and lack of expertise of the WWE product stored them from displaying up, whereas Fab professes a misunderstanding. In both case, this can be a second that usually goes ignored and forgotten in Cena’s Mania historical past as a result of it was on the Warmth pre-show. Fab’s surprising Uncooked look, whereas coincidental, nonetheless makes for enjoyable timing now that John Cena is a heel in 2025.
Fabolous’ curiosity in wrestling appears to largely stem from his sons, Johan and Jonas Jackson, being followers themselves. Fab had beforehand introduced his sons to All Elite Wrestling occasions, most notably 2022’s AEW Grand Slam the place he accompanied World Tag Group Champions Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee to the ring. Earlier than that, in 2015, he showcased remodeling younger Johan’s bed room right into a wrestling room as a Christmas reward.
If assembly Fab in a wrestling ring stays on John Cena’s bucket checklist, the time is now for WWE to carry Fab and Cena collectively. Now that he is aligned himself with The Rock and Travis Scott, followers expect the 16-time World Champion to prioritize wrestling high-stakes matches as a heel earlier than retiring. Nevertheless, that does not imply there is not any room for him to nonetheless decide to enjoyable segments, particularly after they’re 22 years within the making. If Fabolous actually has a particular curiosity in skilled wrestling, WWE and John Cena might need to capitalize on it earlier than it is too late.
Supply: Fabolous’ X account, ESPN
