John Cena has garnered an immaculate reputation for his incredible work ethic. However, one moment from 2008 still stands out above the rest. AEW veteran Paul Wight (fka Big Show) recently recalled how Cena showed up at a WWE arena just hours after major neck surgery, leaving everyone backstage stunned.
Looking back on that day, Wight said it’s one of the biggest reasons he considers Cena the toughest man in professional wrestling.
Paul Wight shares John Cena stories that make him the “toughest”
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ringmates ahead of AEW’s UK tour, Wight answered a series of quick questions about the wrestling industry. These included who he considers the toughest, funniest, and smartest person he has worked with. When asked who the toughest was, he immediately picked John Cena and shared two unforgettable stories.
Wight remembered one moment that still amazes him to this day.
“Believe it or not, John Cena, you know, John Cena had neck surgery at 7 a.m. and at 3:00 in the afternoon, he came by the building to say hello to everybody. This is a guy that had his neck fused and within less than 7 hours, he came by to say hello to everybody. So, that’s pretty tough,” Wight said.
Wight also recalled another time when Cena got poked in the eye and suffered a scratched cornea. . Despite the injury, Cena was back at work the very next day.
“I’ve seen him get stabbed in the eye and have his cornea scratched and he’s still at work the next day. That’s pretty tough,” Wight said.
The surgery Wight talked about happened in August 2008 after Cena suffered a herniated disc during his SummerSlam match with Batista. The injury forced him to undergo neck fusion surgery performed by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Maroon.
Just a few hours after the operation, Cena reportedly showed up backstage at a WWE event with only a small bandage on his neck. Everyone expressed their shock to see him there because most people expected him to be resting in the hospital.
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