Former WWE star Ken Anderson has revisited one of the most debated moments of his career. He claimed that Randy Orton and John Cena played a role in his release from the company in 2009.
However, Anderson also stopped short of placing all the blame on the two WWE icons, offering a more nuanced reflection on what happened.
Speaking during a recent appearance on Tagging In with Chris Harris, the former Mr. Kennedy discussed the incident that followed a match with Orton on an episode of RAW shortly after his return from injury.
While Anderson believes the situation became the tipping point, he suggested there was more happening behind the curtain than fans realized at the time.
Ken Anderson reflects on WWE exit and Randy Orton incident
Anderson addressed the long-discussed spot that reportedly drew criticism from Orton, pushing back on claims that he dangerously dropped “The Viper” on his head.
“I got fired for dumping Randy on his head,” Anderson said. “If you slow that video down, you can see that his neck never comes into contact with the mat.”
He then made his strongest claim regarding the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“I believe that Randy and John worked together. They decided that day, ‘Let’s f**king get him gone.’ And it worked.”
Despite that accusation, Anderson acknowledged that the situation was more complicated than a single incident. He admitted that previous mistakes and negative perceptions may have contributed to WWE’s decision.
“I’ve said this before, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Anderson explained. “But the reason I got fired is because of me.”
The former United States Champion also claimed that Cena “never liked” him and felt the relationship was strained from early in his WWE run. “I felt like John had it out for me from almost day one,” said Anderson.
He contrasted his experiences on SmackDown with those on RAW, describing vastly different locker-room environments.
Anderson’s comments offer another chapter in a story that wrestling fans have debated for years. While he believes Orton and Cena influenced the outcome, he ultimately accepts responsibility for how his WWE career ended.
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